10-year Milestone for 2021

Eligibility, Deadlines and Fees
Diplomates eligible for the 10-year MOC in 2021 have certificates ending in 2021, 2022 and 2023.  
The 2021 10-year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) application will be available on March 1, 2021 and is due on April 30, 2021.  There is a $500 MOC application fee due at the time of submission.  The fee button to submit payment for the 2021 10-Year MOC application will be available on the Diplomates portal page after the application has been submitted.  The fee button will be located in the same area the button for the 10-Year MOC application was located.  Late applications will be accepted from May 1, 2021 through May 17, 2021.  A $350 late fee will be assessed to all applications received between 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on May 1, 2021 through 11: 59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 17, 2021.

No 10-Year MOC applications will be accepted after May 17, 2021.

Application Process
The application will be online through the Board's web portal. Diplomates can access the portal by clicking the "Sign in" button on the top of this page.  If this is your first time signing into the portal, please contact the Board office for assistance with your username and password.  Once you are on your portal page, you should first update your contact information on the Profile Tab. You can also personalize your portal page by adding an optional photo.  

The 10-year MOC application can be accessed by clicking the Application Button found on the left-side of your portal page.  Before you start the application process, it is highly recommended that you have the following documents and/or information ready when you complete the application:

  1. Copies of all medical licenses (PDF format) and National Practitioner Identifier Number. Upload a .pdf copy of all the medical licenses listed in the application;

  2. A letter of reference from your Chief of Staff, or VP of Medical Affairs or equivalent position.  The individual can use this Reference Template Form (Click Here) or he/she can write a letter on their own institutional letterhead provided there is a signature (PDF format). You will need to upload the .pdf letter into the application;

  3. A letter of reference from a responsible member on staff.  This individual can use this Reference Template Form (Click Here) or he/she can write a letter on their own institutional letterhead provided there is a signature (PDF format). You will need to upload the .pdf letter into the application;

  4. A practice profile. Provide the percentage of time spent in surgical and non-surgical activities listed in the 10-Year MOC application;

  5. A summary of the last year of cases. The dates can be from January 1 - December 31, 2020 or from the date of the application and 12 months back. The 10-Year MOC application will provide a list of Cardiac/Congenital and Thoracic procedures, you will need to indicate the number of procedures completed during the time frame indicated on the application;

  6. The name and a brief description (to include the following information: what needed to be improved, what measures were taken to make the improvement and what were the results after the measures were implemented) of a Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) project performed in the last two years. PQI project must have a start date of March 1, 2019 or later;

  7. The name of the Patient Safety course completed in the last 24 months (March 1, 2019 or later). Click here for additional information regarding the Patient Safety course. Serving on a Patient Safety committee does not meet the requirement for Patient Safety.  A patient safety course or a meeting covering the additional topics listed on the Board's website will be accepted.

  8. Submit 150 AMA Category 1 CME hours since January 1, 2017, half (75 hours) of which need to be in the broad category of thoracic surgery

Diplomates who are Clinically-Inactive will be expected to submit the following documents and/or information with their application:

  1. Submit copies of all medical licenses (PDF format). Upload a .pdf copy of all the medical licenses listed in the application;

  2. Complete the Practice Profile. Provide the percentage of time spent in non-surgical and surgical activities listed in the 5-Year MOC application;

  3. Provide an explanation describing what you are doing professionally. The information will be added into the 10-Year MOC application; and

  4. Submit 150 AMA Category 1 CME hours since January 1, 2017, half (75 hours) of which need to be in the broad category of thoracic surgery.

If selected for random audit, Diplomates will be expected to submit copies of the third-party CME certificates (PDF format). If you are randomly selected for a CME audit, you will receive an email requesting the third-party CME certificates.

A confirmation email will be sent to Diplomates when the application is submitted. Another email will be sent when the application has been approved.