The pediatrics board exam is offered by the American Board of Pediatrics to residents who have completed their pediatric residency. In order to be certified by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), you must pass the General Pediatrics Certifying Exam.

What does the pediatrics board exam cover? 

The exam will include questions from 25 content domains. The content domains include anything from preventive pediatrics/well-child care, to allergy and immunology, to psychosocial issues.

They also include four universal tasks:

-basic science and pathophysiology

-epidemiology and risk assessment

-diagnosis

-management and treatment

A full list of content areas reviewed on the General Pediatrics Certifying Exam are available from the ABP.

What is the exam format? 

The General Pediatrics Certifying Exam is computer-based and consists of four sections. The question format is multiple-choice. It will take you seven hours to complete the exam, and there are optional breaks between each section.

How is the pediatrics certifying exam scored?  

All questions are multiple-choice and weighted equally on the exam. The exam is scored as pass or fail, and your score depends on the number of questions that you answer correctly.

A passing score depends upon the level of difficulty of the exam, which means the number of questions that you must get correct can vary each year. In 2020, the General Pediatrics Certifying Exam had an 87% pass rate. In general, it takes around two months to receive your exam results.

When is the General Pediatrics Certifying Exam offered? 

The pediatrics board exam is offered once per year. In 2021, the exam dates are October 12, 13, or 14. In order to take the exam in October, you must register by late March. Late registration is available until mid-May.

The exam fee is $2,265 for regular registration and $2,610 (including a $345 late fee) for late registration.

In order to register for the 2021 exam, you must have a valid U.S. medical license by October 1, 2021. More information on registration dates and requirements are available on the ABP website.

Why is the pediatrics board exam important? 

The General Pediatrics Certifying Exam is extremely important to your career as a pediatrician.

Med School Tutors understands the importance of these exams and can provide the best tutors who have excelled on these exams to help you prepare and feel more confident. Sign up for a free consult to learn more.