Finishing
your Residency in Pediatrics? All
you need to do is pass this last hurdle!
So, What is a Fool to Study
for the Pediatrics Board Exam?
There are a number of key things you need to have for the
Peds Board exam. First, you'll want to have at least one
(preferably 2) good atlases. Reviewing photos will definitely
be a help for you on the exam. Typically, the picture book
is the 1st book on the 2nd day of the exam. Of course,
Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis would be a great book to use for one of your atlases.
Then you'll want a book to cover all the text parts of the exam,
this means fairly in-detail sections so you can look up facts
and questions you may have.
Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment is fairly concise, or you can use your trusty Nelsons. 2 other
books you may want to consider include Laughing
Your Way to Passing the Pediatrics Board(review of older edition) (new edition here) and Pediatrics Board Review (if you like charts and tables). The Laughing
books is an annual favorite and about half of Peds boards takers
buy this book. It definitely will score you at least a few exam
questions, and probably many more. It's an easy read as well!
Probably the heaviest sections on the exam tend to be the normal
growth and development sections, which expect you to remember
at what age kids can draw particular shapes, or when they can
stack blocks up to 7 cubes high, and so on. Another popular section
every year is infectious diseases. Especially know your arthropod
borne diseases. Management of chronic asthma per the NIH guidelines
is also tested.
If you are superstitious and want to go by historical luck,
then check out the Pediatric
Board Pass Rates. Good luck!
This list indicates relative emphasis of each topic in the examination.
General Pediatrics Certifying Examination
Content Outline
Approximate Percent in
Examination
I.
Growth and development
4.5
II.
Nutrition and nutritional disorders
4.5
III.
Preventive pediatrics
4.0
IV.
Poisoning and environmental exposure to hazardous substances
1.0
V.
Fetus and newborn infant
4.5
VI.
Fluid and electrolyte metabolism
3.5
VII.
Genetics and dysmorphology
3.0
VIII.
Allergy and related disorders
4.5
IX.
Infectious diseases
5.0
X.
Metabolic disorders
1.5
XI.
Endocrine disorders
3.5
XII.
Gastrointestinal disorders
4.0
XIII.
Respiratory disorders
4.0
XIV.
Cardiovascular disorders
3.5
XV.
Disorders of the blood and neoplastic disorders
4.0
XVI.
Renal disorders
3.0
XVII.
Genital system disorders
1.5
XVIII.
Neurologic disorders
4.0
XIX.
Musculoskeletal disorders
3.5
XX.
Skin disorders
4.0
XXI.
Collagen vascular and other multisystem disorders
2.0
XXII.
Disorders of the eye
1.0
XXIII.
Ear, nose, and throat disorders
4.0
XXIV.
Adolescent medicine and gynecology
3.0
XXV.
Sports medicine and physical fitness
2.0
XXVI.
Substance abuse
1.5
XXVII.
Disorders of cognition, language, learning, and attention
2.5
XXVIII.
Psychosocial issues and problems
3.0
XXIX.
Critical care
2.0
XXX.
Emergency care
3.0
XXXI.
Pharmacology
2.0
XXXII.
Statistics
1.0
XXXIII.
Basic science
1.0
XXXIV.
Ethics
1.0
GENERAL PEDIATRICS CERTIFYING EXAMINATION
Application material for admission to the certifying examination
of the ABP may be obtained by contacting the ABP. First-time applicants
may complete applications on-line during the registration period
for new applicants.
Residents in their last year of training will be sent an application
through their residency programs in early December. Residents should
contact the ABP office if the application is not received by December
20. It is the applicant's responsibility to be aware of and to
meet registration deadlines.
The certifying examination is given once a year in the fall in
a number of locations throughout the United States. The dates of
examinations and other information may be found on the ABP website.
The Certifying Examination in General Pediatrics will be administered
over two days. Each day
there are 2 sessions, each of 3 hours' duration, with a luncheon
break between sessions.
The content of the examination for certification is appropriate
for the practice of general comprehensive pediatrics. Emphasis
is placed on practical aspects; however, good practice is founded
on sound scientific knowledge, and the candidate should be prepared
to demonstrate an understanding of basic science.
The examination consists of multiple-choice questions. Examples
of the types of questions to be used are mailed to registered candidates
before the administration of the examination. Some questions are
included in the examination for experimental purposes only. These
questions will not contribute to the score.
Each candidate's examination score will be reported to his or her
general pediatric program director. Periodically, the ABP conducts
research utilizing data it has compiled; the candidate's anonymity
is guaranteed in all such cases.
Source: American Board of Pediatrics. See ABP website for most
official, up to date information. Information provided here only
for convenience.
