title: Addressing the maintenance of certification challenge: the College of American Pathologists response.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The American Board of Medical Specialties Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process will become effective in 2006. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) Education Committee defined pathology-specific competencies within MOC categories and used data from a survey of pathologists to create education courses targeted to each MOC category.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define pathology-specific competencies within MOC categories and to identify priority learning needs for pathologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-step process was completed for defining pathology-specific competencies within MOC categories and creating education courses targeted to competencies identified in each MOC category. A random survey was distributed to identify priority learning needs based on the gap between the importance rating of each knowledge and skill statement and a rating of current level of proficiency in 3 areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specific competencies and knowledge and skill statements were identified for each MOC competency category. Findings indicate pathologists believe they are poorly prepared for practice in competency categories related to systems-based practice and practice-based learning and improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CAP has focused education efforts on identifying a process for defining and responding to the MOC challenge. Pathologists have told us that they have significant needs for learning in specified areas and the CAP will focus development of education courses to meet those identified needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah 84143, USA. Elizabeth.Hammond@ihc.com
authors.forename: M Elizabeth H
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Filling
authors.forename: Ann R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Henry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Homburger
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D010336:Pathology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D013044:Specialty Boards