Certification, recertification, and maintenance: continuing to learn.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education and Certification
• Urology
• Professional Regulation

Background:

• The American Board of Urology, a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, mandates certification and recertification processes.
• The history of maintenance of certification (MOC) aligns with private regulation in medical education and other public-trust fields.
• Evolving information technology enables data collection to assess medical practice and identify areas for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the mandated maintenance of certification process by the American Board of Urology.
• To highlight the historical context and parallels of professional regulation.
• To emphasize the role of current knowledge and data in urological practice.

Main Methods:

• Review of the historical development of medical certification and regulation.
• Analysis of the requirements and procedures for maintenance of certification in urology.
• Consideration of the impact of information technology on medical practice assessment.

Main Results:

• The maintenance of certification process is a requirement for urologists.
• This process is rooted in a history of professional self-regulation.
• Data gathering and performance measurement are integral to current MOC standards.

Conclusions:

• Urologists must maintain current knowledge through the certification process.
• The maintenance of certification process ensures accountability and upholds public trust.
• Technological advancements facilitate the documentation of urological practice standards.