UCNS Announces Maintenance of Certification Policy

At its meeting on April 12, 2010, the UCNS Board of Directors approved a maintenance of certification policy that will become effective January 1, 2011. It will apply to all current and future UCNS diplomates.

All UCNS certificates are time-limited, expiring on December 31st of the tenth year after the date of issuance. There are four requirements that must be met during the 10 year cycle in order to be recertified for another 10 year period. The diplomate must:

1. maintain a current, active, valid, unrestricted, and unqualified license to practice medicine,
2. continue to be in good standing in the primary specialty of an ABMS or RCPSC member board that was required for eligibility when he or she applied for initial UCNS certification,
3. complete 300 ACCME or RCSPC approved category 1 CME hours, 60 (20%) of which must be related to the diplomate's UCNS subspecialty, and
4. take and pass a UCNS recertification examination.

For those diplomates who were certified prior to the effective date of the policy, CME requirements will be prorated. The same CME credits may be used to satisfy the maintenance of certification requirements for multiple specialties and subspecialties.

Look for further announcements regarding this policy in the months to come.

UCNS Offers Three Certification Examinations in 2010

UCNS is offering three certification examinations in 2010. They are: Headache Medicine, Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry, and Neurocritical Care. For application and scheduling information, select the subspecialty in which you are interested.

UCNS offered its first certification examinations in 2006. It now provides examinations in seven neurologic subspecialties. These state-of-the-art examinations are developed by 10-person committees comprised of experts appointed by UCNS' sponsoring organizations. Sponsoring organizations apply for UCNS membership as a means to help their subspecialties grow through certification and accreditation.

Examinations are offered on a rotating basis. Check the UCNS Examination Schedule for more information.