Continuing Certification (CC)

The American Board of Pathology (ABPath) requires you to demonstrate your professionalism and professional standing.

How to Meet Requirement

• Maintain a full and unrestricted license
• Document your medical staff membership and health care privileges
• Provide a description of your current scope of practice

How Often

• Every 2 years

Visit the American Board of Pathology website to learn more about CC.

The American Board of Pathology (ABPath), one of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), requires you to demonstrate your lifelong learning every two years. There are several pathways to do so. These include:

• Fellowships and Residencies. Diplomates must complete an ACGME-accredited fellowship during a two-year period.
• ABPath Physician-Scientist Research Pathway. This is for diplomates with an emphasis on careers in research-based contributions to new scientific knowledge.  Diplomates must complete a Physician-Scientist research year.
• Supervision.  A diplomate’s additional year(s) of research must fall under the supervision of a single faculty research mentor–ideally a successful investigator with an active research program and peer-reviewed research funding. ABPath will not oversee the research training.

How to Meet Requirement

Beginning in 2021, SAMs credits are no longer a part of the ABPath's CC Program. 

• Diplomates must obtain and document 70 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and/or AOA Category 1A CME credits.  (35 per year)
• Certain activities from the AMA, including a successfully completed ABMS board certification can count toward an AMA Category 1 CME credit. Application and documentation to the AMA will be required. 
• 80 percent of required CME must be directly related to your scope of practice. 
• Retain documentation of CME activities for at least three years, in case of audit.
• Complete all ABPath CertLink© (ABPCL) questions each quarter. 

How Often

• Every 2 years, with CertLink© questions answered each quarter.

ASCP Education that Meets CC Requirements

ASCP has developed an array of educational products to meet Part II requirements for CME credits, including:

• ASCP CE Packages
• ASCP Case Reports
• ASCP CheckPath
• Lab Management University
• ASCP Education Courses
• University of Pathology Informatics
• ASCP Annual Meeting
• ASCP GYN Assessment
• ASCP NonGYN Assessment
• ASCP NonGYN Digital Image Program
• ASCP GYN PT and Lab Comparison

The American Board of Pathology (ABPath) requires you to participate in at least two PI/QA activities or programs per two-year period. An activity or program can only be reported once per year.

How to Complete Requirement

• Document participation in at least one laboratory improvement and quality assurance activity or program.
• Pass the cognitive exam
• Participate in a minimum of two PI/QA activities or programs during each two-year period. 
• Programs include: CAP, PIP and PAP programs; ASCP CheckPath, Cytology Assessment, and Proficiency Testing programs. (Activities or programs can only be reported once each year).

How Often

• Every 2 years

ASCP Education that Meets CC Requirements

ASCP has developed an array of educational products to meet Part III requirements, including:

• ASCP GYN Assessment 
• ASCP GYN PT
• ASCP NonGYN Assessment
• ASCP NonGYN Digital Image Program
  

Track Your CC Progress

ASCP provides pathologist members access to an Education portal where you can track your ASCP CME credits earned, add Non-ASCP CME credits earned from another approved CME provider, as well as track your progress towards reaching your Part II and Part IV requirements.

How to Access and Manage Your CC Credits

• Login to your ASCP account
• Under "My Education," you will be able to view CME credits earned
• You will also be able to access any education that you have purchased by not yet completed
• You will be able to add Non-ASCP credits
  

Submit Your Documentation

Pathologists under CC will need to submit documentation to ABPath every 2 years to demonstrate proper certification maintenance. The submission timeline is based on your initial date of certification.

ABP PATHway is a tool developed by ABPath that will walk you through the documentation process.  It is also where you will need to submit your documentation at each 2-year checkpoint.  To set up a PATHway account, or access your existing account, click here.

ABPath requires you to demonstrate your assessment of knowledge, judgment and skills through continuous learning and professional development. The six module cognitive examination is administered by ABPath every quarter and must be completed within that quarter.

Requirements

• Answer all ABPCL questions assigned each quarter.
• Achieve a cumulative score of at least 60% by the end of a four-year assessment cycle.
• Diplomates may request a quarter sabbatical for up to two quarters per sabbatical per two-year period. An approved sabbatical will count towards participation.
• Certifications issued in 2013 and 2014 will meet their ten-year Assessment requirement by participating in ABPCL. The first summative decision will be made after 2025 for 2013 certifications and after 2026 for 2012 and 2014 certifications.
• The performance decision for all certifications in the CC Program is made on overall ABPCL performance, not per certificate.
• All unattempted questions are recorded as incorrect unless the quarter was approved for sabbatical. 

How Often

• Reporting is required every 2 years 
• A 60% cumulative score will be required every 4-5 years depending on when Diplomates enrolled in the cycle. Diplomates enrolled in the CC Program in an even year prior to 2022 will have a five-year cycle for their first cycle only (2022-2026).