MOC and Physician Competencies

Competency Labels Target Learning

Each ASCP Annual Meeting course is labeled with one or more icons, indicating the competency area addressed in the session’s content. This labeling can help you develop an educational plan and build knowledge/skills across the competency areas.

Maintenance of Certification and Physician Competencies

The American Board of Pathology (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program is designed to assist pathologists in maintaining standards necessary to provide quality care in their chosen specialty throughout their careers. Diplomates receiving board certification after January 1, 2006 participate in this program.

MOC Part II (life-long learning and self-assessment) requires that each diplomate obtain an average of 35 Category 1 CME credits per year, 10 of which are Self Assessment Modules (SAMs), for each two-year period in the MOC cycle. ASCP Annual Meeting courses can be applied toward these requirements; many courses offer an online pretest option to earn SAM credits.

ASCP is committed to helping pathologists meet their life-long learning requirements. Our CME activities address learning needs across the six physician competency areas adopted by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). These six competencies are essential for all practicing pathologists, in addition to all residents.

Accreditation/CME/CMLE/SAM

Accreditation
The American Society for Clinical Pathology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Continuing Medical Education (CME)
The American Society for Clinical Pathology designates this educational activity for a maximum of 38 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Medical Laboratory Education (CMLE)
The American Society for Clinical Pathology designates this activity for a maximum of 38 Continuing Medical Laboratory Education (CMLE) credits.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)
This activity meets MOC Part II Lifelong Learning requirements. This activity meets MOC Part II Self- Assessment Module requirements, where indicated.

Certification Maintenance Program (CMP)
This activity meets CMP and state re-licensure requirements for laboratory personnel.

Disclosure and Program Content
In order to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all its educational activities, and in accordance with ACCME Standards, the ASCP requires all individuals in a position to influence and/or control the content of ASCP CME activities to disclose whether they do or do not have any relevant financial relationships with proprietary entities producing health care goods or services that are discussed in the CME activities, with the exemption of non-profit or government organizations and non-health care related companies. Faculty are asked to use generic names in any discussion of therapeutic options, to base patient care recommendations on scientific evidence, and to base information regarding commercial products/services on scientific methods generally accepted by the medical community. All ASCP CME activities are evaluated by participants for the presence of any commercial bias and this input is utilized for subsequent CME planning decisions. The primary purpose of this activity is educational and the comments, opinions and/or recommendations expressed by the faculty or authors are their own and not those of the ASCP. There may be, on occasion, changes in faculty and program content.

SAM Credit
You must complete an online pre- and post-test, plus attend the live course, to obtain SAM credit for select courses at the 2009 ASCP Annual Meeting. The ASCP website is continually updated with the list of courses offering SAM credit.

Certificates/Transcripts
Log in to www.ascp.org and go to “Education Home”. Allow 7 business days after the event for certificates. ASCP members may print cumulative transcripts. For assistance, contact ASCP Customer Service at 800.267.2727, option 2 (outside the U.S. 312.541.4890, option 2).