Component 3: Cognitive Assessment
Overview
To complete Component 3 requirements for Osteopathic Continuous Certification in the primary specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational/Environmental Medicine, and Public Health/Community Medicine, a physician must pass a written examination once per 10-year OCC cycle.
Exam Process
The AOBPM offers OCC Written Exams in the primary specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational/Environmental Medicine, and Public Health/Community Medicine, as well as in the CAQ of Occupational Medicine. Exams are traditionally offered once yearly, in the spring. For physicians holding time-dated certification, failure to successfully complete the OCC process will result in the loss of certification when their current certification expires. For physicians with non-time-limited (non-dated, non-expiring) certifications, OCC participation is not required, although they may elect to do so voluntarily.
Exam Content
The OCC Exams for Aerospace Medicine, Occupational/Environmental Medicine and Public Health/Community Medicine consist of the following parts:
- A two-hour multiple choice examination of approximately 100 questions.
- A two-hour essay exam. Candidates will receive seven essay questions 30 days prior to the exam date to study; on the exam date, they will be assigned several questions to answer. Occupational/Environmental Health candidates will answer five questions, while Aerospace Medicine and Public Health/Community Medicine candidates will answer three questions.
Content for each specialty exam is as follows:
Public Health/Community Medicine OCC Exam
| Public Health/Community Medicine OCC Exam | |
|---|---|
| CATEGORY | CATEGORY PERCENT |
| Epidemiology & Statistics | 15% |
| Chronic Disease Prevention | 10% |
| Maternal & Child Health | 4% |
| Injuries | 10% |
| Mental Health & Retardation | 5% |
| Substance Abuse | 2% |
| Occupational & Environmental Medicine | 6% |
| Legal Aspects of Medicine | 4% |
| Medical Ethics | 2% |
| Health Care Professionals | 6% |
| Health Care Services & Finance | 11% |
| Public Health Administration | 4% |
| Infectious Disease | 5% |
Occupational/Environmental Medicine OCC Exam
| Occupational/Environmental Medicine OCC Exam | |
|---|---|
| CATEGORY | CATEGORY PERCENT |
| Epidemiology and Statistics | 3% |
| Acute Disease Prevention | 13% |
| Chronic Disease Prevention | 5% |
| Impairment and Disability Evaluation | 5% |
| Toxicology | 12% |
| Injury Prevention | 8% |
| Mental Health and Retardation | 2% |
| Industrial Hygiene and Safety | 12% |
| Substance Abuse | 2% |
| Clinical Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 13% |
| Legal and Regulatory Requirements | 10% |
| Physical Hazards | 7% |
| Biological Hazards | 6% |
| Reproductive Hazards | 2% |
Aerospace Medicine OCC Exam
| Aerospace Medicine OCC Exam | |
|---|---|
| CATEGORY | CATEGORY PERCENT |
| History | 2% |
| Biomechanics | 15% |
| Civil Regulation | 20% |
| Clinical Aerospace Medicine | 20% |
| Environment of Flight | 10% |
| Epidemiology and Statistics | 6% |
| Injury Prevention | 10% |
| Barometric Physiology | 15% |
| Substance Abuse | 2% |
CAQ OCC Exam Content
| CAQ OCC Exam | |
|---|---|
| CATEGORY | CATEGORY PERCENT |
| Epidemiology and Statistics | 3% |
| Acute Disease Prevention | 12% |
| Chronic Disease Prevention | 5% |
| Impairment and Disability Evaluation | 5% |
| Toxicology | 15% |
| Injury Prevention | 7% |
| Mental Health and Retardation | 2% |
| Industrial Hygiene and Safety | 16% |
| Substance Abuse | 2% |
| Clinical Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 13% |
| Legal and Regulatory Requirements | 10% |
| Physical Hazards | 5% |
| Biological Hazards | 3% |
| Reproductive Hazards | 2% |
Conjoints
If you hold subspecialty certification in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine or Correctional Medicine, conjoint committees the AOBPM participates in, please visit the conjoint website for info on OCC Component 3 requirements.
Applications and Payment
The OCC cognitive assessment exam can be taken within two years of your certification’s expiration date.
| OCC Cognitive Assessment | |
|---|---|
| EXAM Type | Fee |
| OCC Application Fee (required once every three-year OCC cycle) | $400 |
| OCC Exam Application Fee | $295 |
| OCC Cognitive Assessment Exam Fee | $850 |
| OCC Exam Retake Application Fee | $150 |
| OCC Exam Retake One Part Fee | $500 |
| OCC Exam Retake two or more parts | $750 |
Exam Results
Examination results will be mailed approximately 8–10 weeks after the exam administration. Exam results will not be given over the phone, by fax or email.
Exam Failure
For physicians holding time-dated certification, failure to successfully complete the OCC process will result in the loss of certification when their current certification expires.
Compliance With Federal Regulations
The Board supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for candidates who meet ADA eligibility. The board will make a reasonable effort to provide qualified board candidates who have documented disabilities the necessary auxiliary aids and services that do not fundamentally alter the measurement of the skills or knowledge the board assessment process is intended to test or result in an undue burden. The Board supports the intent of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for all patients or patient records that may be used as part of any part of the AOBNP board certification process.