The Amplified Continuing Education (ACE) Pilot is an innovative enhancement to ABOG's Continuing Certification (CC) program. It aims to identify and close knowledge gaps for diplomates through zero-pressure knowledge gap questions.
The ACE Pilot will be launched in January 2026.
- Diplomates answer 120 total questions:
- Assigned ACE knowledge gap questions (60)
- Read 10 articles and answer 6 scored questions per article (60)
- ACE questions are unscored, so there is no impact on CC performance benchmarks. We are collecting response data solely to identify potential knowledge gaps. Your performance information will be compiled into a year-end report, which will include a comparison to peer performance for added context.
- There will be no change to performance benchmarks (80% minimum annual article score and 86% minimum Performance Pathway score).
- Questions will be tailored to your clinical practice based on your selections in the annual CC application. Diplomates are committed to those specific ACE selections throughout the remainder of the year.
- There is no time limit on answering ACE questions. However, you will only have one attempt to answer each question.
- You will receive immediate feedback (correct vs. incorrect answers) with references and rationales.
- You will also receive end-of-year feedback that includes peer comparison and overall feedback by ACE area.
No, there are no changes to the performance benchmarks. Diplomates still must achieve a minimum of 80% for their annual article score to pass CC Part II and 86% minimum Performance Pathway score (aggregated over CC Years 1-5).
All ACE questions must be completed by the annual CC completion deadline of November 15.
- Diplomate certification statuses will remain active, but a remedial pathway will be required in 2026 to maintain certification, and CC requirements double:
- 240 total CC questions
- Read 20 articles and answer 6 scored questions per article (120)
- Answer assigned ACE knowledge gap questions (120)
- 2 Part IV Practice Improvement activities
- Impacted diplomates will have to apply for 2026 CC by the 2026 CC application deadline.
- An Incomplete Requirements Service fee of $795 will be assessed in addition to the 2026 CC application fee at the time of the 2026 CC application.
- Impacted diplomates who fail to apply and meet all 2026 requirements by the 2026 CC completion deadline must pass the 2027 Re-Entry Exam to regain certification(s).
- More information on missed requirements is available on our Missed Deadlines webpage.
The intent of the ACE program is to uncover knowledge gaps, so we encourage diplomates to tackle the ACE questions based on their own current knowledge without tapping into new or additional resources.
ACE questions are unscored because we are collecting response data solely to identify potential knowledge gaps. Your performance information will be compiled into a year-end report, which will also include a comparison to peer performance for added context. It is important to note that ACE performance data will not be used toward your annual CC article or performance pathway scores. In addition to identifying potential knowledge gaps, we want the ACE enhancement to CC to be a low-anxiety experience for diplomates, an objective supported by using the unscored approach.
ACE questions are assigned based on your ACE area selections in the annual CC or CME Only applications. If you are not clinically active, you will be given the choice to make selections based on your areas of interest.
The pilot will be evaluated based on survey data collected at the end of 2026. This data will inform official implementation in January 2027.
Diplomates will receive email messages containing links to all ACE resources, including FAQs on abog.org, in October, December, and early January 2026. Information about ACE also will appear in the winter issue of the diplomate newsletter.
Diplomates can visit the ACE overview page on abog.org for more information. If they still have questions, they can visit the Contact Us page and select “Continuing Certification” as the topic and then select “ACE Pilot” for type of inquiry.