American Board of Pathology Modifies Continuing Certification Program: Discontinues Self-Assessment Requirement
The American Board of Pathology (ABPath) announced that it is modifying its continuing certification program by discontinuing the self-assessment component as of 1/1/2021. As a part of the CME for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) collaboration, ABPath will continue to include Lifelong Learning (accredited CME) and Improvement in Medical Practice (also called Part IV) in its program. Here are some details about how this might affect your activity and learner reporting in the Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS).
I’m planning my 2021 activities and want to register them for ABPath Continuing Certification credit. Does this change mean I no longer need to include an evaluation?
Per ACCME’s Criterion 11, you are required to evaluate changes in learners (competence, performance, or patient outcomes) as a result of your educational activities. You no longer need to provide feedback and rationale as a part of the evaluation component, which was a requirement for ABPath self-assessment credit. The ACCME and ABPath still encourage educational providers to utilize these features as part of the evaluation component.
My activity is currently registered for self-assessment (SAM) credit and it ends in 2020. Do I need to change anything?
No, you do not need to make any changes. You can continue to report SAM credit for learners who completed your activity in 2020. If you need to report missed or late learner participation from 2020 in 2021, you will still be able to report it, as long as the completion date is in 2020.
Can I still offer self-assessment (SAM) credit for activities that are not yet entered in PARS that will occur in 2020?
Yes, you can continue to register new activities and report SAM credit for activities that learners completed in 2020.
I registered a 2021 reporting year activity for SAM credit that will have learner participation in 2020 and 2021. What should I do?
You do not need to make any changes to your activity. You can continue to report SAM credit for any learner completions that take place in 2020. We ask that when you begin reporting learner participation that has happened in 2021 that you only report Lifelong Learning and Improvement in Medical Practice credit.
If you have additional questions about how this change affects your activities and learner reporting, please contact us at info@accme.org.