OSTEOPATHIC BOARD CERTIFICATION

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Maintain knowledge and skills in your specialty or subspecialty by meeting the following criteria for Osteopathic Continuous Certification.

Component 1 | Active Licensure

  • Hold a valid, active license to practice medicine in one of the 50 states or Canada and uphold the standards outlined in the AOA’s Code of Ethics. Physicians with licensure restrictions will have their OCC file reviewed by the Certification Compliance Review Committee. Physicians holding only an active license to practice medicine outside the U.S. and Canada may be considered for OCC on a case-by-case basis.

Component 2 | Lifelong Learning/Continuing Medical Education

  • Component 2 of the Osteopathic Continuous Certification process requires recertifying physicians to pursue lifelong learning through continuing medical education.
    OMT distinction is a subspecialty certification. As such, all subspecialty certificate holders must abide by the requirement of their primary certification board. There is no additional CME required to maintain a subspecialty certification.

Component 3 | Cognitive Assessment

  • Diplomates who attain the OMT distinction are required to complete eight (8) hours of approved OMT hands-on training every nine (9) years OR successfully pass one (1) performance examination every nine (9) years. The OMT hands-on training must be approved by the DOEC. 
  • The OMT distinction “valid through” date for the first issuance of the OMT distinction will be aligned with the individual diplomates’ AOA primary board certification “valid through” date. Diplomates with a first issuance OMT distinction “valid through” date timeframe of three (3) years or less will be exempt from the requirement to complete eight (8) hours of hands-on training or retake the performance exam during the first issuance timeframe of the OMT distinction. Following renewal of the OMT distinction, diplomates must complete the required eight (8) hours of hands-on training or retake the performance exam.

Component 4 | Practice Performance Assessment and Improvement

  • The Distinct Osteopathic Examination Committee requires all diplomates to follow the Component 4 requirements of their primary certifying board. Please contact your primary certifying board for more information.