Important update: For completion of OCC Component 3, AOBPM is now offering Longitudinal Assessment, which replaces the written exam for Aerospace Medicine, Occupational/Environmental Medicine and Public Health/Community Medicine, as well as in the CAQ of Occupational Medicine | LEARN MORE
Component 3: Cognitive Assessment
Overview
Through participation in OCC, AOA board-certified physicians maintain necessary skills, stay up to date with the latest advances in medicine and demonstrate excellence in their specialty. Component 3 of the OCC process is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of AOBPM-certified physicians in the specialty of preventive medicine.
Component 3: Longitudinal Assessment
NOTE: The Cognitive Assessment has been replaced by the annual Longitudinal Assessment program.
Longitudinal assessment leverages technology to facilitate continuous learning through more frequent, shorter assessments relevant to your specialty training and career, delivered via a convenient remote online learning platform. The longitudinal assessment model was designed to replace the traditional high stakes written recertification examination.
Once you begin the program, annual participation is required to receive a annual reverification dates for your board certification. The assessment period is offered each calendar year, during which participants will need to answer 15 questions. Participants will answer 15 items each year and must achieve a pass rate of 75%.
Longitudinal assessment registration opens in the fall of each year.
Longitudinal Assessment Registration
Follow the guidelines below to determine when you should register for longitudinal assessment:
If your board certificate expires Dec. 31, 2025, applications must be submitted in the fall of 2024 to begin participating in the longitudinal assessment in January 2025. The program opens in January with a required completion date of September. There is also a reattempt period to answer any wrong items. By successfully passing the assessment, you will be submitted to AOA certification for renewal in 2026. The program follows the same process annually.
To complete the requirements for OCC in the Preventive Medicine primary specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational/Environmental Medicine and Public Health/Community Medicine, you must participate annually in the longitudinal assessment program. Once you enter the program, annual participation is mandatory for reverification dates of OCC Component 3.
Non-time-limited Diplomates: Physicians holding non-time-limited certifications (non-time-limited Diplomates are those who received board certification prior to 1995), OCC Component 3 participation is not required. Non-time-limited Diplomates may elect to participate, which will then reduce the number of CME required for each three-year cycle.
Longitudinal Assessment Content
A total of 15 items will be offered annually. The questions will be untimed and administered via the AOA LMS platform. You are permitted to use resources to answer the questions. After completing the assessment, you may review any incorrect items and reattempt to attain the correct answer.
Public Health/Community Medicine Longitudinal Assessment
| Public Health/Community Medicine OCC Table of Specifications | |
|---|---|
| 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 Longitudinal Assessment
| Occupational/Environmental Medicine OCC Table of Specifications | |
|---|---|
| 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 Longitudinal Assessment
| Aerospace Medicine OCC Table of Specifications | |
|---|---|
| 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 Longitudinal Assessment
| CAQ OCC Table of Specifications | |
|---|---|
| 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% |
Longitudinal Assessment Fees
OCC Longitudinal Assessment Fee: $150
Late Fee after November 15 may apply: $50