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Initial Certification indicates that physicians have met rigorous standards through intensive study, accredited training and evaluation and that they have the clinical judgment, skills and attitudes essential for the delivery of excellent patient care.

MOC is a professionally determined standard that attests that an internist is staying current in knowledge and practice throughout his/her career.

For more than 75 years, Certification by ABIM has stood for the highest standard in internal medicine and its 20 subspecialties.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

Internists and subspecialists certified in or after 1990 remain certified through ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participation in MOC means that a physician is demonstrating that s/he participates in certain continuous learning and education activities. Participating ABIM Board Certified physicians regularly (at least every two years) complete approved MOC activities using a structured framework created by their peers for keeping up with and assessing knowledge of the latest scientific developments and changes in practice and in specialty areas. Those certified prior to 1990 are strongly urged to participate in MOC. For all diplomates, ABIM will report if they are participating in the MOC program.

This section provides the following information on the Maintenance of Certification program: