SPECIALTY BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS 2026 (VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1
Which of the following organizations oversees the certification of physician
specialists in the United States?
A) American Medical Association (AMA)
B) National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
C) American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
D) Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Answer: C) American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Rationale:
The ABMS is the recognized organization that oversees the certification of
physician specialists in the U.S. It comprises multiple member boards responsible
for certifying physicians in their respective specialties.
Question 2
,Which of the following is a primary requirement to maintain certification with an
ABMS member board?
A) Retaking the initial board exam every 10 years
B) Continuous Medical Education (CME) and periodic Maintenance of
Certification (MOC) activities
C) Obtaining a license from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
D) Submitting patient satisfaction surveys annually
Answer: B) Continuous Medical Education (CME) and periodic Maintenance of
Certification (MOC) activities
Rationale:
ABMS requires ongoing CME and participation in MOC to ensure that physicians
maintain knowledge and skills throughout their careers, rather than only at initial
certification.
Question 3
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certifies physicians specializing
in which area?
A) Surgery
B) Pediatrics
C) Internal Medicine
D) Psychiatry
Answer: C) Internal Medicine
, Rationale:
The ABIM is the member board within the ABMS responsible for certifying
physicians specializing in internal medicine and its subspecialties.
Question 4
What is the typical length of initial certification validity for most ABMS member
boards before Maintenance of Certification is required?
A) 5 years
B) 7 years
C) 10 years
D) Lifetime
Answer: C) 10 years
Rationale:
MostxABMSxmemberxboardsxgrantxinitialxcertificationxvalidxforx10xyears,xafterxwhi
chxphysiciansxmustxparticipatexinxMaintenancexofxCertificationxprogramsxtoxmaint
ainxtheirxboardxstatus.
Questionx5
WhichxofxthexfollowingxisxNOTxtypicallyxincludedxinxMaintenancexofxCertificationx(
MOC)xprograms?
A) Professionalismxandxprofessionalxstanding
B) Lifelongxlearningxandxself-assessment
CERTIFICATION EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS 2026 (VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1
Which of the following organizations oversees the certification of physician
specialists in the United States?
A) American Medical Association (AMA)
B) National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
C) American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
D) Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Answer: C) American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Rationale:
The ABMS is the recognized organization that oversees the certification of
physician specialists in the U.S. It comprises multiple member boards responsible
for certifying physicians in their respective specialties.
Question 2
,Which of the following is a primary requirement to maintain certification with an
ABMS member board?
A) Retaking the initial board exam every 10 years
B) Continuous Medical Education (CME) and periodic Maintenance of
Certification (MOC) activities
C) Obtaining a license from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
D) Submitting patient satisfaction surveys annually
Answer: B) Continuous Medical Education (CME) and periodic Maintenance of
Certification (MOC) activities
Rationale:
ABMS requires ongoing CME and participation in MOC to ensure that physicians
maintain knowledge and skills throughout their careers, rather than only at initial
certification.
Question 3
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certifies physicians specializing
in which area?
A) Surgery
B) Pediatrics
C) Internal Medicine
D) Psychiatry
Answer: C) Internal Medicine
, Rationale:
The ABIM is the member board within the ABMS responsible for certifying
physicians specializing in internal medicine and its subspecialties.
Question 4
What is the typical length of initial certification validity for most ABMS member
boards before Maintenance of Certification is required?
A) 5 years
B) 7 years
C) 10 years
D) Lifetime
Answer: C) 10 years
Rationale:
MostxABMSxmemberxboardsxgrantxinitialxcertificationxvalidxforx10xyears,xafterxwhi
chxphysiciansxmustxparticipatexinxMaintenancexofxCertificationxprogramsxtoxmaint
ainxtheirxboardxstatus.
Questionx5
WhichxofxthexfollowingxisxNOTxtypicallyxincludedxinxMaintenancexofxCertificationx(
MOC)xprograms?
A) Professionalismxandxprofessionalxstanding
B) Lifelongxlearningxandxself-assessment
