Exam Overview
The In-training Examinations (ITE) (effective September 2020)
PGY 1 & 2 (and PGY-3 in a 4-year Residency Program) Residents In-training Exam
PGY 1 & 2 (and PGY 3 in 4-year programs) will take a new In-training Exam that has separate Foot Surgery and RRA Surgery components.
- Foot Surgery Didactic - 80 Items
- Foot Surgery CBPS - 8 Cases
- RRA Surgery Didactic - 80 Items
- RRA Surgery CBPS - 8 Cases
Final-year Residents In-training Exam
Final-year residents will take a new ITE. The ITE for final-year residents will have:
- Foot Surgery Didactic - 80 Items
- NEW Foot Surgery CBPS - 12 Cases
- RRA Surgery Didactic - 80 Items
- NEW RRA Surgery CBPS - 12 Cases
Residents taking the ABFAS ITE, regardless of whether they are in a PMSR or PMSR/RRA program, take the Foot and RRA examinations.
Final-year residents can satisfy the Board Qualification examination requirements by scoring at least 500 on any of their four final-year In-training Examinations and paying the Board Qualification fee for each exam.
Didactic Examinations
The didactic examinations are multiple-choice computerized adaptive tests (CAT). As you answer each question, the computer assesses your response and selects the next question based on whether you answered the previous question correctly. The questions become progressively more or less difficult as the examination establishes your level of knowledge.
Exams Administered: Foot Surgery, RRA Surgery
Exam Objective: Measures clinical knowledge acquired in podiatric medical school and in residency
Exam Type: Computer-adaptive, multiple-choice exam
Exam Structure: 80 questions, 120 minutes
CBPS Examinations
The CBPS examination presents a simulated case that describes a patient’s condition and may include medical history, images, and other pertinent information. You then select case-relevant physical exam tasks, imaging, laboratory tests, and/or diagnostic procedures. As you select options, more information may be displayed that could help you arrive at a diagnosis. Next, you determine treatment, additional diagnoses, and follow-ups as needed. Scores are earned on each aspect of case management, not just diagnosis and treatment.
Exams Administered: Foot Surgery, RRA Surgery
Exam Objective: Measures case management skills including patient examination, data gathering and critical synthesis of collected clinical data to arrive at a diagnosis and/or treatment
Exam Type: Computer-based simulated clinical environment
Exam Structure: 8 cases, 15 minutes per case
Exam Structure (final-year Residents only): 12 cases, 15 minutes per case