You may or may not know that US physicians are no longer board certified for life.
Anyone who passed their boards after 1990 has needed to pass more exams (with associated costs and time off of work) in order to stay current.
Although in theory being board certified is just a bonus certificate–it isn’t supposed to keep you from having a license to practice–in actual practice, it’s tough to practice internal medicine these days without that extra credential.
For a number of years, the only option was to take a full day exam every 10 years. This required study, time off work to take the exam, and a fee in excess of $1000.
Strangely enough, a lot of the diplomates weren’t so thrilled with this. Lately there have been a number of other schemes to recertify internists–somehow, the thought of returning to lifetime certification hasn’t been put back on the table.
Anyway, I am nearing the end of my 10 year certification, and now get the following choices:
One. Take the 10-year exam. This involves spending a lot of time studying, gearing up for a high-stakes exam, and paying an extra $700 for the privilege.
As long as I pass, the pressure is off for the next 10 years. I mean, I still have to engage in continuing medical education to keep my medical license active, and some other CME to keep up with hospital requirements, and I have to keep up with current learning or else I risk looking old and foolish in front of my residents. But I don’t have to do much more to keep my board certification.
Two. Sign up for the new, improved, Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment. Apparently I have to answer 30 questions every 3 months. They are timed, and the test is basically open-book (I just can’t ask another person).
I don’t pay extra to go this route.
However, it’s yet another darned thing to do every few months.
Decision day comes at the end of the week.
So I get to pick my poison: a high-stakes, expensive exam, or the drip, drip, drip of quarterly quizzes.
I know what I’m leaning toward, but I’m curious what others might favor.
Personally, I’d opt for the quarterly quizzes but maybe my thoughts are being coloured by the fact that I’m counting down the months to retirement.
I am found out! For all my talk about retirement, I know I have a good number of quarters left before I stop working for good.