Board Certification in Psychiatry

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agree...Part I was straightforward and fair. Part 2 was horrible for me! I found myself rushing thru the videos and was unable to even hear the last two videos. I think the ABPN website is extremely misleading..it IS possible to forward and rewind the sample video they provided on their website prior to the exam..and the real exam did NOT ALLOW THIS!!!! THIS IS LEGALLY WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP. Personally, I lost time trying the hear the first video twice, not realizing this factor. I agree that more people should bring this up and complain to ABPN. Perhaps the second part should be eliminated or they should pass everyone due to all these errors.

Does anybody have any idea when the Written exam grades will be released? I think the test itself said 12 weeks, but the printout the test center gave me when I was finished said 8. I can't find anything on the website about it. I would like to stop obsessively refreshing this page, but I can't help it.

I have written to ABPN expressing my concerns as well. Hopefully, they take it seriously. I would strongly like to urge others to do the same and also to tell their colleagues from residency/work who took the exam to also write letters as soon as possible as they are probably in the midst of grading this as someone mentioned in a previous post!

Originally Posted by computerguy

agree...Part I was straightforward and fair. Part 2 was horrible for me! I found myself rushing thru the videos and was unable to even hear the last two videos. I think the ABPN website is extremely misleading..it IS possible to forward and rewind the sample video they provided on their website prior to the exam..and the real exam did NOT ALLOW THIS!!!! THIS IS LEGALLY WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP. Personally, I lost time trying the hear the first video twice, not realizing this factor. I agree that more people should bring this up and complain to ABPN. Perhaps the second part should be eliminated or they should pass everyone due to all these errors.

Yes, I agree. Part II was very stressful, mostly because we were never really told how to prepare for it. I felt like I was walking into an expensive, high stakes exam without having prepared for it hardly at all - and that's exactly what happened. Very unfair. The stuff of nightmares. Hopefully there will be more preparation materials available for the class taking it next year.

Originally Posted by FriarLawrence

Yes, I agree. Part II was very stressful, mostly because we were never really told how to prepare for it. I felt like I was walking into an expensive, high stakes exam without having prepared for it hardly at all - and that's exactly what happened. Very unfair. The stuff of nightmares. Hopefully there will be more preparation materials available for the class taking it next year.

Not to point out issues, but the flipside is I haven't heard of a single person not passing this year. Not one. Though my selection pool is small <20, and they're all pretty smart people, I have to wonder if this means many of the q's from section 2 were thrown out.

Originally Posted by nitemagi

Not to point out issues, but the flipside is I haven't heard of a single person not passing this year. Not one. Though my selection pool is small <20, and they're all pretty smart people, I have to wonder if this means many of the q's from section 2 were thrown out.

Yes, that’s one way to look at it. Also, as a friend of mine who has yet to take his oral boards pointed out to me, I’ll never have to deal with the ambiguities, uncertainties and expenses of a live patient exam. That is a huge advantage with the new format. Plus, you get it all over with in one day. Despite all that, I’m not at all in a very celebratory mood today. Just irritated to have been put through that weird experience.

Have you tried Boardvitals.com (it's a qbank like USMLEworld)

Hi everybody,
I am curious if there are any websites shows passing rate on oral board in past 2 ,3 years?

Hi , I am looking for a desi study partner for sept 2013 Child Psy board( written ) preparation.
I am in Eastern time zone.
please email me at
Saadiamd@yahoo.CA

Hi everyone, my mother is a practicing psychiatrist in the USA studying for part 1 of the boards. She completed residency over 15 years ago however, and is out of touch with the best ways to prepare. I'm trying to do some research to help her out because she is not so good with computers, and was hoping some of you might have advice for us.

First of all in regards to getting practice questions, is there any way to obtain the most recent PRITEs? Also I've heard about boardvitals.com and the FOCUS text (for psychiatric questions as opposed to neurology), and was wondering what is the best source for practice questions.

I'll be scouring the forums for answers to these questions as well. Sorry if some of them are redundant but if anyone has had good personal experience with certain texts, websites, or methods of preparation it would be wonderful if you could share that with us. You can PM me or responds to this post, whatever works.

Thanks so much!

I'm still in the pool of people who have to take the oral boards. I am taking it in sept 2012 and would like to study with someone over the phone to rehearse.

Please send me a message if you want to rehearse for Board Step 2.

In terms of dress code for ABPN Part II, is shirt & tie sufficient for men? Or are most men wearing full suits? Thanks!

