Study ObjectivesPhysician knowledge and skills in some specialties have been shown to decline over time. The trend of emergency physician medical knowledge over time has not been previously reported. The ABEM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program is a four-step process that includes successful completion of a recertification examination (Continuous Certification or ConCert), a cognitive expertise examination. The examination must be passed at least every ten years as one element of MOC. This study was undertaken to determine the trend in physician performance on the ConCert examination over time.MethodsIn this retrospective review, 2012 ConCert examination scores were compared among residency-trained emergency physicians of varying longevity. Longitudinal performance on the ConCert exam was also analyzed.ResultsAmong the 1,725 first-time candidates of the 2012 ConCert exam, 1,472 met inclusion criteria. The mean score for first certification-cycle was 85.4 (95%CI 85.1-85.8); the second certification-cycle mean was 85.5 (85.0-86.0); and the third certification-cycle means was 86.0 (84.9-86.7). There were no performance differences between physicians who took the ConCert examination for the first-, second-, or third cycles (p=.79). Likewise the pass rates for cycle 1 (96.5%), cycle 2 (96.5%) and cycle 3 (98.2%) were similar (p=.65).ConclusionsOver time, emergency physicians maintained performance on the ConCert examination. Physicians taking the examination for the third cycle scored at least as well as physicians taking the ConCert for the first time. There results confirm the clinical relevance of the ABEM ConCert examination and demonstrate emergency physician maintenance of medical knowledge over time. Study ObjectivesPhysician knowledge and skills in some specialties have been shown to decline over time. The trend of emergency physician medical knowledge over time has not been previously reported. The ABEM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program is a four-step process that includes successful completion of a recertification examination (Continuous Certification or ConCert), a cognitive expertise examination. The examination must be passed at least every ten years as one element of MOC. This study was undertaken to determine the trend in physician performance on the ConCert examination over time. Physician knowledge and skills in some specialties have been shown to decline over time. The trend of emergency physician medical knowledge over time has not been previously reported. The ABEM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program is a four-step process that includes successful completion of a recertification examination (Continuous Certification or ConCert), a cognitive expertise examination. The examination must be passed at least every ten years as one element of MOC. This study was undertaken to determine the trend in physician performance on the ConCert examination over time. MethodsIn this retrospective review, 2012 ConCert examination scores were compared among residency-trained emergency physicians of varying longevity. Longitudinal performance on the ConCert exam was also analyzed. In this retrospective review, 2012 ConCert examination scores were compared among residency-trained emergency physicians of varying longevity. Longitudinal performance on the ConCert exam was also analyzed. ResultsAmong the 1,725 first-time candidates of the 2012 ConCert exam, 1,472 met inclusion criteria. The mean score for first certification-cycle was 85.4 (95%CI 85.1-85.8); the second certification-cycle mean was 85.5 (85.0-86.0); and the third certification-cycle means was 86.0 (84.9-86.7). There were no performance differences between physicians who took the ConCert examination for the first-, second-, or third cycles (p=.79). Likewise the pass rates for cycle 1 (96.5%), cycle 2 (96.5%) and cycle 3 (98.2%) were similar (p=.65). Among the 1,725 first-time candidates of the 2012 ConCert exam, 1,472 met inclusion criteria. The mean score for first certification-cycle was 85.4 (95%CI 85.1-85.8); the second certification-cycle mean was 85.5 (85.0-86.0); and the third certification-cycle means was 86.0 (84.9-86.7). There were no performance differences between physicians who took the ConCert examination for the first-, second-, or third cycles (p=.79). Likewise the pass rates for cycle 1 (96.5%), cycle 2 (96.5%) and cycle 3 (98.2%) were similar (p=.65). ConclusionsOver time, emergency physicians maintained performance on the ConCert examination. Physicians taking the examination for the third cycle scored at least as well as physicians taking the ConCert for the first time. There results confirm the clinical relevance of the ABEM ConCert examination and demonstrate emergency physician maintenance of medical knowledge over time. Over time, emergency physicians maintained performance on the ConCert examination. Physicians taking the examination for the third cycle scored at least as well as physicians taking the ConCert for the first time. There results confirm the clinical relevance of the ABEM ConCert examination and demonstrate emergency physician maintenance of medical knowledge over time.