The need for lifelong learning is inherent to the medical profession. Historically, there was limited oversight on physician training and no clear way to distinguish whether a physician had achieved proficiency in medical assessments and treatments. In the early 20th century, groups of physicians came together to promote advancements in medical science and to identify the boundaries that define specific specialties. In 1917, ophthalmology became the first officially incorporated board, followed by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) in 1933 and the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS) in 1939.¹ 

Board certification has long been held as the traditional measure of professionalism, the highest standard of care, and an indicator that a physician is committed to excellence. However, over the past 30 years, increased supervision, regulation, and mandates from medical certification bodies have grown in scope and intensity. For example, the ABMS developed Maintenance of Certification (MOC) modules along with standardized testing in 1990. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) replaced lifelong board certification with a 10-year MOC in 2000. But as the requirements for certification and associated costs have continued to rise, have these requirements been proven to be beneficial to overall quality of patient care?