Mastering MOCA-Peds: Your Guide to Board Recertification
Is your Maintenance of Certification (MOC) part 3 requirement for the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) coming up? Are you dreading the thought of studying and sitting for a proctored exam? If so, you’re in luck! Now there’s another option, known as the Maintenance of Certification Assessment for Pediatrics (MOCA-Peds).
In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about MOCA-Peds, so you can decide if this board recertification alternative is right for you.
What is MOCA-Peds?
MOCA-Peds is a web-based, self-paced, open-resource alternative to the proctored board recertification exam. It was piloted in 2017 with positive reviews and officially introduced in 2019.
Instead of taking the proctored recertification exam every 5-10 years, pediatricians can complete MOCA-Peds questions quarterly over the course of five years. There are up to 20 questions per quarter, and you’re allowed five minutes per question. And as of fall 2024, you now also have a bonus five minutes to use as you wish over the course of each quarter.
Your questions must be completed individually without seeking help from (or providing help to) other test-takers.
How can I register?
Login to your ABP portfolio and select MOCA-Peds under the Maintenance of Certification section. If you’re eligible, this link will take you to the MOCA-Peds dashboard where you can start answering questions.
The ABP also sends email reminders when new questions are available, and when your quarterly deadline is approaching.
How is it scored?
Scoring is scaled and based on the same 300 points that are used for the proctored recertification exam. A passing score is 180.
It’s estimated that about 75% of your answers should be correct to achieve a passing score, but each January, you’ll receive a report with your score for the previous year and a cumulative score from the five-year cycle. The four lowest-scoring quarters will be dropped from your final score.
What if I don’t pass?
If you don’t have a passing score after four years of MOCA-Peds, you’ll need to sit for the recertification exam in your fifth year of the cycle.
What’s on the exam?
The content is based on learning objectives and reading selections identified yearly by the ABP. These are published on the ABP website in August prior to the start of the cycle. You can view the 2025 learning objectives here.
Why MOCA-Peds? What are the benefits?
Do it on your own time!
You have three months to complete each question bank. Answer one question at a time, or complete each quarter’s question bank in one sitting. Do them at home, at work, or on your phone while on the go.
Instant results!
You’ll receive the answer to each question immediately after submitting, along with an explanation. It’s a great opportunity to learn as you go along.
Look it up!
Use any resource you like, including the new Blueprint/Rosh Review MOCA-Peds Qbank and Companion Guide, to find the answer to your question. Just make sure you submit before your time is up!
How can I prepare?
It’s helpful to be familiar with the general pediatrics learning objectives published by the ABP, and reading through the featured readings.
Of course, this can be a pain-staking and time-consuming process for a busy pediatrician. We understand this at Blueprint/Rosh Review and that’s why we gathered our pediatric resources and our expert board-certified authors to put together a readily accessible resource, the MOCA-Peds Qbank Companion Guide!
The MOCA-Peds Companion Guide is designed to be the ONLY reference you’ll need to correctly answer any MOCA-Peds question in a timely manner. This reference also includes a comprehensive summary of each reading (journal article) selected by the ABP—we did the work for you!
If that’s not convincing enough, see the example pages below:
Source: MOCA-Peds Companion Guide
As an added bonus, we developed a 240-question Qbank specifically filtered for the MOCA-Peds 2025 objectives and reading selections (five questions per objective and five per reading). This includes 30 newly-authored questions!
When it comes time for your 2025 cycle (January 1st, 2025), this Qbank and companion guide will help you answer every question with ease and efficiency. Let us make recertification a breeze!
Please let us know if you have any questions. Reach out by emailing info@blueprintprep.com for insights about preparing for the MOCA-Peds cycle or about any of Blueprint/Rosh Review’s Qbanks.
Looking for more (free!) content to help enhance your practice as a pediatrician? Check out these other posts on the blog:
- Give Back to Your Patients (for Free!) with Quiz for a Cause
- 4 Ways to Practice Lifelong Learning in Medicine
- Diversity in Pediatrics: Understanding Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors in Patient Care
Rosh Review/Blueprint is not sponsored, endorsed by, or affiliated with the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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