Geriatric Medicine FAQs

Learn more about the process of obtaining a certificate of added qualifications (CAQ) in Geriatric Medicine, including exam dates and requirements.

In terms of medical certification, longitudinal assessments generally combine formative and summative assessment features, including feedback and other opportunities for learning. The Longitudinal Assessment is a shorter, more frequent assessment opportunity that occurs during an assessment cycle. The Geriatric Medicine LA cycle is annual and includes a set number of questions that must be answered by diplomates during each year.

The goal of ongoing physician certification through LA is to support diplomates as lifelong learners while elevating the osteopathic medical community and profession. LA incorporates aspects of formative assessment, such as feedback and opportunities for remediation, and is a crucial component that promotes learning during the assessment. In this sense, assessment as learning becomes as important as assessment of learning.

Your certification issue/expiration date will determine when you should begin participating in LA. This information and all the OCC requirements are available on the Geriatric Medicine website.

Yes, Diplomates must maintain the OCC requirements of their primary certification including participating in Longitudinal Assessment and participate in OCC for their subspecialty certification.

Visit the AOA physician portal to view your certification information and to check the status of your OCC.

Diplomates who hold a non-time limited certification are not required to participate in the LA. The Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) process for the diplomates that hold a non-time-limited certification (non-expiring, non-dated) is voluntary.

The Geriatric Medicine Longitudinal Assessment is administered through the CATALYST platform. CATALYST is a learning platform managed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). In addition to the learning opportunities that the CATALYST platform offers, assessments delivered on CATALYST provide both performance feedback and educational resources for the concept being assessed.

The LA on the CATALYST platform is accessible 24/7 (within the designated testing window) and can be taken on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Additional detailed information regarding CATALYST platform can be found on the NBOME website.

Registration for the LA is available on the Geriatric Medicine website beginning in October. If you are not eligible to enroll for the current application period, the registration system will not allow you to submit an application. Registration consists of a pre-populated application and a $100 annual fee payable only by credit or debit card. You will receive routine email reminders regarding upcoming applications as registration for the LA is required every year.

The LA application open and close dates are available on the Important Dates page on the Geriatric Medicine website.

The annual LA fee is $100 and must be paid at the time of registration on the Family Medicine website. The fee is payable only by credit or debit card.

Subject matter experts practicing in the field of osteopathic Geriatric medicine developed the content for the LA. The Geriatric Medicine Committee selected content that is appropriate for ongoing osteopathic certification.

The Geriatric Medicine Longitudinal Assessment covers content from the Geriatric Medicine osteopathic continuous certification blueprint.

If you are interested in becoming an item writer, send an email to AOBFP@osteopathic.org and include your CV.

Questions are administered on the CATALYST platform and can be answered during a specified date range. The LA questions are not timed and can be completed at your own pace.

Diplomates apply for longitudinal assessment starting in October of the prior year. The annual fee for the Longitudinal Assessment is $100.

2024 Longitudinal Assessment Timeline:

• Oct. 1, 2023: Registration for the 2024 longitudinal assessment opens
• April 1, 2024: 2024 Geriatric Medicine longitudinal assessment opens
• Sept. 30, 2024: Access to 2024 longitudinal assessment closes
• Oct. 1 – Nov. 17, 2024: Remediation period for unanswered or incorrect questions

Yes. Once you have completed a question and advanced to the next question, you may exit the CATALYST platform. Upon returning to CATALYST the exam will resume at the last unanswered question.

No, LA is not a collaborative effort. The LA is to be completed independently using educational resources.

The pass point is a score of 80%.

Diplomates will receive 15 questions during the exam period. A score of 80% is required to pass. Diplomates receiving a score of less than 80% will have another opportunity during the remediation period. It is expected that diplomates participate and correctly answer 80% of questions. The Geriatric Medicine Committee will review the results for all diplomates that do not meet the 80% score. Upon successful completion of the remediation, the diplomate will enter into the Longitudinal Assessment process the following year.

No. The remediation period is designed to give diplomates a second attempt at questions that were answered incorrectly on the first attempt. The remediation period only displays questions that were not answered correctly. Diplomates who do not participate in the first exam period will only have one attempt to answer the questions during remediation.

Active participation in each OCC component is required to maintain continuous certification. If you are unable to complete the LA or any other component of OCC, you should contact the Geriatric Medicine Committee directly as early as possible at AOBFP@osteopathic.org.

Yes. Two and a half (2.5) category 1-B credits will be awarded at the end of each calendar year upon successful completion of the LA.

A longitudinal assessment plan will be developed for all subspecialty certifications in the future. Currently, Diplomates who hold a subspecialty certification in Addiction Medicine and Geriatric Medicine will be required to begin LA in 2024. For all other certifications, please contact the conjoint or certifying board directly.