All diplomates enrolled in the CC Program must participate in ABPath CertLink®. (ABPCL). This will be the only option for meeting the CC Assessment requirement for maintaining certification. Beginning in 2019 and thereafter, all certifications which enter the CC Program are automatically registered in ABPCL.
To meet the Assessment requirement for the CC Program diplomates must meet both Participation and Performance requirements. ABPCL participation requirements differ from and are determined independent of performance requirements.
New Diplomates! – Newly certified diplomates will begin ABPCL in January of the year following their initial certification. For example, if you were certified in 2023 you will begin ABPCL in January of 2024.
The requirement for ABPCL participation is defined as answering all questions assigned for each quarter. Between 15 and 25 questions are assigned per quarter depending on previous performance.
Diplomates should carefully manage their participation so the minimum requirements are met to use ABPCL as their assessment. You can view your participation history on your dashboard when you log in to ABPCL.
The expected performance standard for ABPCL will be 60% correct or greater, cumulative over four years. The performance will be displayed on the participant’s dashboard in ABPCL.
A longitudinal assessment considers:
The performance decision for all registered certifications is made on overall ABPCL performance, evaluated as a whole, not for each certificate. Questions attempted but left unanswered will be scored as incorrect. Questions not attempted, unless during a quarter designated for a sabbatical, will be scored as incorrect.
Periodic feedback about meeting performance requirements will be provided by ABPath. The expected performance standard for ABPCL will be 60% correct or greater, cumulative over four years.
A custom assessment can be created from over 30 Practice Areas. A certain percentage of every assessment design will be automatically assigned based on your registered certifications. Assessment design currently occurs twice annually at the beginning and middle of each year.
The ABPath CertLink® Practice Areas and the topics covered in each can be viewed here.
The ABPath CertLink Honor Code asks that:
View the Full ABPath CertLink Honor Code
Diplomates may request permission for time off for life events (sabbatical) by creating a support ticket directly in ABPCL or emailing [email protected]. Quarters approved for sabbatical do not count towards the overall participation requirement. Questions not yet attempted in a quarter approved for sabbatical will not be marked incorrect.
The current quarter may be requested for sabbatical up to one day prior to the quarter’s end date. Quarters cannot be retroactively requested for sabbatical.