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Resources

Continued competence demonstrates knowledge, skills, or ability to proficiently perform in the profession throughout the certificant's professional career. This component of a certification program typically requires the completion of continuing education during a set timeframe to renew a credential. The below resources share legal and quality assurance resources sharing the value of continuing competency.

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Legal Case

Ass'n of Am. Physicians & Surgeons, Inc. v. Am. Bd. of Med. Specialties

The Association of American Physicians & Surgeons, Inc. v. American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) case involves a group of physicians who challenged the ABMS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, which required physicians to participate in continuing education and testing to maintain their board certification. The plaintiffs argued that the MOC program constituted a restraint on trade in violation of antitrust law. However, the court found that the MOC program served a legitimate purpose of ensuring the competency of board-certified physicians and that any potential anticompetitive effects were outweighed by the procompetitive benefits. The case highlights the importance of professional organizations in regulating the competency of their members, and the legal limits of antitrust claims against such organizations.

Research

RSRCH14 Methods for Ensuring Continuing Competence, Part 1 and Part 2

Methods for Ensuring Continuing Competence is published in two parts. Part 1 covers the definition of continuing competence, identification of the stakeholders, and methods for demonstrating and documenting continuing competence. Part 2 discusses the implementation and outcomes evaluation for a continuing competence program. This research report encourages certification programs to take a strategic approach to their continuing competence requirements versus a purely tactical approach. A strategic approach asks, “What are we trying to accomplish?” placing a focus on goals and objectives, whereas a tactical approach focuses on mechanisms.

RSRCH09 Practices and Requirements of Renewal Programs in Professional Licensure and Certification

This research into the practices and requirements of renewal programs in professional licensure and certification began in late spring 2008 as an effort to supply a logical basis for such programs as they may be developed and refined. (c) 2009.

The 21st Century at Work | Forces Shaping the Future Workforce and Workplace in the United States

The 21st Century at Work report, prepared by RAND Labor and Population for the U.S. Department of Labor, was published in 2004. The report puts forward that the accelerating pace of technological change will have wide-ranging implications for the future of the workforce and the workplace. The labor market will require employees to adapt throughout the course of their careers to changing technology and product demand.