Why Longitudinal Assessment?
Longitudinal assessment has been demonstrated via educational research studies to be a valuable learning tool. This kind of ongoing assessment improves the ABMGG continuing certification process by making it more meaningful, relevant and less burdensome. The CertLink platform allows us to implement a convenient and customizable web-based longitudinal assessment program. One of the exciting components of longitudinal assessment is individualized learning – over time you get a fuller picture of how you are performing and where your knowledge gaps may be.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Recognize key information relevant to their specialty(ies)
- Identify gaps in knowledge and skills
- Discuss effective testing strategies
About the Longitudinal Assessment Program
- All diplomates participating in the ABMGG Continuing Certification program are automatically enrolled in CertLink.
- Newly certified diplomates will begin CertLink in July of the year following their initial certification. For example, if you were certified in 2023 you will begin CertLink in July 2024.
- 24-28 questions are released at the beginning of each 6-month assessment period and must be completed by the end of that period. New questions are released when the next 6-month cycle begins and may include “clones” of questions answered incorrectly in the previous cycle to reinforce learning.
- Questions may be answered at your own pace throughout the assessment period. You can answer as many or as few as you want while in the CertLink platform.
- The assessment is “open book” – you may use reference materials as needed.
- Longitudinal assessment is considered an individual activity. Diplomates are required to sign a legally binding statement of integrity.
- Once you begin a question (by opening it), you must submit an answer within 5 minutes. Unanswered questions are marked as incorrect. If an option is selected but you don’t submit your answer before the time runs out, the selected option will be automatically submitted as your answer.
- Once a question is answered, you will receive a “critique” which reviews and explains the key point of the question and why the options are correct or incorrect; a brief list of references is also provided. You may access the critique and references at any time.
- Your progress is displayed in real-time on your personal dashboard where you will see how you are doing and how you compare to your peers.
Performance Assessment
The ABMGG longitudinal assessment program (CertLink) allows for the continuing certification assessment to be both formative and summative, while integrating a continual knowledge assessment and offering resources to help identify content areas in diplomate-specific practice areas that warrant improvement.
The ABMGG provides to each diplomate regular, individualized updates on performance and participation. When necessary, these reminders include notice that required performance and participation standards are not being met. Each diplomate’s overall performance will be evaluated at the end of four years of a five-year cycle. Diplomates who satisfy both the performance and participation standards receive a break during Year 5.
Performance Standard (End of Year 4)
- Diplomates must meet the defined performance (passing score) as listed in the CertLink portal
- If performance is satisfactory, diplomates may have the 5th year of the cycle off.
Participation Standard
- Diplomates must complete at least six of eight available segments over the course of four years.
Remediation Process
If a diplomate does not meet both summative performance and participation standards at the end of year 4, an opportunity to remediate during year five is available. The goal of the ABMGG is to identify, early in the longitudinal assessment program, diplomates who would benefit from an opportunity to improve individual performance.
Performance Standard:
- If performance is below the standard (pass rate), diplomates must complete a 5th year with a passing score.
Participation Standard:
- If three total segments are missed in a four-year cycle, diplomates must satisfactorily complete year 5.
- If four or more segments are missed in a four-year cycle, diplomates must sit for an in-person remediation exam offered several times during year five at the ABMGG office in Maryland.
Most diplomates remain on track simply by participating in the CertLink program, which provides resources to identify areas of weakness as well as resources for additional learning. Diplomates who are not participating fully or whose performance may be marginal receive notifications and suggestions for remediation long before the final assessment.
Blueprints and Content Outline:
While your assessment is customizable, a blueprint of the core of each specialty is available:
- Clinical Genetics and Genomics
- Clinical Cytogenetics and Genomics
- Clinical Molecular Genetics and Genomics
- Biochemical Genetics
Accredited Continuing Education Information:
*Joint providership of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG)*
Continuing Medical Education (AMA PRA Category 1 TM, CME Other, P.A.C.E.®)
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). The ACMG is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation Statement
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
P.A.C.E.® CEU’s
ACMG is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) Professional Acknowledgment for Continuing Education (P.A.C.E®) Program.
ACMG is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel as CE Provider (50-11878). This course is registered with CEBroker #20-1161142. ACMG is approved by the California Department of Health Services through the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® (275-300-24). This activity has been approved for 10 P.A.C.E.® contact hours.
*Full Details and Financial Disclosure can be found here.*