The American Board of Anesthesiology
Examinations and Certifications
Anesthesiology
Initial Certification
Primary certification in Anesthesiology is available to individuals not yet certified by the ABA or who are not currently a candidate in the ABA examination system. READ MORE >>
Maintenance of Certification
The Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) program is available to all ABA diplomates, whether or not their initial certification is time-limited. MOCA is a ten-year program, and diplomates with a time-limited certificate must complete the program before their current certification expires in order to maintain their diplomate status. READ MORE >>
Critical Care Medicine
Initial Certification
Available for Anesthesiologists holding primary certificates in Anesthesiology. Part 2 examination candidates may provisionally apply for certification in Critical Care Medicine. READ MORE >>
Recertification
The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Critical Care Medicine Recertification program is available to diplomates of the ABA who have been certified in Critical Care Medicine. READ MORE >>
Pain Medicine
Initial Certification
Available for Anesthesiologists holding primary certificates in Anesthesiology. Part 2 examination candidates may provisionally apply for certification in Pain Medicine. READ MORE >>
Recertification
The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Pain Medicine Recertification program is available to diplomates of the ABA who have been certified in Pain Medicine. READ MORE >>
Hospice & Palliative Medicine
Initial Certification
Available for Anesthesiologists holding primary certificates in Anesthesiology. Part 2 examination candidates may provisionally apply for certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The next examination is scheduled in the year 2010.
For more information, refer to Section 3.01.C of the
Booklet of Information.
Requesting a Nonstandard Examination
General Information
The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To accommodate individuals with documented disabilities who demonstrate a need for accommodation, the ABA will make reasonable and appropriate modifications to its assessment programs that do not impose an undue burden on its programs or fundamentally alter the measurement of skills or knowledge that the programs are intended to test.
The ADA and accompanying regulations define a person with a disability as someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as walking, seeing, hearing, or learning. The purpose of documentation is to validate that the individual is covered under the ADA as a disabled individual.
The purpose of testing accommodations is to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in the ABA Examination system on an equal basis with those who do not. Testing accommodations provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to demonstrate mastery of skills and attainment of knowledge without being limited or unfairly restricted due to the effects of a disability. Testing accommodations are neither intended nor permitted to alter the construct of the examination being measured or provide an unfair advantage for individuals with disabilities over individuals taking examinations under standardized conditions. While presumably the use of accommodations in the test activity will enable the individual to better demonstrate their knowledge mastery, accommodations are not a guarantee of improved performance, test completion or a passing score.
The ABA office administers the process of reviewing and deciding requests for examination under nonstandard conditions for ABA candidates and examinees for the annual in-training examination that is developed and administered by the ABA/ASA Joint Council on In-Training Examinations.
The ABA process established to consider requests for test accommodation because of a disability is described in Section 6 of the ABA Booklet of Information. You may access a copy of the Booklet under the Publications section of the ABA website or by clicking here.
Requesting Accommodation
Individuals must request examination under nonstandard conditions in writing no later than the published request deadlines (see link below). The ABA requires that each individual requesting examination under nonstandard conditions complete the Request for Test Accommodation form (see links below). The request must state the nature of the individual's disabilities and all the modifications or auxiliary aids being requested.
- ABA Examinations - Request for Test Accommodation Form
- In Training Examination - Request for Test Accommodtion Form
Request and Documentation Deadlines
The ABA office must receive all requests and documentation and other evidence substantiating the individual's disabilities no later than the following deadlines: