Self-Assessment Exam

We are very pleased that we can bring this educational tool to our members. The SAE is designed to help you assess your knowledge in comparison with other orthopaedic surgeons, no matter how many years in practice or your level of specialization. The results of your SAE should direct you toward areas of study that will lead to professional improvement.

The SAE is in compliance with the ABOS requirements and provides 10 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for your Maintenance of Certification (MOC). To receive your 10 credits, you must take and submit the scored & recorded exam. After completing the exam online, you will submit an evaluation and receive feedback, the correct answers, commentary and references, as well as acknowledgement by email that you have completed the exam and your certificate. We hope that you will find it informative and useful in furthering your educational knowledge.

Here are instructions from ABOS on uploading your SAE credits: https://www.abos.org/moc/cme-sae/instructions-for-uploading-cme-sae-credits/

Order the 2021 Self-Assessment Exam

Please allow 2 business days to receive your SAE access.

To Order:

Self-Assessment Exam Order form

Free for COS Members / $95 for non members

2021 Exam credits are available through January 31, 2026.

2018 Exam Credits have expired as of January 1, 2023.

2017 Exam Credits have expired as of October 15, 2021.

2016 Exam Credits have expired as of July 31, 2020.

Please note: Submitting the order form will not provide instant access to the exam. Our administrator will set up your account and email your login access to you within two business days. If you are pre-ordering the exam, you will receive your account access via email when the exam opens. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].


Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

All orthopaedic physicians who are diplomats of the ABOS must abide by the MOC (Maintenance of Certification) process in order to maintain their primary certificate in Orthopaedic Surgery.

We encourage you to go to the ABOS site to learn more about the requirements noted above – the MOC process needs to be fully understood. The first thing you need to do is register for MOC online at https://www.abos.org. Your name will be entered into the database so you are listed as an orthopaedic surgeon who is pursuing board certification and will allow you to track and monitor your progress.

1. NOW! – Register for MOC at https://www.abos.org/
2. Years 1-3 – Complete 120 Category 1 CME Credits, 20 of which are SAE credits
3. Years 4-6 – Complete 120 Category 1 CME Credits, 20 of which are SAE credits
4. Year 6 – Enter all CME/SAE credits into CME Summary Sheet at www.abos.org

OPTION 1
MOC Computer Exam
5. Year 6 – By the end of the year, enter case list data for 3 months of surgical cases (limit 75 cases)
6. Years 7-9 – Apply to take MOC Computer Exam
7. Years 8-10 – Take the MOC Computer Exam

OR

OPTION 2
MOC Oral Exam
5. Year 7 – Apply to take MOC Oral Exam
6. Years 8-9 – Submit a 6-month case list of surgical cases
7. Years 9-10 – By May, candidates will receive 12 cases selected by the ABOS based on the submitted 6-month case list. Candidates will need to bring 10 of the cases and related materials for presentation in July.