5 Infrequently Asked Questions about MOCA-Peds 2024

For those of you participating in the MOCA Peds module to get part 3 credit the American Board of Pediatrics just completed the scoring for 2023 and has posted the next set of moca peds questions for the first quarter 2024. 

 With the majority of us electing the  MOCA-Peds  process over the proctored exam, answering the MOCA Peds questions  is now  the preferred method for pediatricians to maintain their certification.    I  am also going through the process and have experienced  the pitfalls of the system but have become  more familiar with the Peds Moca scoring guide and how to achieve a moca peds passing score. The purpose of this blog is to address 5 Infrequently asked questions you might have.

While going through the American Board of Pediatrics outline for MOCA-Peds, I found myself squeezing the old stress ball saying “Wow I didn’t think about that!?" For those of you with me on that here they are.

1) So how many questions do I have to answer to get credit?

In the last blog we noted that you will have to answer approximately 20 questions every quarter. As of January 2024 that number is closer to 17 questions.   

If you answer them “successfully” you will be given credit. Well what does successful mean? And how many do I have to answer correctly? I called the American Board of Pediatrics and even they didn’t know the answer to that question. Just like the monitored/proctored MOC exam you must achieve a minimal raw score of 180. Apparently this means something different depending on the specific set of questions you answer.

However your dashboard now gives you an idea if you are passing or not and since this is a 5 year long game, you can adjust your test taking methods to improve your score.  

Apparently not all questions are created equally. My recommendation would be to shoot for at least 80% correct. For those of you without a calculator or 20 digits, that would mean hmm… 16 correct answers out of 20. Since this is an open book you should shoot for 20 out of 20. However that isn't always possible 

At the end of the year your raw score will be posted along with the percentage of questions you have answered correctly. This will give you an idea of what a passing score for the Moca Peds will be for you. 

You might actually be seeing the same questions more than once . This is especially true for questions you note you are not that confident in and answered incorrectly. That is why it is important to review all the questions you answered , especially the ones you answered incorrectly  Unlike life itself, you often do get " do overs" with Moca Peds 

2) What if I actually fail to answer enough questions correctly?

The safety net here is wide enough to catch all of us. In a given 5 year Maintenance of Certification cycle, they will drop your 4 lowest quarterly scores. You can actually strike out your first year and make up for the rest of the way.Therefore if you in your last year of the 5 year cycle and are above a raw score of 180 you are actually done and have satisfied the requirements. The last 4 quarters become easier with no pressure . Imagine that, Moca Peds questions with no pressure! 

3) Nickels and Dimes

If I take the secured proctored MOC exam am I still good for another 10 years?

There are some instances where you might choose the MOC Proctored exam instead of  the MOCA-Peds open book. Previously there  were 2 MOC Cycles in a given 10 year period, you were only required to take the exam once every 10 years. I viewed that as dime worth of exams for every nickel cycle. Well now you will be nickeled AND dimed. If you elect to take the proctored exam you will have to sit through the process once every 5 years. That is 2 proctored exams every 10 years  to satisfy the Part 3 requirement instead of 1 every 10 years. 

4) Can I double dip 2 for 3?

Well here is one I didn’t think of at all! Can you get MOC Part 2 credits for answering the MOCA-Peds questions and reviewing the answers?

Hmm... can I really get Part 2 MOC Self Assessment Credit? That would be double dipping so I doubted it! Well, guess what? You DO get credit Part 2 credit  if you get a raw score of 180 for the year, which is the passing grade you need.

You only get 5 Part 2 credits toward the total of 40 Part 2 credits but hey not bad for something you are doing anyway!

5) What if my computer turns on me?

We will cover the details of the MOCA-Peds process in a later blog. However it is important to know that you only have 5 minutes to answer the question you are on. If you don’t provide an answer you are automatically marked incorrect. So what happens if your computer glitches out before you had a chance to respond? Well if that happens you are out of luck it is marked incorrectly. So make sure you have a solid internet connection. Obviously it is best to answer the question earlier rather than later during your 5 minute session

While you are looking up the answer, make sure that you choose ONE answer, which should be the one you suspect is correct. This way if you get stuck in hyperfocus and run out of time you will at least have a chance of answering it correctly. If you have not selected any choices you automatically get it wrong! 

For additional frequently and/or infrequently asked questions on the Peds MOCA process check out this link to the American Board of Pediatrics website here.

Our Laughing Your Way to Pediatric Question Bank and MOC-Peds is an excellent way to prepare for the MOCA-Peds module and as a quick reference.

We will be releasing a question bank shortly with a 5 minute clock similator to help train with the mindset of answering within 5 minutes  Think of it as a Moca Peds Trainer 

Laughing Your Way to the Pediatrics Question Bank