Continuing Certification (CC) Resources

Education Offerings

As mandated by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) developed a Continuing Certification (CC) program that includes four components.

A Neurologist's Guide to Continuing Certification (CC)

The AAN has created A Neurologist's Guide to CC outlining:

The four parts of ABPN CC requirements
Who's Who in CC and MOL
AAN resources to help you meet your CC requirements
A CC Roadmap to help you determine where you are in CC

ABPN Audits: How the AAN Can Help

The ABPN annually audits 5% of CC applications and C-CC participants, and audits go back up to 10 years.

Previously available as an optional benefit, the AAN now automatically sends your AAN-specific CME, SA, and PIP credits to the ABPN on a quarterly basis for easy access in your ABPN Physician Folios as “verified” credits. Self-entered (non-AAN) credit activity will not be sent; however a new compiled .pdf Download feature is available in NeuroTracker^TM for easy access for these “non-verified” credits.

Credits reported directly to the ABPN through a data transfer are considered “verified” and, in the event of an ABPN audit, you would not need to provide documentation for verified credits.

Any non-AAN credit information that you manually enter in NeuroTracker^TM is considered "unverified." In the event of an audit by the ABPN, you would need to provide documentation for unverified credits.

ABPN Continuing certification Information

This webinar will offer guidance on how to navigate continuing certification in a way that satisfies requirements and is professionally rewarding. Dr. Goodman, ABPN Board Vice-Chair, will walk through the requirements including the new article-based continuing certification pathway (previously called the Part III Pilot Project). Dr. Smith, AAN Education Committee Chair, will provide an overview of the AAN’s portfolio of offerings for lifelong learning and highlight those that help diplomates meet the ABPN requirements.

CC REQUIREMENTS AND AAN RESOURCES

Learn more about ABPN Continuing Certification (CC) Requirements Part I-IV and how the AAN can help you meet them.

Continuing Certification FAQ

Q: WHAT IS CONTINUING CERTIFICATION (CC)?
A: Continuing Certification (CC) is an initiative of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to ensure that physician specialists offer quality patient care through an ongoing process of self-improvement and performance improvement.

CC is not an American Academy of Neurology mandated initiative.

Q:WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CC?
A: With so much attention on medical errors and liability issues, as well as spiraling healthcare costs, the public is demanding that their physicians demonstrate expertise and competence.

The ABMS established the CC program as a professional response to the need for public accountability and transparency. The program is designed to document physician competence and improve medical care.

The CC program is recognized as an important quality marker by insurers, hospitals, and credentialing organizations.

Q: HOW DOES CC AFFECT NEUROLOGISTS?
A: Continuing Certification (CC) will have some impact on all US and Canadian neurologists because of the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.

CC will continue to have importance for neurologists throughout their career, but it will have more immediate impact on neurologists certified by the ABPN after October 1994, who are obligated every 10 years to meet or exceed the CC requirements in order to maintain their ABPN-certified neurologist status.

Each 10-year CC cycle culminates with the CC cognitive examination. All certificates issued by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) after October 1, 1994, are 10-year, time-limited certificates and expire on December 31, 10 years from the year of the examination. Diplomates who are not recertified before their certificates expire are no longer Board certified in that area.

Q: WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF CC?
A: CC is an ongoing process through which a diplomate's credentials, licensure, and professional standing are verified and his or her knowledge and practice performance are Evaluated.

The ABPN CC program is comprised of four components:

Professional Standing
Self-assessment and CME
Cognitive Expertise
Performance in Practice

Discover a host of unparalleled resources from the AAN designed to help you take the necessary steps towards completing the components of your ABPN-mandated Continuing Certification (CC) requirements: Continuing Medical Education (CME), self-assessment, and performance improvement.