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Richard J. Baron, MD, MACP, Past President and CEO, ABIM and ABIM Foundation, shares the history of ABIM Board Certification.
ABIM certification demonstrates to your peers and patients that you are an expert physician in your discipline. Research indicates that ABIM Board Certified physicians make fewer diagnostic errors, are more likely to adhere to recommended guidelines, demonstrate lower patient mortality rates and stay current in their medical knowledge.
A valid, unrestricted and unchallenged medical license to practice medicine in the U.S., its territories or Canada;
Successful completion of an internal medicine residency program;
Passing the Internal Medicine Certification Examination.
Read our Policies and Procedures
MOC = Maintenance of Certification
ABIM’s MOC program provides board certified physicians with a structured pathway to demonstrate that they are staying current in the medical knowledge they use to treat patients and make important care decisions daily. Once you pass the initial certification assessment, you must participate in MOC to stay certified.
CME = Continuing Medical Education
CME is the process through which health professionals engage in activities designed to support their continuing professional development. CME can include attending conferences and seminars, taking classes or participating in Regularly Scheduled Series or Grand Rounds.
What’s the difference between MOC and CME?
CME is required for licensure; MOC is required for certification.
MOC requires demonstration that knowledge has been gained. While some educational activities for physicians count for both CME and MOC, the standards for MOC generally remain more stringent, as board certification requires a higher standard of demonstrated knowledge than licensure.
What is the difference between licensure and certification?
Licensure is required by law to practice medicine in a specific state and is issued by the state medical board. Certification is not required to practice medicine; however, board certification is required by many hospitals and healthcare systems because it shows that physicians are committed to continued learning and evaluation.
ABIM supports more than 220,000 board certified physicians through:
