VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2

and testing interpretation, and resuscitation/critical illness scenarios. Both components will be taken the same day but each of the components will be graded separately. Passage of one, but not the other, will result in the resident only needing to retake the component that was not passed. The exam will be administered at the ABA’s home office and there will be 8-9 exam administration weeks throughout the year. Candidates who do not pass will be allowed to retake the exam at the next available administration as opposed to waiting a year as in the past. All candidates from this point forward have seven years from graduation of residency to complete the board certification process..

As the ABA transitions from the old system to the new, a few important points should be remembered. All candidates will be enrolled in the system that they began with. Therefore, if a candidate in the old system requires multiple attempts to pass any portion of the exam, they will always be in the old system. However, beginning in 2015, all of their Part 2 exams (oral exam) will be administered at the ABA offices in Raleigh. If they continue in the process into 2016, they may be taking their exam alongside candidates that are in the new system, but will not take the OSCE portion. In addition, unlike the candidates in the new system, those candidates still in the old system will not be able to take the exam more than once a year.

Hopefully this information will clear up some confusion that many have over the transition to the new exam system.