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A review of the following information may assist with your inquiry concerning

- Schedule of fees (increase effective Spring 2010)

- Computerized testing

- Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ

- Sleep Medicine CAQ

- Fall 2009 exam dates

- Verification of Certification

- CME Hours to Maintain Certification

OR

FEE INCREASE EFFECTIVE WITH SPRING 2010 EXAMS:
Certification Exam - $1,000 by 1^st postmark deadline up to $1,400 at final postmark deadline; retake exams - $600 up to $800

Recertification Exam - $800 by 1^st postmark deadline up to $1,150 at final postmark deadline; retake exams - $500 up to $700

Geriatric Medicine CAQ Exam - $1,000 by 1^st postmark deadline up to $1,400 at final postmark deadline

COMPUTERIZED TESTING:
The AOBFP is anticipating the implementation of electronic testing with the Spring 2010 certification exam administration. Several hundred regional test sites will be identified within 75 miles for the majority of candidates. An exam date most likely in April 2010 will be selected. More details should be available by late August. The recertification examination transition to computerized testing will be deferred until Fall 2010.

The OMT Performance Evaluation will continue to require the attendance of both the certification and recertification candidate at one of the convention sites, the AOA convention in the Fall or the ACOFP convention in the Spring. Two additional administration dates and locations may be offered for the practical exam.

HOSPICE CARE AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE CONJOINT CAQ EXAM:

The application for the conjoint CAQ exam in Hospice Care and Palliative Medicine is now available and may be downloaded from this website. The administration of the exam is pending the approval of the AOA Board of Trustees in July 2009. The exam is tentatively scheduled for Sunday morning, Nov. 1st at the New Orleans Riverside Hilton during the AOA convention. The exam cycle will be every other year.

Click on ‘enter site’ above and then select ‘Certification Requirements and Apps’ at the top of the home page; then scroll to the bottom of the page to select the appropriate exam. The initial postmark deadline date is August 1st.

SLEEP MEDICINE CONJOINT CAQ EXAM:

The application for the conjoint CAQ exam in Sleep Medicine is now available and may be downloaded from this website. The administration of the exam is pending the approval of the AOA Board of Trustees in July 2009. The exam is tentatively scheduled for Sunday morning, Nov. 1st at the New Orleans Riverside Hilton during the AOA convention. The exam cycle will be every other year.

Click on ‘enter site’ above and then select ‘Certification Requirements and Apps’ at the top of the home page; then scroll to the bottom of the page to select the appropriate exam. The initial postmark deadline date is August 1st.

DATES FOR FALL 2009 EXAMS:

The applications for Fall 2009 examinations may be downloaded from this website. Click on ‘enter site’ above and then select ‘Certification Requirements and Apps’ at the top of the home page. The initial postmark deadline date is June 1^st. Subsequent postmark deadlines with late fees will be July 1^st, August 1^st,, and Sept. 1^st.

VERIFICATION  OF  CERTIFICATION:
To obtain a 'physician profile', contact the AOA Information Association at (800)621-1773.  The profile is the official form for verification of certification awarded by the American Osteopathic Association.

CME HOURS TO MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION:
Certified physicians in family practice and osteopathic manipulative treatment are required to maintain a total of 150 CME hours, 30 hours more than the 120 hour AOA membership requirement. Thirty (30) of the 150 hours must be in category 1-A to meet the AOA requirement.

Fifty (50) of the required 150 CME hours for the three-year cycle must be documented in the primary specialty area of family practice and OMT. Following is a listing of the classification of hours that may apply toward the primary specialty –

CME Activity	Hrs. Applicable Toward 50 Hr. Primary Specialty Requirement
1. AOA Annual Scientific Seminar & Convention	All credit hours up to 50 are applicable to the specialty. The specialty must complete the AOA CME form to identify applicable credit hours by specialty.
2. AIDS Seminars	All credit hours up to 50 for both osteopathic and allopathic AIDS seminars.
3. Risk Management	All credit hours up to 50 for both osteopathic and allopathic risk management courses.
4. Ethics	None
5. Specialty College Seminars	All credit hours up to 50 hours; including state ACOFP mtgs.
6. AOA State Society Seminar	Up to 50% of the applicable credit hours. The state societies must complete the AOA CME form to identify applicable credit hours by specialty.
7. Medical Journals and Home Study Courses	All credits up to 20 for journals and home study courses for both osteopathic and allopathic organizations.
8. Exhibits – Commercial and Scientific	All credit hours up to 50
9. ACCME Courses	All credit hours up to 25
10. Teaching	All credit hours up to 25
11. Standardized Life Support Courses	All credit hours up to 5
12. Clinical Exams, Recertification Exams, and CAQs	Full credit be given for: All CAQs Passing recertification exams Developing test construction exams meetings No specialty CME credit hours granted for administering clinical exams. 1-B Credit (osteopathic) or 2-B Credit (allopathic) credit is awarded toward membership hours required, but not toward specialty credit.
13. Publications	All up to 50 hours
14. Healthcare Facility Meetings	No specialty credits are granted
15. Hospital Inspections	No specialty credits are granted

The AOA Department of CME has begun to designate on the current individual activity reports the hours applicable to the primary specialty area.

Posted 6/12/2009