Continuous Certification - A commitment to lifelong learning

UCNS continuous certification (C-cert) provides diplomates with a relevant, effective, timely, and convenient way to meet the needs of lifelong learning and self-assessment. New diplomates begin the C-cert process to maintain their certification the year following their initial certification exam. Diplomates certified prior to 2020 began the C-cert process for maintaining their certification in 2020.

Continuous Certification Requirements

General eligibility requirements for C-cert include:
  • Must possess an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine
  • Be certified by an ABMS certifying board, AOA, or RCPSC
  • Pay $175 annual C-cert administrative fee (discounted fee of $150 if paid by May 31, 2023)
    • C-cert fees are billed annually in the spring of each year
    • All fees are per subspecialty certification
  • Read the annual designated subspecialty journal articles
    • C-cert articles will be posted annually starting in January of each year
  • Complete and pass annual online assessment quiz
    • Online quizzes will be available annually in the spring of each year
    • Access to online quizzes dependent upon payment of annual C-cert fee(s)
  • Deadline for Completion of C-cert Requirements: December 1, 2023 

Annual C-cert Fee Payment Instructions

The annual C-cert administrative fee is billed to each diplomate’s UCNS profile where it is available for online payment.  
 
Payment Instructions
  1. Sign in with your username and password towards the upper right corner of the page
  2. Once signed in, click on "Hi, <your name>" to go to your UCNS profile
  3. The blue "Pay Now" button will be on the left side of the profile page
  4. Go to Website Help for additional assistance and instructions on how to print a payment receipt

UCNS accepts VISA, MasterCard, and American Express for payment. Fees must be paid in US currency.

C-cert Quiz Access

Following payment of the annual C-cert fee, diplomates can access their C-cert quiz by signing into their UCNS profile.

Quiz access instructions:
  1. When logged in at ucns.org, click "Hi, <Your Name> " towards the upper right-hand corner to be taken to your UCNS profile
  2. Click the Assessments tab located in the blue bar in the  middle of the page
  3. Click on the hyperlink below “My Assessments” to enter your Assessments page
  4. Scroll down on the Assessments page to locate your annual C-cert quiz
  5. Click on the “Write Assessment” button to begin your quiz
  6. Click here to download and watch a brief tutorial

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits

To claim eligible CME or self-assessment credit hours, answer question 26 on the quiz to reflect the total time spent completing the required reading and online quiz. This question is not included in the scoring of the quiz. A minimum passing score of 80% is needed to meet C-cert requirements and receive CME credits. CME credit confirmation is emailed to diplomates within 24 hours of passing the quiz.

  • Click here to download and watch a brief tutorial on how to find and print a CME confirmation from the UCNS profile

     

Certification Status

Diplomate status is updated annually to reflect compliance with annual C-cert requirements and can be verified in the Diplomate Directory. Diplomates must meet annual maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements for C-cert. The diplomate status of meeting the MOC requirements for C-cert is updated annually or as outstanding requirements are met.
  • Certified-Meeting Requirements: Meeting the annual MOC requirements for C-cert
  • Certified-Not Meeting Requirements: Not meeting the annual MOC requirements for C-cert
Diplomates who do not meet the C-cert requirements for two consecutive years are no longer considered certified and must take and pass the initial certification examination to regain their certification. 

Staff Contacts

Bryan Hagerla, Continuous Certification Manager
[email protected]
(612) 928-6326