OSTEOPATHIC BOARD CERTIFICATION

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Correctional Medicine Subspecialty Certification Process

Exam Policies

Clinical Practice Pathway

IMPORTANT:  The Clinical Practice Pathway for Correctional Medicine expires with the 2018 examination. Anyone applying through the clinical pathway must sit for the examination no later than the last offering for 2019. There will be no more clinical pathway applications accepted after the 2019 examination deadline.

If applying via the clinical practice pathway, the following criteria must be met:

  • The applicant must hold primary certification awarded by the AOA upon the recommendation of a participating specialty board.
  • The applicant must hold a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in a state of the United Sates; applicants with a restricted, suspended or revoked license in any jurisdiction at the time of application will not be admitted to the examination.
  • The applicant must be a current member in good standing in the American Osteopathic Association or the Canadian Osteopathic Association.
  • In the case of lapsed membership, reinstatement requires payment of current dues plus membership fees for the previous year.
  • The applicant must conform to the ethical and moral standards as set forth in the Code of Ethics of the AOA.
  • Submit documentation of successful completion of the Bureau of Prisons basic course or have accumulated a minimum of 30 hours (within 36 months preceding the application deadline) of Continuing Medical Education in Correctional Medicine including but not limited to: National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC, SCP), American Correctional Health Services (ACHSA), or American Correctional Association (ACA) followed by a formal assessment. All coursework must be in person, NOT online.
  • Documentation of a three-year period in which a minimum of 20% of practice time was in the field of Correctional Medicine must be submitted for review.

Right to Appeal

A candidate who fails any examination may appeal by submitting the following materials to the Board:

If the candidate is not satisfied with the results of an appeal before this board, he or she has the right to further appeal to the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS). Where necessary, candidates may appeal the decision of the BOS to the AOA Board of Trustees.

Compliance with Federal Regulations

The AOCCMEC complies with all applicable federal and state regulations, including:

  • Americans with Disablities Act (ADA): The AOCCMEC complies with requirements prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation, as well as regulations for Title II and Title III (and all subsequent regulations) as printed in the federal register.
  • Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): In compliance with the HIPAA Act of 1996 and any subsequent modifications, the AOCCMEC ensures that individuals’ health information is properly protected, while allowing the flow of health information to provide and promote high quality health care. All medical records submitted for review by candidates for AOCCMEC certification will be de-identified by the candidate prior to submission, such that the remaining information cannot be used to identify an individual patient.

Code of Conduct: Irregular or Improper Behavior

Because of the AOA’s commitment to the high level of confidentiality and integrity of our certifying board examinations, board examination results and questions of improper conduct are reviewed by board members. Improper behavior, including but not limited to, giving, receiving, or otherwise obtaining unauthorized information or assistance, looking at or utilizing the test material of others, taking notes, failing to comply with computer site staff instructions, talking with other candidates or other disruptive behavior will be considered cause for review of conduct and a possible violation of the certification process. Candidates must not discuss the examination while the session is in progress. Candidates must not disclose the contents of the examination to others or reproduce the examination or any portion of the examination in any manner, including without limitation reconstruction through memorization, electronic means, or dictation. All AOA examinations are copyrighted and protected by federal law. The above policies apply to all examinations administered by any AOA specialty certifying board.

It is a criminal offense to copy or reproduce any portion of the certifying examinations. Each board will monitor examinations for irregular or improper behavior by direct observation, statistical analysis, and by other means. Irregular or improper behavior will constitute grounds for invalidation of the candidate’s examination and each board reserves the right to invoke other sanctions, such as exclusion from future examinations, revocation of board certification, and reporting misconduct to censing bodies or law enforcement agencies.

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