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

- Certification Candidates – Submission of Questions

- Application Forms

- Computerized testing

- Verification of Certification

- CME Hours to Maintain Certification

OR

SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS – OCTOBER 2010 CERTIFICATION CANDIDATES:

The postmark deadline is August 31^st for submission of questions from candidates scheduled for the October 2, 2010 cognitive assessment portion of the certification examination. It is suggested that you retain a copy of the questions in the event that a follow up mailing is necessary.

APPLICATION FORMS:

The applications for the Spring 2011 examinations may be downloaded from this website. Click on ‘enter site’ above and then select ‘Certification Requirements and Apps’ from the blue section at the top of the home page. The initial postmark deadline date for the certification application is Sept. 1 and the initial postmark deadline date for the recertification application is Oct. 1.

COMPUTERIZED TESTING:
The AOBFP has implemented electronic testing for the certification and recertification cognitive assessment portion of the exams. The transition for the recertification exam will become effective with the Fall 2010 exam. The certification exam was already administered in that manner in April 2010. Over two hundred regional test sites will be identified within 75 miles for the majority of candidates.

The OMT Performance Evaluation will continue to require the attendance of the certification or recertification candidate at one of the convention sites, the AOA convention in the Fall or the ACOFP convention in the Spring.

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.
2. AIDS Seminars	All credit hours up to 5 for both osteopathic and allopathic AIDS seminars.
3. Risk Management	All credit hours up to 5 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 25 of the applicable credit hours.
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 5
9. ACCME Courses	All credit hours up to 25
10. Teaching & Preceptorship	All credit hours up to 25
11. Standardized Life Support Courses	All credit hours up to 5
12. Clinical Exams, Recertification Exams, and CAQs	All credit hours up to 15: 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 15 hours
14. Healthcare Facility Meetings	No specialty credits are granted
15. Hospital Inspections	No specialty credits are granted
16. Acute Care Hospital Programs	All up to 25 hours
17. COM Seminars	All up to 25 hours
18. Osteopathic Foundations Seminars	All up to 25 hours

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

Posted 5/13/2010