Maintenance of Certification

SIR is pleased to offer members the following resources and material which pertain to Maintenance of Certification (MOC). For additional information, please contact our office at 703-691-1805 or email MOC@SIRweb.org.

Self-Assessment Modules and Resources

  To access SIR's online Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs), please go to the SIR Learning Center

This requirement may be satisfied by completing self-assessment modules (SAMs) online or at live educational meetings. These "modules" are educational activities (lectures, reading assignments, web presentations, etc.) that have been qualified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) in meeting the criteria for self-assessment toward the purpose of fulfilling requirements in the ABR Maintenance of Certification Program. In a full 10-year cycle, you will be responsible for documenting successful completion of the equivalent of 20 or more SAMs but an individual can only receive credit for up to 4 SAMs per year; thus participation in SAMs needs to be spread out over the 10 year cycle. All SAMs are also qualified as Category 1 CME, and can serve to fill the CME requirement.

2008-2011 Case-Based Review Monographs

These publications serve as a valuable educational tool for practicing IRs, as well in-training interventional radiologists. The topics covered in the monograph series include vascular diagnosis, embolization, peripheral arterial interventions, neurovascular interventions, deep venous thrombosis & IVC filters, portal interventions, pediatric interventions, oncologic interventions, women's health, vertebral augmentation, veins, and many more! These Monographs serve only as an educational tool. CME and SAM Credit are not available.

Purchase these products separately or as a bundle in the IR Store.

MOC Recertification Exam: Cognitive Expertise

ABR diplomates are expected to maintain the core knowledge fundamental to safe and effective subspecialty practice. Documentation of cognitive expertise requires a passing score on a computer-based, practice-profiled exam, taken within the last three years of the 10-year MOC cycle. The exam may be taken multiple times if necessary.

As technology has advanced and the field of diagnostic radiology has become increasingly sub-specialized, it has also become nearly impossible for individual diagnostic radiologists to be masters of the entire domain. Data from a practice analysis survey conducted by the ABR and corroborated by the ACR recognizes that 94% of radiologists concentrate their practices on four or fewer areas within the field. With this in mind, the ABR's practice-profiled MOC examination was designed to be modular, allowing each diplomate to self-select a portion of his or her exam content. The examination thus consists of non-interpretive skills content (designated by the ABR) and clinical content (self-selected by the diplomate).

For more information about the MOC Exam and to view the ABRs Exam Study Guide, visit the ABR website.

Practice Quality Improvement

Information (and resources) on practice quality improvement are available in the Members section. SIR has made available the follow project templates available to SIR members only.

Project 1: Fluoroscopy Dose Recording Compliance
Project 2: Prospective Analysis for Radiation Dose Reduction

Four Key Requirements of the MOC

Many SIR members who obtained Certificates of Added Qualification (CAQ's) in Vascular and Interventional Radiology in the mid-1990's have been contacted recently by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) regarding upcoming "Maintenance of Certification" (MOC) examinations. The MOC process represents more than just a periodic examination, and is a new approach to the ABR's responsibility of assuring that the practitioners they certify in radiology and its subspecialties practice knowledgeably, safely, and skillfully.

There has been an increasing move away from lifetime certification on the part of medical specialty boards, and toward "time-limited" certificates. This reflects the sentiment that a single examination passed just at the termination of formal training does little to guarantee that a physician keeps up with current knowledge and practice in their chosen specialty. Recognizing this, the American Board of Medical Specialties has developed the MOC concept.

The basic elements of Maintenance of Certification include four key requirements:
(1) Documentation of professional standing
(2) Documentation of a commitment to lifelong learning and periodic self-assessment relevant to one's specialty
(3) Evidence of cognitive expertise determined by periodic examination covering fundamental knowledge, current and valid practice related knowledge, and knowledge of important issues in the practice environment
(4) Assessment of practice performance

The "examination" portion of the MOC process, then, is only one part of the overall strategy, and a part that, if the other portions of the MOC are fulfilled, should be quite straightforward. As currently envisioned, the concept of subspecialty certification (formerly referred to by the ABR as CAQ) will be maintained in the ABR MOC process.

A great deal of work to be done in carrying the MOC process forward. In this regard, the various radiological specialty groups such as SIR will play a large role, working with the ABR to develop practice performance measures, self-assessment tools, and relevant, current educational programs and materials.

Visit the ABR Web site to learn more about the MOC.