In accordance with international standards, health care professionals must recertify in a chosen field every 10 years. This means diplomates must repeat the certification process, submitting the required prerequisites, paying the full amount for the exam and enduring the stress of studying and sitting for the exam. Many board-certified physicians and allied health professionals do not find this a satisfactory course of action, so the alternative is the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) pathway.
Up until 2021, the IBLM pathway has been the only option available, but many Diplomates have been keen to ensure that there is UK & European context to this continued learning and therefore we are delighted to confirm that maintenance of certification in the UK is now available through BSLM.
Our MOC programme is aligned with that of the IBLM and by continuing to maintain your Diploma you will not be required to re-sit the exam after the 10 year period has lapsed.
Eligibility Criteria
- BSLM diplomate
- Sign up to MOC by the end of March the year after passing the Diploma exam (or have been passported from IBLM Maintenance Programme)
- Submission of all requirements annually
- Payment of annual MOC fees
Structure of MOC
- BSLM accredited CPD 6 hours/year or 30 hours every 5 years
- 1 case study/paper/poster presentation/blog piece every 10 years
- Pass MCQ – based on three lifestyle medicine research papers which will be made available in April each year and will be required to be completed within that calendar year
The BSLM MOC will be managed via the BSLM Learning Academy using our Learning Management System where you will be able to view the selected research papers and sit the MCQ’s which must be passed as a requirement of ongoing maintenance. Using the course portal, you will also be able to provide details of CPD that you have undertaken to meet the requirements of maintenance. Our system will allow your progress to be recorded to ensure that your records are maintained.
Payment
Rates for 2022 are as follows:
- Practitioner – £40
- Professional – £60
- Physician – £80
*Payments are once off payments, on a calendar year basis
Country Society membership is not a requirement for signing up the maintenance of certification. Of course, we hope you see value it provides value through member discounts, opportunities and learning, among others. Our network is growing through your support to the Charity, and with that increases the opportunity to get lifestyle medicine education to where it’s needed the most. Membership fee runs separate to the annual MOC fee and does not run concurrently unless purchased on the same day.
Payment will be taken via subscription on 10th January annually, at which time you will be enrolled into the next year’s Maintenance Course.
For further queries, please reach out to office@bslm.org.uk.