Important Notices
Electronic Booklet of Information
The Booklet of Information (BOI) is designed to provide a comprehensive description of the requirements and policies
pertaining to the ABA’s examinations. The ABA recommends that anyone planning to take an ABA examination read the BOI
thoroughly prior to starting an application. All applicants for ABA examinations are asked to acknowledge via electronic
signature that they have read a copy of the applicable BOI.
Beginning in 2009, publication of the BOI will be 100% electronic. The ABA will publish its BOI online
only under the “Publications” section of the ABA web site (www.theABA.org). The ABA BOI will be updated on an annual basis each February.
Please note:
All current ABA fees will be published in a separate online fee table accessible via the ABA website.
To view a list of the current ABA fees, click on the “Examinations and Certifications” link.
Information Regarding Status Designations
The ABA has expanded its diplomate status designations to include three new designations:
- "Certified-Not Clinically Active"
- "Retired-Certified"
- "Retired"
The ABA defines new diplomate designations, as follows:
- A Certified - Not Clinically Active Diplomate holds a valid ABA certificate and does not plan to perform, teach or supervise anesthesia in the operating room or other anesthetizing areas an average of one day per week during 12 consecutive months.
- A Retired - Certified Diplomate holds a valid ABA certificate, no longer is actively performing, teaching or supervising the practice of anesthesiology, and no longer has a professional responsibility to the specialty of anesthesiology.
- A Retired Diplomate no longer holds a valid ABA certificate, no longer is actively performing, teaching or supervising the practice of anesthesiology, and no longer has a professional responsibility to the specialty of anesthesiology.
Certified Diplomates must submit an attestation form with a request to change their certification designation. To be designated as Not Clinically Active, they must 
attest that they do not meet the ABA definition of clinical activity.To be designated as "Retired-Certified" or "Retired," they must attest that they do not meet the ABA definition of clinical activity and do not plan to return to the practice of anesthesiology at any time in the future.
The Certified - Not Clinically Active Diplomate must submit to the ABA a request to remove the Not Clinically Active status designation when he/she has resumed clinical practice.
Click here to download a Request form to Remove Not Clinically Active Status designation. The ABA Credentials Committee will be asked to review the request and make a determination about whether it will reinstate the Diplomate's status as CLINICALLY ACTIVE. The Committee will also determine the effective date of the Diplomate's status change and the Part IV requirements that must be fulfilled in order to maintain his/her certification.
Retired-Certified and Retired Diplomates must apply to the ABA to re-attain the designation Certified. Click here to download the application form for re-attaining ABA certification post retirement. The ABA considers applications for re-attaining ABA certification on an individualized, case-by-case basis (see Section 5.07 of the ABA Booklet of Information)
The ABA routinely reports through its web site or by mail, whether a physician is a Candidate in the ABA examination system or an ABA Diplomate. The ABA Diplomate and Candidate Directory will display these new status designations to the public and others interested in obtaining information about Board Certified anesthesiologists.
Diplomate status is limited to the period of time the physician's certification or application for certification is valid.
Anesthesiology Recertification Program
The voluntary program for Anesthesiology Recertification will end in 2009. If your ABA certificate is not time limited and you think you have a need to recertify,
you must apply for admission to the Anesthesiology Recertification examination by December 31, 2008. No applications will be accepted after this date.
The ABA will administer the Anesthesiology Recertification examination for the last time during two testing windows in 2009: January 3 - 17 (application deadline has passed) and August 1 - 15.
Diplomates submitting an application between now and December 31, 2008 will have only the August 2009 opportunity to satisfy the recertification examination requirement.
After December 31, 2008, Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) will be the only recertification option for diplomates certified before 2000.
The ABA will not alter the status of diplomates that hold a non-time limited certification if they do not recertify.
Voluntary participation in the Anesthesiology Recertification or MOCA program will not jeopardize the diplomates’ non-time limited certification status.
See Section 4.01 of the ABA Booklet of Information to read additional information regarding the requirements for admission to the Anesthesiology Recertification program.
| Deadlines: 2009 Examinations |
January 3-17
Examination |
August 1-15
Examination |
| Online application submission at www.theABA.org |
Deadline has passed. |
December 31, 2008 |
| Receipt of reference(s), including a practice Performance evaluation, at the ABA office |
Deadline has passed. |
March 31, 2009 |
| Register at www.theABA.org to schedule yourself for examination and submit the examination fee |
Deadline has passed. |
April 19, 2009 |
ASA Patient Safety Modules Now Available
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has launched the ASA Patient Safety Module CME Web site. Completion of 20 Category 1 CME credits of the online Patient Safety modules fulfills one of the three Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) Part IV: Practice Performance Assessment and Improvement (PPAI) requirements.
The modules can be purchased at http://psmcme.asahq.org. Upon completion of the Patient Safety modules, MOCA candidates can also report the 20 Category 1 CME credits as Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (LL-SA) activities. See Section 4.03 of the ABA Booklet of Information to read additional information regarding all of the MOCA Program requirements.
Alternate Path for Entry into ABA Examinations for Primary Certification
The ABA has approved a 7-year pilot program that would allow international medical graduates, certified by the national anesthesiology organization in the country where they trained in the specialty and practicing anesthesiology in the United States, to qualify for entrance into the ABA examination system for initial certification in the specialty at most once via an alternate entry path. The objective of the pilot program is to encourage outstanding foreign trained and certified anesthesiologists, who come to the United States, to become productive members of U.S. academic anesthesiology programs.
Alt Entry Path Entry into ABA Primary Exam System
ABA Information Sessions 2008 - 2009
On October 18, 2008, in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), on December 13, 2008,
in conjunction with the 62nd Post Graduate Assembly in Anesthesiology, and on March 15, 2009, in conjunction with the 83rd Clinical and
Scientific Congress of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), ABA Directors will conduct a special information program on
Board Certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOCA).
There will be brief presentations followed by discussion and questions about both ABA processes.
ABA Information Sessions
Revised MOCA Part IV: Practice
Performance Assessment and Improvement (PPAI) Program
Click here view the
Revised MOCA Part IV: Practice Performance Assessment and Improvement (PPAI)
Program.
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