Attitudes to specialist recertification: results of a national survey among pathologists.

AIMS

to evaluate attitudes and preferred mechanisms in the establishment of specialist recertification for pathologists.

METHODS

a national survey was conducted amongst the membership of the New Zealand Society of Pathologists.

RESULTS

responses were received from 54 (62%) financial members of the society. The majority of respondents agreed with the concept of compulsory periodic recertification. The ideal recertification period should be 10 years and the system should be supervised by the New Zealand Society of Pathologists. The favoured recertification mechanism was by continuing medical education which should be funded by the individual candidate. The majority of respondents supported the establishment of voluntary recertification on a trial basis.

CONCLUSIONS

the survey suggested a favourable attribute amongst pathologists to the introduction of continuing education based periodic recertification.