Continuing Certification
Child and adolescent psychiatry was established as an American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) subspecialty in 1959. Beginning in 1995, certification in child and adolescent psychiatry has been awarded on a time-limited basis. The Continuing Certification (CC) movement was initiated by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the major certifying specialty boards as a way of demonstrating to the public that physicians maintain professional statues (e.g. state licensure), documentation of commitment to lifelong learning and assessment of practice-based performance.
Activity Requirements
The ABPN Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirement mandates diplomates to complete a set number of CME hours, including self-assessment activities, as part of their ongoing maintenance of certification.
The ABPN Self-Assessment (SA) requirement involves completing self-assessment activities that help physicians identify knowledge gaps and enhance their expertise as part of their maintenance of certification process.
The ABPN Performance in Practice (PIP) requirement focuses on quality improvement activities, where physicians review their clinical performance and implement changes to enhance patient care as part of their maintenance of certification.
The ABCC Pathway is an ongoing professional journal article-based assessment activity designed as an optional alternative to the traditional CC exam. ABPN diplomates who participate in the program need to pass 20 article exams per certification every 3-year block. A maximum of 27 attempts are allowed, i.e., one may not fail more than 7 article exams in a 3-year block (representing an article exam passing rate of 20/27 = 74.1%). Passing an article exam requires answering 4 out of 5 questions correctly on each exam. Once an article exam has been attempted, the same article exam cannot be retaken. For your convenience, we have made a collection of these articles, including direct links to each.
The ABPN patient safety activity requirement applies to diplomates whose first block of CC activities began in 2017 or later.
To maintain a valid certificate and ABPN Diplomate status, physicians must hold an active, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine.
In its credentialing, certification, and CC programs, the ABPN seeks to assess and document that its candidates and diplomates possess and maintain professionalism.
Do you need help keeping track of your recertification status?
Sign up and log in to ABPN's Physician Portal. The ABPN Physician Portal offers a single source to store all information pertinent to a physician during all the various stages of their relationship with the ABPN. Additionally, use the Portal to make updates to personal contact information, update your medical license information, and apply and pay for examinations.
AACAP's Continuing Certification Resources