Component 3

Overview

Through participation in OCC Components, AOA board-certified physicians maintain necessary skills, stay up to date with the latest advances in medicine and demonstrate excellence in their specialty. The AOBPM Longitudinal Assessment (Component 3) is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of AOBPM-certified physicians in the specialty of preventive medicine. Diplomates holding a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) are not eligible to participate in the Longitudinal Assessment. Recertification for the CAQ will be through written examination. CAQ recertification will be required during the ninth year of certification.

Component 3: Longitudinal Assessment

NOTE: Cognitive assessments for certification in Aerospace Medicine, Occupational & Environmental Medicine and Public & Community Health have been replaced by the annual Longitudinal Assessment program.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 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.

Certificates of Added Qualification (CAQ) are issued for 10 years. Recertification will be granted to Diplomates after successfully passing the written long form examination.

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. Questions are untimed and administered via the AOA LMS platform. Adult learning permits open book testing using resources to answer the questions.

Re-attempt: After completing the assessment, you may review any incorrect items and reattempt to attain the correct answer.

Public Health/Community Medicine Longitudinal Assessment

Occupational/Environmental Medicine OCC Longitudinal Assessment

Aerospace Medicine OCC Longitudinal Assessment

Examination & Assessment Fees

• OCC Longitudinal Assessment fee: $150
• Late fee: $50
• CAQ Recertification Examination fee: $1,200
• Late fee: $200

CAQ OCC Recertification Examination

Please note that the Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) is not eligible for participation in the longitudinal assessment. Diplomates must participate in the long form examination to complete the CAQ.