Certificate of Added Qualifications

The Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Adolescent Medicine is offered in conjunction with the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Internal Medicine. This CAQ, which became available to qualifying ABFM physicians in 2001, is designed to recognize your excellence in the total health care of adolescents within their families and/or the settings in which they live and interact.

 

How Do I Obtain my Initial Adolescent Medicine CAQ?

The Adolescent Medicine Certification Examination is offered every other year. If you are interested in seeking initial Adolescent Medicine Certification, you will need to meet the following requirements to become eligible to take the examination and gain certification:

  • Continuously maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification
  • Complete of a minimum 24 months of full-time training in an ACGME-accredited Adolescent Medicine fellowship program and submit verification of completion documentation
  • Submit an online application with the appropriate fee
  • Achieve a passing score on the Adolescent Medicine Certification Examination.

Beginning in 2024, if you gain initial certification in Adolescent Medicine, you will begin your first cycle of longitudinal assessment (MOCA-Peds) at the beginning of the sixth year after your successful examination. Going forward, you can expect to begin a new cycle of MOCA-Peds every five years to maintain your Adolescent Medicine CAQ.

Your board eligibility period for Adolescent Medicine Certification begins the day after the verified completion of your fellowship training and expires after seven date-to-date years (Example: 07/01/2017–06/30/2024). In order to remain Board Eligible for the Adolescent Medicine CAQ during this time, you will need to maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification. For details, visit our CAQ Board Eligibility page.

How Do I Maintain my Adolescent Medicine CAQ?

Beginning in 2023, if you are Diplomate who holds a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Adolescent Medicine, you will transition to longitudinal assessment (MOCA-Peds) in the year your 10-year examination requirement comes due. To maintain your Adolescent Medicine CAQ, you will need to meet the following requirements.  

  • Continuously maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification
  • Submit an online application with the appropriate fee
  • Submit CAQ process fees on an annual basis
  • Achieve a passing score on the Adolescent Medicine longitudinal assessment (MOCA-Peds)

In MOCA-Peds you will answer up to 20 timed questions each quarter over three to four years. Those who are not successful will need to take and pass the one-day examination by the end of year five to maintain certification.

Going forward, you can expect to begin a new cycle of MOCA-Peds every five years to maintain your Adolescent Medicine CAQ. To learn more about the American Board of Pediatrics’ longitudinal assessment (MOCA-Peds), please click here. 

My Adolescent Medicine CAQ has Lapsed

If you have previously held an Adolescent Medicine CAQ Certification and it has lapsed, you can still regain certification. If you meet the requirements below, you may regain certification no matter how long it has been lapsed.

  • Continuously maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification
  • Submit an online application with the appropriate fee
  • Achieve a passing score on the Adolescent Medicine Examination

You may regain certification by achieving a passing score on the one-day Adolescent Medicine Examination or by achieving a passing score on the longitudinal assessment. After regaining certification by a successful one-day examination, you will begin a new cycle of longitudinal assessment (MOCA-Peds) at the beginning of the sixth year after your successful examination. Note that if you enroll in longitudinal assessment while lapsed, certification would not be regained until completion of the assessment with a passing score (minimum three years).

How Do I Get Started?

If you are interested in obtaining, maintaining, or regaining an Adolescent Medicine Certificate of Added Qualifications, you may access the online application for the Adolescent Medicine CAQ Examination under “Added Qualifications” in your MyABFM Portfolio.

For additional information, please contact Alexandria Bailey at [email protected] or 859-429-5794.