The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is going to develop a longitudinal assessment option for its maintenance of certification (MOC) program, according to an Aug. 20 letter to the internal medicine community from Chair Marianne Green, MD, and President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Baron, MD. The self-paced pathway will give physicians an alternative to the traditional ABIM Maintenance of certification exam.

According to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a longitudinal assessment involves “administering shorter assessments of specific content, such as medical knowledge, repeatedly over a period of time.” The ABIM letter notes that this type of assessment enables participants to receive immediate feedback through real-time learning activities.

The letter also noted that the current MOC program will remain in effect while ABIM develops this new longitudinal assessment option. The ABIM invites members of the internal medicine community to share suggestions and submit questions online.