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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONTINUOUS CERTIFICATION
by ABFAS
What You Need to Know About LEAD
The new program LEAD: Longitudinal Education and Assessment for Diplomates will soon replace the traditional, once-every-ten-years recertification and self-assessment examinations. Starting in January 2022, all Diplomates will participate in the LEAD program.
In August, ABFAS rolled out new online resources on the LEAD webpage to help Diplomates understand the upcoming shift.
New Video: Diplomates Explain LEAD
All Diplomates will begin participating in the LEAD program in 2022, regardless of certification expiration date. A Foot Surgery ten-year certification cycle will contain two cycle periods of five years each. At minimum, each Diplomate must participate in 12 LEAD quarters during each five-year period.
ABFAS’ extensive pilot program with real Diplomates has consistently demonstrated both the program’s potential for continuous, ongoing learning of surgical concepts, and the flexibility and ease with which busy surgeons can answer LEAD questions— with no need to take time away from work or family to travel to a testing center.
In a new video posted to the LEAD webpage, four engaged ABFAS Diplomates explain how the program’s flexibility meets their busy schedules. Special thanks to Diplomates Christopher Lotufo, DPM; Aksone Nouvong, DPM; Felicia Dickson Pierre, DPM; and Travis D. Piper, DPM, for participating.
Access LEAD program information, including FAQs, the new video, and the interactive requirements tool, at:
abfas.org/lead
Program Cost
Unlike the now-retired recertification and self-assessment exams, there isn’t a separate fee for the LEAD program. There will be a slight increase in the annual fee to accommodate the cost of the new ongoing program, however.
In recognition of the transition to this new approach that starts January 2022, ABFAS did not raise the 2021-22 annual fee for the first year of the program. ABFAS does plan, however, to make a small increase of $90 in the second program year (2022-23)—the first increase since 2006—to accommodate the cost of running the new program.
Non-assessment Requirements
Aside from the assessment-related program requirements outlined here, Diplomates must meet non-assessment requirements. ABFAS will still require Diplomates to maintain an active, unrestricted podiatric license, be surgically active and maintain active surgical privileges, and obtain 100 continuing education credits each five-year period of their ten-year certification cycles.
The LEAD Program’s Participation Requirement
ABFAS has created an interactive Program Requirements tool to help Diplomates understand what they need to do for the LEAD program and how they can ensure their ABFAS certification will renew. Like the other resources mentioned in this article, you can access that tool at abfas.org/lead.
The change to Continuous Certification does not change a Diplomate’s current certification cycle. If a Diplomate recently recertified, their certification is valid through its expiration date. The certificates of Diplomates who continuously participate and meet program requirements will renew at their ten-year dates.
ABFAS defines full participation in a LEAD assessment quarter as completing all 30 questions within the quarter’s timeframe. Then, ABFAS will count that quarter towards the required twelve quarters within each five-year period.
Time-limited Certificates (Certified after 1990)
Diplomates holding time-limited certifications must complete two five-year periods within a ten-year certification cycle. Diplomates holding RRA Surgery certifications are not required to complete separate participation requirements.
Each Diplomate’s LEAD cycle start and end dates will coincide with their Foot Surgery certification ten-year cycle dates. The Diplomate must participate in required quarters by June 30 of their Foot Surgery certification expiration year.
Lifetime Certificates (Certified before 1991)
A Diplomate who holds a lifetime certificate will begin their first five-year LEAD cycle in January 2022 and must begin fulfilling their participation requirements at that time. A Diplomate must participate in twelve quarters of the LEAD assessment by June 30 at the conclusion of every five-year period.
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The LEAD Program’s MDT Requirement
The LEAD program is not an exam—an assessment of learning (summative)—but rather a continuous, longitudinal assessment for learning (formative) that will use principles of adult learning and modern technology to increase Diplomates’ retention of foot and ankle surgery principles.
ABFAS uses the science of Measurement Decision Theory (MDT) to analyze the probability that a Diplomate is keeping up with topics relevant to the practice of foot and ankle surgery. We refer to this probability as the Diplomate’s MDT p-value.
All Diplomates start the program with the same initial MDT p-value: 0.95 (95 percent). A Diplomate’s MDT p-value will move up and down as they participate in the LEAD program, depending on how they answer each question and the difficulty of each question.
It’s the Diplomate’s job to keep their p-value at or above the current minimum: an MDT p-value of 0.1 (10 percent). Anything lower indicates a probability of less than 10 percent that a Diplomate is keeping up to date on their knowledge. Each year, ABFAS will review—and potentially update—this standard.
ABFAS wants its Diplomates to succeed—and to keep learning. Diplomates who fall below the MDT standard have until June 30 of their certification expiration year to bring their p-value to 0.1 or higher. In future quarters, ABFAS may reintroduce questions the Diplomate answered incorrectly, allowing them additional opportunities to learn and raise their p-value.
Questions?
ABFAS understands this change to Continuous Certification is a fundamental shift in how Diplomates have recertified over the years. If you have questions about the transition, please contact ABFAS at lead@abfas.org or 415.553.7800
- Travis D. Piper, DPM
- Felicia Dickson Pierre, DPM
- Aksone Nouvong, DPM
