The American Board of Pathology's 2020 Continuing Certification Program

Area of Science:

• Pathology
• Medical Education
• Professional Certification

Background:

• American Board of Pathology (ABPath) certification is crucial for patient care and public trust.
• Pathologists certified in 2006 and later must maintain certification through Continuing Certification (CC).
• CC, formerly Maintenance of Certification, ensures ongoing professional competence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history of pathology board certification.
• To detail current CC requirements and program changes.
• To highlight the value of CC for diplomates and ABPath's adherence to medical specialty board recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Review of ABPath archived committee and trustee minutes.
• Analysis of the ABPath CC Booklet of Information.
• Consultation with ABPath staff, trustees, and the American Board of Medical Specialties 2018-2019 Board Certification Report.

Main Results:

• The ABPath CC program is continuously updated for relevance and reduced burden.
• ABPath CertLink represents a significant enhancement in assessing medical knowledge.
• Diplomates have responded positively to the integration of ABPath CertLink.

Conclusions:

• The ABPath is committed to refining its CC program.
• ABPath CertLink has successfully improved the assessment of pathology knowledge.
• Ongoing CC participation is valuable for maintaining certification and professional standards.