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5 Reasons to Look Forward to MOCA Peds in 2024

5 Reasons to Look Forward to MOCA Peds in 2024

Posted by Stu Silverstein, MD, FAAP on Jan 16th 2024

5 Reasons to Look Forward to MOCA Peds in 2024


If you are like me and are in the middle of your MOC cycle and have the spectre of preparing for another proctored exam hanging over your head, January 2024 brings some good news. MOCA-Peds will officially be here alleviating you of the anxiety associated with taking another exam.

The Portal for the MOCA Peds exam is now back up and you can see how well you are scoring and begin the module for the first quarter 2024 

There are at least 5 things you are going to like about this new option. You of course do not have to participate in the MOCA -Peds Program. You can still elect to take the proctored exam but assuming you will follow the flock and will participate in the MOCA-Peds program here are 5 advantages for doing so:

  1. Less Anxiety - Passing the Pediatric Part 3 - Cognitive Expertise will no longer come down to one day. The anxiety will now be spread out over the course of 10 years. During this period you will have to answer 20 multiple choice questions delivered to you 4 times each year. You can answer them on the device of your choice, wherever you want to be , as long as you have internet connection.

  2. relieved


    Less Money Spent - If this wasn’t incentive enough it will be more expensive to take the proctored exam. That’s right, if you take the proctored exam you will have to pay additional fees.

    mr krabs saving money
  3. Much More Forgiving - When you are taking the proctored exam you can’t afford to have a bad day. You fail you are back in MOC-jail and go back and do it again. With the MOCA-Peds process, the 4 lowest quarters during your 5 year cycle are dropped. In other words you can have an entire bad year, and still get credit.
  1. got you


  2. Open Source - The exam is open source. You can use any book or even search the internet for the correct answer, You are of course not allowed to consult anyone, since you cannot disclose the content of the questions.

    open notes

  1. You Are Keeping Up Not Catching Up - Since this is an ongoing process, you are “keeping up” rather than “catching up” with developments in the field of general Pediatrics. At least in theory this is the case, but it is more likely to be more relevant to enhancing your cognitive expertise.

    keep up

This video is the official introduction to MOCA-Peds by the American Board of Pediatrics.

       American Board of Pediatrics MOCA Peds Video