• To be more closely aligned with the rapidly changing environment of physician practice.
• To leverage advances in technology to assess medical knowledge and clinical judgment through a more flexible, continuous, and dynamic model that also incorporates learning into the assessment process.
Starting January 1, 2018, CAP will become the only way for you to meet your Part III: Cognitive expertise requirement within a 10-year MOC cycle.
CAP will be continuously active in 5 month blocks in a 5-year MOC cycle.
Continuous Assessment Program (CAP) is an online assessment program for physicians. CAP emphasizes continuous learning, allowing diplomates to determine when and where they would like to answer questions. Instead of a single exam day that requires months of preparation, you may test as you go, on the go. It is designed as an alternative to the current MOC Part III proctored exam currently required every 10 years.
• If you have a valid time-limited certificate, currently enrolled in MOC, you are eligible to participate.
• If you have a valid time-unlimited certificate, currently enrolled in MOC, you are eligible to participate.
• If you have a valid time-unlimited certificate, NOT enrolled in MOC, but would like to participate CAP, you are eligible to participate and your time unlimited certificate will not be at risk by participating in CAP. However, once enrolled in the MOC program, you must adhere to all MOC requirements.
CAP started on January 1, 2018. The cycles will be February 15th through July 15th and August 15th through January 15th. There is no end date at this time.
• Taking a proctored MOC secure exam is not an option.
Yes, CME credit is available for successful completion of each 5 month block of CAP.
• CAP replaces the Part III: MOC Secure Examination.
• No more Recent Advances Module
• Additionally, upon successful completion of a 5 month block, you are eligible to receive 6 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits™
No there is no cost for participating in CAP, however the annual MOC fee of $150 per year has been increased to $400 per year to cover the cost of administering the program.
Your score will be updated in real-time to help you track your progress throughout the year. Your final pass/fail determination will be based on your final score at the end of the 5 year cycle. This information will be available in the CAP section of your portal page.
Once CAP is implemented in 2018, it will be evaluated once in a 5-year cycle, but it will be important for you to keep up, to do your best and to track your progress so you don’t fall behind. Your performance will be aggregated to provide a summative assessment at the end of the 5th year.
If you do not pass, you will need to take the Continuous Qualification Examination (CQE) in Philadelphia.
The passing standard is an aggregate minimum score of 80% for the 5 year cycle. Your two lowest scoring blocks from each 5 year cycle will automatically be dropped.
You will have 10 minutes to answer each question.
No. Once you elect to start a question, the timer starts and cannot be stopped until the question is answered or until time runs out.
• ABAI is unable to reset questions on an individual basis.
• You should ensure you are using a compatible browser and have a reliable internet connection before answering CAP questions.
• CAP will be compatible with most common browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer, but not with Microsoft Edge.
• You will also need a reliable internet connection.
• Please feel free to contact the ABAI office should you encounter a problem.
• No. You are not allowed to discuss CAP questions with your colleagues, as outlined in the CAP Participant Agreement. You can however, read and discuss the articles with colleagues.
• CAP is designed to assess an individual’s knowledge and collaboration with colleagues is prohibited.
The article based questions will be from provided articles followed by a series of single best answer multiple choices questions. The core or general knowledge based questions will be based on allergy-immunology clinical practice and in the same single best answer multiple choice format, but not article based. All questions are open book.
No. It is not necessary to complete all the questions in one sitting, but all questions must be answered by the end of the 5 month block.
• Multiple articles will be featured that all diplomates will have access to. These articles will be made available within the CAP section of your portal page starting January 1st, 2018. You can read all of the articles provided but, you will only be required to choose 10 articles to answer questions from. Three questions for each article will appear after the PDF reader within CAP.
• You can print, download or bookmark the article and then come back to answer questions at any time, so you should familiarize yourself with the articles prior to answering questions.
You will receive 40 questions per 5 month block; 30 questions from articles, 10 questions from core or general knowledge, for a total of 80 questions annually. Any question not answered will be scored as incorrect.
• ABAI is committed to continuously improving CAP and wants feedback from diplomates.
• You will be required to provide feedback after each set of article questions and each core question.
• General feedback on CAP is welcome.
You will see your raw score performance (i.e., total number of questions, number of questions answered correctly, and percentage of questions answered correctly). You will also have access to your progress in the CAP section of your portal page.
Questions not answered by the end of the 5 month block will be marked as incorrect.
• Resources (e.g., books, internet) may be used, as long as the question is answered during the allocated time of 10 minutes, without seeking assistance from other individuals.
• You will be asked to review and sign the CAP Participant Agreement, which explicitly states what resources can and cannot be used.
A mobile app is not available at this time.
You are encouraged to contact the ABAI via email at abai@abai.org with any questions related to CAP. You can also click on the envelope icon when in the CAP platform to submit an inquiry. The ABAI will be available to provide assistance by phone (215) 592-9466 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM EST Monday-Friday.
• CAP will offer extended time as an accommodation for those who qualify. Diplomates may visit the ABAI website to request an accommodation.
• The CAP platform does not prohibit or block the use of third-party applications such as text zoom or text-to-voice.
Diplomates must select ten articles and answer three questions from each article.
Diplomates must choose ten Core Content questions, with no more than two from each category.
Yes, you must complete the CAP block and the evaluation form (at the end of the block) in its entirety in order to receive 6 CME credits.
CAP is designed to be a continuous program. The first 5 month block is accessible from February 15th through July 15th and the second 5 month block is accessible from August 15th through January 15th.
The first 5 month block of CAP starts at 5:00 AM EST on February 15th and ends at 11:59 PM EST on July 15th. The second 5 month block of CAP starts at 5:00 AM EST on August 15th and ends at 11:59 PM EST on January 15th.
NOTE: All due dates refer to the timestamp deadline of 11:59 PM EST
No, once the block is closed and key validation and statistical analysis has been completed, the final scores of the current block will be added.
Every diplomate has a progress meter unique to where the diplomate is in their CAP cycle, and how many blocks have been completed or skipped.
The progress meter is accessible to diplomates enrolled in CAP and it gives an overall snap shot of the progression of the diplomates CAP 5 year cycle.
Diplomates failing to score 80% or higher at the end of their 5-year cycle or those not participating in the CAP re-entry pathway to regain their diplomate status by taking the Continuous Qualification Exam (CQE)
The header gives the diplomate a calculation of what they need to score to be successful in the 5 year CAP cycle. The header is green for those diplomates on pace to meet the threshold of 80%, yellow for those that are not on pace and red when there is no possible way to meet the threshold of 80%,
The pie charts show diplomates their overall score with breakdowns for articles vs. core questions. The number of correctly answered questions is shown when the curser hovers over the pie chart.
The subway map shows the progress from block to block and the blue writing are actually links from the top of “subway map” that take the diplomate to score report for each corresponding block. The greyed out wording implies the block was exempt or not completed
The side bar shows the scores by the various categories, mean vs your score, when the curser hovers over the pie chart. "Your score" reflects attempted subject areas only.