Physicians certified in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, neurology, or neurology with special qualification in child neurology before October 1, 1994, were granted Non-Time Limited (formerly, Lifetime) certificates. Non-Time Limited certificate holders must hold a full, active, unrestricted US or Canadian medical license to remain certified.
Participation in the Continuing Certification (CC) program is not required for diplomates with non-time limited certificates; however, credentialing requirements for hospitals, practice groups, and third-party payers may require evidence of continuous certification efforts. In addition, some states are considering the implementation of Maintenance of Licensure Programs, similar to the CC program.
Diplomates who wish to participate in CC for a non-time limited certification will need to enroll in the traditional recertification/CC Exam pathway OR the Article-Based Continuing Certification (ABCC) pathway. Once enrolled in the exam or Article-Based pathway, diplomates will be listed as “Meeting CC Requirements.” Diplomates will have the next three years to pass the recertification/CC exam OR successfully complete 30 article exams for the certification, as well as complete the CC activity requirements and pay the annual fee for the first three-year block. Diplomates who choose the article pathway will need to continue to complete article exams each three-year block, in addition to satisfying the CC requirements.
Non-Time Limited certificate holders who voluntarily participate in the CC program and do not pass the CC examination or participate in the article pathway, in addition to completing the CC requirements, will retain their non-time limited certificate, as long as they maintain a full, active, unrestricted US or Canadian medical license. Non-Time Limited certificate holders who do not participate in CC will be reported to the ABMS and on the ABPN website as “Certified- Not Required to Meet CC Requirements.”
ABPN
