ABA Board Assessments 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The ABA BASIC Exam is typically taken after completion of which training milestone?
- CA-1 year
- CA-2 year (Correct answer)
- CA-3 year
- Internship year
Correct answer: CA-2 year
The BASIC Exam is designed to be taken after the CA-2 year, testing foundational anesthesiology knowledge.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the ABA APPLIED Exam format?
- Written multiple-choice only
- Oral examination only
- Computer-based simulation with standardized patients
- Oral examination with two ABA examiner pairs (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Oral examination with two ABA examiner pairs
The APPLIED Exam is an oral examination conducted by two pairs of ABA examiners assessing clinical judgment.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the ABA's Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) program?
- To replace initial board certification
- To ensure ongoing competency throughout a physician's career (Correct answer)
- To evaluate residency program quality
- To license anesthesiologists in multiple states
Correct answer: To ensure ongoing competency throughout a physician's career
MOCA ensures diplomates maintain and demonstrate ongoing competency across their anesthesiology career.
Question 4: How often must ABA diplomates complete MOCA requirements to maintain certification?
- Every 2 years
- Every 5 years
- Every 10 years (Correct answer)
- Every 15 years
Correct answer: Every 10 years
ABA diplomates must fulfill MOCA requirements on a 10-year cycle to maintain their board certification.
Question 5: Which component is NOT a standard part of the MOCA 2.0 program?
- Part 1: Licensure and Professionalism
- Part 2: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment
- Part 3: Cognitive Expertise
- Part 4: Research Publication Requirement (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Part 4: Research Publication Requirement
MOCA 2.0 has four parts focused on licensure, learning, cognitive expertise, and practice improvement — research publication is not required.
Question 6: A resident fails the ABA BASIC Exam. What is the maximum number of times they may attempt this exam?
- 2 times
- 3 times (Correct answer)
- 4 times
- 6 times
Correct answer: 3 times
Candidates may attempt the BASIC Exam a maximum of 3 times under current ABA policy.
Question 7: The ABA ADVANCED Exam primarily tests which domain of anesthesiology knowledge?
- Basic science and pharmacology
- Subspecialty and advanced clinical anesthesia topics (Correct answer)
- Residency program administration
- Medical ethics and legal issues only
Correct answer: Subspecialty and advanced clinical anesthesia topics
The ADVANCED Exam covers subspecialty anesthesia, advanced clinical management, and complex patient scenarios.
ABA Board Assessments 2
The ABA BASIC Exam is typically taken after completion of which training milestone?