Important: OCC recertification
Diplomates who did not participate or failed the 2025 OCC Longitudinal Assessment Program must complete the Remediation Examination before Nov. 30, 2025. Please contact AOBP for more information.
Overview
In 2021, the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics announced the transition to a longitudinal assessment model designed to replace the traditional high stakes written recertification exam previously required for Component 3 of Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC). Longitudinal assessment enhances convenience and flexibility by leveraging technology to facilitate continuous learning through more frequent, shorter assessments relevant to your specialty training and career, delivered via a remote online learning platform.
Annual participation is required to receive a new reverification date for your board certification. The program requires 30 items to be answered during each calendar year. Diplomates are required to answer these 30 items annually before Sept. 30. Diplomates must achieve a pass rate of 70%. The assessment is developed through the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and Pediatric SMEs. The AOBP longitudinal assessment is administered via the AOA Online Learning platform. The platform is easily accessible from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Longitudinal assessment registration
If you hold primary certification in General Pediatrics, please follow the guidelines below to determine when you should register for longitudinal assessment:
- Diplomates who hold an active 10-year certification in General Pediatrics:
You are required to begin longitudinal assessment during the expiration year of your 10-year certificate.
Example:If you were certified in General Pediatrics on or after Jan. 1, 2016 and your certificate expires Dec. 31, 2026, you must submit your longitudinal assessment application in 2025. The program opens in January 2026 and the assessment must be completed by September 2026 prior to your expiration date. After passing the assessment, you will be submitted for recertification in November 2026 for the renewal date of January 2027. The program must be followed each year to obtain an updated reverification date for your certificate. - Newly boarded Diplomates:
You are not required to begin participation in longitudinal assessment for one full calendar year after becoming board certified.
Example: If you received initial certification in Spring 2025, you must register for longitudinal assessment in Fall 2026 and begin participation in 2027. - Diplomates who hold non-time limited certification (boarded before 1995) in General Pediatrics:
You may participate in the longitudinal assessment program. Applications are accepted in the Fall each year to begin the program in January. The benefit to a non-time limited diplomate is a decrease in CME requirements. The current CME for non-time limited certificate holders is 120 CME per 3-year cycle. Those participating in OCC Component 3 Longitudinal Assessment is 60 CME per 3-year cycle. The program must be followed each year to obtain a reverification date for your certificate and keep the CME requirement allowance.
Some helpful information on the program: Questions will be untimed and administered via the AOA Online Learning platform. There are 30 items provided each year. You are permitted to use resources to answer the questions.
Resources are listed on the AOBP website under References. View exam references.
After completing the assessment, you may review any incorrect items, read through the rationale and view the correct answer. When the first attempt is completed and if there is a failure, then you may participate in a reattempt of those items that were incorrect. If scores are above 70%, there is no option to raise the score and is considered a “Pass.”
Assessment dates
The assessment will open on Jan. 30, and will close on Sept. 30. Any re-attempts will open seven days after the initial attempt. Re-attempts will only be available to those who score under 70%.
Longitudinal assessment content
The AOBP longitudinal assessment will include the content areas within each listed year as noted below:
| AOBP Longitudinal Assessment Table of Specifications |
|---|
| 2026 |
| Research Methodology and Quality Improvement |
| Mental Health |
| Otolaryngology |
Longitudinal assessment scoring
The AOBP requires a 70% pass rate for successful completion of longitudinal assessment.
Longitudinal assessment fees
Registration is required each year. A $200 fee will be assessed annually at the time of registration.
- Assessment fee: $200
- Late fee: $50
- Refund policy applies
For more information, please visit the platform transition webpage.