How does the ABD manage initial CertLink enrollment for diplomates in varying stages of their continuing certification cycle?
Newly certified diplomates are automatically enrolled in CertLink, to begin receiving questions in January following their year of certification. Example: new diplomates certified in 2023 will begin participating in January 2024. For diplomates certified prior to 2019 who are not yet in CertLink, the ABD will offer enrollment periods annually in October (until 2025), to start receiving questions the following January. By January 2026, all ABD diplomates must be participating in CertLink. The ABD will auto-enroll diplomates who do not register by the October 2025 enrollment deadline.
The final opportunity for diplomates to fulfill the knowledge assessment requirement by taking the traditional MOC Exam is in 2022. After the 2022 administrations, the traditional MOC Exam will be discontinued and CertLink will serve as the sole means to fulfill the continuing certification knowledge assessment requirement.
To find out when your CertLink participation must start, visit the new My CertLink Enrollment Timeline page.
The CertLink enrollment timeline for currently certified diplomates is based on the year the diplomate last passed the traditional MOC Exam, with one exception for those with a 2020-2029 continuing certification cycle, as summarized below:
Diplomates who last passed the MOC Exam in 2018 or prior will be automatically enrolled in CertLink, to begin participating in January 2023.
Diplomates who last passed the MOC Exam in 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022 will be automatically enrolled in CertLink, to begin participating in January 2026. Earlier enrollment is permitted and encouraged.
Due to special circumstances during the initial rollout of CertLink, diplomates who renewed their certification in 2019 (and now have a certification cycle of 2020-2029) will be automatically enrolled in CertLink, to begin participating in January 2026. Earlier enrollment is permitted and encouraged.
