Call to Action: Submit Comments on CPME 220/230 Draft Revisions

July 8, 2024

The Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) seeks input on the recently revised CPME 220, “Standards and Requirements for Recognition of a Specialty Board for Podiatric Medical Practice,” and CPME 230, “Procedures for Recognition of a Specialty Board for Podiatric Medical Practice.” This is your opportunity to weigh in on the future of board certification.

ABFAS supports all of the new standards highlighted in the CPME 220 and the procedures in the CPME 230. Show your support by selecting “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” to all of the standards in the CPME Call for Comments survey. The Call for Comments closes on Monday, July 15.

Important standards of note include the following:

• Standard 1 – Continues the APMA Blue Ribbon Task Force’s recommendation to have separate, distinct certification pathways for podiatric medicine and podiatric surgery.
• Standard 2 – Ensures there is no fragmentation or duplication among the specialty boards and that certification requires post-residency independent clinical practice.
• Standard 5 – Focuses on organizational integrity and stipulates that each specialty board may certify only in the podiatric medical practice in which it has CPME recognition.
• Standard 6 – Allows for alternative pathways to certification for those who completed a less than 3-year residency program.
• CPME 230 Revisions – The new procedures outline compliance requirements that allow for a transparent process if a board is non-compliant. The document also states that specialty boards cannot have certificates of added qualification but does allow for subspecialty certification.