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ABA Anesthesiology MOC Requirements 2026

Overview

The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) is transitioning from a 10-year to a 5-year certification cycle. Physicians certified before 2024 remain on the 10-year cycle until expiration, then transition to the 5-year cycle. All newly certified anesthesiologists use the 5-year cycle.

MOC Requirements by Cycle

5-Year Cycle (New Standard)

Requirement Amount Timeline
CME credits 125 total By year 5
Patient safety credits 10 (ABA-approved) Included in 125
MOCA Minute questions 120/year Per calendar year
Quality Improvement points 25 By year 5

10-Year Cycle (Legacy)

Requirement Amount Timeline
CME credits 250 total 125 by year 5, 125 by year 10
Patient safety credits 20 (ABA-approved) Over 10 years
MOCA Minute questions 120/year Per calendar year
Quality Improvement points 50 total 25 by year 5, 25 by year 10

MOCA Minute Assessment

The MOCA Minute® is the primary longitudinal assessment method:

  • 120 questions required per calendar year
  • 30 questions per quarter recommended pace
  • Available 24/7 for self-paced completion
  • Article-based questions available
  • Alternative: Maintain p-value ≥ 0.10 based on performance

CME Credit for MOCA Minute

  • Earn CME credits through MOCA Minute completion
  • Learning embedded within the questions
  • No separate self-assessment module required

Fees

Item Cost
Annual registration (primary certificate) $350
Each additional subspecialty $100/year
Example: Anesthesiology + 1 subspecialty $450 total

Note: Annual fees are cumulative. Failure to pay in year one results in owing two fees in year two. Fees must be paid to maintain active certification status.

Quality Improvement Requirement

  • Requires actual practice improvement documentation
  • Attestation required for QI points recognition
  • Must be submitted through ABA GO portal

Key Requirements

  1. Medical License — Must maintain active, unrestricted license in US or Canada
  2. MOCA Minute — Complete 120 questions annually (or meet p-value threshold)
  3. CME Credits — Meet cycle-specific requirements including patient safety
  4. QI Points — Document and attest to quality improvement activities

Tips for ABA MOC

  • Pace yourself — 30 MOCA Minute questions per quarter keeps you on track
  • Use ABA GO — Online portal for tracking progress and completing registration
  • Plan for subspecialties — Each certificate has additional requirements and fees
  • Don't skip years — Missed fees accumulate

ABA GO Portal

Track all requirements through the ABA GO online portal:

  • View progress on all requirements
  • Complete annual registration
  • Submit QI documentation
  • Access MOCA Minute questions

Subspecialty Certification

Multiple subspecialty certificates available with proportional fee structure. Each subspecialty has its own requirements in addition to primary certification.

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