Radiation Oncology Recertification
Updated November 2010
Beginning in 2006, all physicians who are newly certified will be required to meet the new ABPS Standards for Recertification. See ABPS Standards for Recertification. Click Here to view a copy of the brochure or Click here to download a PDF copy of the brochure. Physicians who were initially certified prior to 2006 will not have to meet the new recertification requirements until after their next recertification.
ABPS will accept Diplomates certified by the Boards that are part of The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (AOABOS) as candidates for recertification with ABPS in any specialty in which ABPS currently certifies physicians. Click here for full details.
Please note that in addition to the recertification requirements listed, all applicants due for recertification in 2012 or later will be required to show proof of completion of an AAPS-approved course in Medical Ethics. (To assist physicians in meeting this requirement, AAPS will periodically schedule for its members a one-day course in Medical Ethics.) CMEs earned for attending the medical ethics course may also be applied to meeting the CME recertification requirements.
The Board recommends that all applicants keep a copy of all application materials sent to ABPS.
Requirements for Recertification
Recertification Requirements for Physicians who were Initially Certified in Radiation Oncology prior to 2006
- Submit a completed recertification application, along with payment of appropriate fee. Refer to the recertification fee schedule*.
- Submit documentation of a total of a minimum of twenty (20) Category 1 CME hours per year for the years since certified or last recertified.The ABPS CME form must be used, in compiling the CMEs, click here. Copies of an official printout or copies of certificates must be attached to the ABPS CME Form.
- Provide a copy of current medical license with expiration date.
- Successfully pass a written examination in Radiation Oncology.
New Recertification Requirements for Physicians Who are Initially Certified in Radiation Oncology after 2005 and for Physicians After Recertifying in 2006 or Later
The following resources are available for on-line CME and self-assessments:
A list of CME/Self Assessment Resources compiled by Dr. Bernard Sklar (Online Continuing Medical Education) is available at http://www.cmelist.com/list.htm.
Another resource for On-Line self assessments is NetCE at www.netce.com.
- Submit a completed recertification application, along with payment of appropriate fee. Refer to the recertification fee schedule*.
- Submit documentation of CME hours:an average of twenty (20) Category 1 CME hours.The ABPS CME form must be used, in compiling the CMEs, click here. Copies of an official printout or copies of certificates must be attached to the ABPS CME Form.
- Provide a copy of current medical license with expiration date.
- Successfully pass a written examination in Radiation Oncology.
Download Board Recertification Application
(.pdf, 163 KB)
* NOTE: Recertification Application fee is non-refundable
When and Where the Examinations are Offered
The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. (AAPS), offers computer-based recertification examinations twice a year in testing centers across the United States and Canada. The recertification examination process in Radiation Oncology requires candidates to pass only a written examination.
Click Here for a full listing of upcoming ABPS Recertification Exam Dates.
The Written Examination—What to Expect
The written examination consists of approximately 100 multiple-choice questions of four choices. (Experimental or non-scorable items may also appear on an examination. These questions will not necessarily be identified as non-scorable.) Each scorable question has only one correct answer.
Test Blueprint
The following table lists the approximate number of items in each domain included on each form of the examination:
| Domain | Approximate Number of Questions on the Examination |
|---|---|
| Benign Diseases | 2 |
| Bone Marrow Transplants | 1 |
| Breast | 5 |
| Central Nervous System | 4 |
| Chemotherapy/Leukemia | 1 |
| Childhood Cancers | 1 |
| GI Tract—Colo-Rectal | 4 |
| GI Tract—Esophagus | 2 |
| GI Tract—Other Topics | 2 |
| Gynecologic Oncology—Cervix | 4 |
| Gynecologic Oncology—Endometrium | 4 |
| Gynecologic Oncology—Ovarian | 2 |
| Gynecologic Oncology—Other Topics | 2 |
| Head & Neck—Larynx | 4 |
| Head & Neck—Nasopharynx | 4 |
| Head & Neck—Oropharynx | 4 |
| Head & Neck—Other Topics | 3 |
| Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | 4 |
| Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | 4 |
| Musculoskeletal System | 3 |
| Palliative Medicine | 3 |
| Physics | 7 |
| Radiobiology | 6 |
| Skin | 3 |
| Thorax—Lung | 5 |
| Thorax—Other Topics | 3 |
| Urology—Bladder | 3 |
| Urology—Kidney | 2 |
| Urology—Prostate | 4 |
| Urology—Testes | 2 |
| Urology—Other Topics | 2 |
Radiation Oncology Examination Study References
You may wish to use the study references to prepare for the written recertification examination. The Examinations Committee uses these references to create questions for the examinations.
When Examination Results are Available ABPS sends to candidates the results of their examinations within 75 days of the administration date.
