Maintain Certification

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Continuous Assessment Program (CAP)

CAP Definition & Purpose

  • Why is the ABAI developing this new program?

    • 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.

  • What is CAP?

    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.

CAP Eligibility Information

  • Who is eligible?

    • 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 Participation Requirements

  • Is there an incentive for me to participate in 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™

  • Is there a fee for CAP?

    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.

Pass/Fail Decisions

  • How do I know if I pass?

    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.

  • Will I always be required to pass CAP annually?

    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.

CAP Program Rules, Question Delivery & Requirements

  • Can the timer be paused?

    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.

  • Can colleagues be consulted while answering a question?

    • 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.

  • What kind of questions will be asked?

    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.

  • How are articles being incorporated into CAP?

    • 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.

  • How many questions do I have to answer?

    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.

  • How will ABAI evaluate the quality of CAP questions?

    • 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.

  • What type of performance feedback will I receive?

    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.

Use of Resources/Books

  • Am I allowed to use resources when answering CAP questions?

    • 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.

ADA Accommodations

  • What ADA accommodations will CAP offer?

    • 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.

Continuous Assessment Program Guidelines

CAP due dates and times

  • When does CAP start and end?

    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.

  • What time zone is used to establish CAP start and end times?

    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

CAP Progress Meter

  • What is the progress meter?

    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.

  • What are the four parts?

    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.