The field of cardiology has evolved as its own distinct specialty, separate from internal medicine. Having a separate and distinct medical Board is best for cardiovascular professionals and their patients. The new Board will ensure clinical excellence by meeting the unique needs of today’s cardiovascular professionals and the patients they serve.
There is a formal application process for reviewing and evaluating applications for approval of new ABMS medical specialty boards. We expect that process to take 8-12 months. If an approval is granted, then it would be several more months before the formation of the new Board is complete and would begin offering initial certification and supporting continuous competency programs.
The new Board’s continuous certification competency-based program requirements are designed to offer diplomates convenience, support, choice and credit for the learning that physicians already do to keep their knowledge and skills at the highest levels.
There are no timed, high stakes performance exams. Instead, there would be learning assessments to identify gaps in current knowledge or skills, then recommendations offered of CME learning resources and activities to help close those gaps.
More information, as well as videos and webinars, will be available on CVBoard.org over the coming weeks.
No. The ABMS publishes requirements to which all its member boards adhere. These requirements state that only one medical specialty board will be recognized in each specialty. Therefore, if the new CV Board is approved, all cardiologists wishing to secure and maintain a Board certification in general cardiology, interventional cardiology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, and adult congenital heart disease must adhere to the requirements of the new CV Board.
Once the new Board is active, it is certainly possible that additional certifications related to cardiology could be added. Such decisions will be the purview of the certifying Board’s independent board of directors.
Eligibility to sit for a cardiology certification currently requires an internal medicine certification. There is no plan to change that requirement when the new Board becomes active.
The new Board will be governed by a board of directors comprising cardiovascular professionals who are representative of clinical expertise for the various cardiovascular certifications offered. More specific details forthcoming over the next few months.
The new certification(s) have been designed specifically with cardiovascular professionals in mind, meaning the requirements also prioritize convenience, choice and credit for learning. Pricing will be determined once the new Board application has been accepted, but it is our goal that the price will be lower than what physicians are currently paying, and the value will be exponential.
The continuous certification competency-based program for the new Board will not require taking any new exams or any future exams, so long as diplomates complete the requirements for the program within the five-year cycle. If you are participating in the 10-year exam pathway, continue with the 10-year pathway. If the new Board is approved, a process will be implemented for seamless transition to the new Board’s continuous competency program. No existing credit or status will be lost.
If you are participating in the CMP, continue with the CMP. If the new Board is approved, a process will be implemented for seamless transition to the new Board’s continuous competency program. No existing credit or status will be lost.
If you are participating in the LKA, continue with the LKA. If the new Board is approved, a process will be implemented for seamless transition to the new Board’s continuous competency program. No existing credit or status will be lost.
You would enter the new Board’s continuous competency pathway in a five-year cycle. See “What will the new Board’s continuous competency program look like?”