Hello good colleagues,

I will be taking the new initial certification exam in September. I have a few questions for anyone who can answer them. Much appreciated.
1) If we finish a section early will the mandatory break start early?
2) What if you need to use the restroom during one of the two blocks? And does that count against your time?
3) For the video vingnettes, is time an issue since most people can read much faster than they can watch/listen to a video? I hear you can not fast forward.
4) Finally, is BoardVitals question bank useful or good?

One more thing are there many locations to choose where to sign up for the testing?

Thanks again

anyone using first aid for psychiatry boards review. Also what books did u use for the neurology section review. Anyone feel that the Kaufman book is too much

Hey guys, looks like some of us are asking about the new board exam again coming up in Sept. I am doing Beat the Boards from last year, and I have ordered the "update" for this year, but I think it doesn't come out until later this month?

I really hope they have updated some material including practice stuff and how to handle the Video part. I am very scared about the video part of the exam. Anybody else have any other resources to study or comments on Beat the Boards? (I will also use the Kenney and Speigel question book)

Just passed my oral boards in Psychiatry after passing the written part last year. I highly recommend Beat the Boards. I used their books and CDs, not live lectures and I passed this exam from the first attempt.
I have the books and CDs for the oral and written board for sale, 400$ all the materials (they were 1800 all together).
If anyone is interested, you can contact me at maimaria@yahoo.com

If you could purchase only one, which would people buy to prepare for psych boards: Beat the Boards, or Osler?

Originally Posted by twright

In terms of dress code for ABPN Part II, is shirt & tie sufficient for men? Or are most men wearing full suits? Thanks!

Doesn't look like anyone picked this up. Probably won't help you, but for others: on my testing day I observed many men wearing full suits. However, I also observed a substantial minority wearing dark slacks, white shirt, and tie.

Originally Posted by DrWho41963

If you could purchase only one, which would people buy to prepare for psych boards: Beat the Boards, or Osler?

Beat the Boards

If you had limited funds and could only purchase 1 of these HOME review courses, which would it be: Beat the Boards or Kaufman Notes? Why?

If you are still around I am interested studying. Exam at the same time. My address is below Thanks,

GoodFriend

almos_nagy AT hotmail . com

Originally Posted by GroverPsychMD

I'm still in the pool of people who have to take the oral boards. I am taking it in sept 2012 and would like to study with someone over the phone to rehearse.

Please send me a message if you want to rehearse for Board Step 2.

I am stuggling with boards this will be my fourth attempt with written tried everything but still no luck any suggestions

Oral boards upcoming...Quick question--when asked to discuss phenomenologic aspects of the case, does that refer to HPI or MSE?

Hi greenlady,
Actually ,It may not be bad since you may be able to take the new format of board exam if you don't get certified by 2016 . Believe me, you don't want to take the oral part which is far worse than the written part .

Originally Posted by Anasazi23

I think there are a number of advantages to taking the boards while still in residency. Aside from the obvious fact that psychiatric "book knowledge" is closer to home while still in residency and therefore perhaps easier to recall, taking the boards while in residency allows one to take advantage of any perks in place for the resident. Many programs allow for course reviews to be taken as conference time, for example.

A second advantage is that the closer you are to residency, the easier it may be for you to return to do mock board exams prior to taking part II of the exam. Part I has a high pass rate, and that pass rate drops dramatically for the second part - to around 50% by most estimates.

Most residencies will allow as a courtesy, the former resident to return to the facility and use the patients in mock interviews. Many residencies will also offer attendings familiar with the board format to observe you and provide feedback to help increase your chances of passing.

Once you're out in the working world, this becomes much more difficult, and practicing attendings rarely will have the time to help you with this. I think this is where many people resort ot paid workshops which are time-consuming, and expensive.

Most hospitals appear to accept "board eligible" as a requirement for staff privilages. However, your marketability is increased by being board certified. By completing this process as quickly as possible, you're only giving yourself an advantage by opening more opportunities, in addition to higher salary.

My residency program did not help me with the oral board and I am looking at the other ways of getting board certified as per the abpn. I am considered 'board eligible' until 2019 so I am not in a huge rush but am putting my feelers out.

Any info would be appreciated..

Originally Posted by benjee

Hi greenlady,
Actually ,It may not be bad since you may be able to take the new format of board exam if you don't get certified by 2016 . Believe me, you don't want to take the oral part which is far worse than the written part .

So, anyone who was board eligible before can become board certifed after 2016 new format of written examination alone? If it is true that will be great. I do not think so, psychiatrist have to take oral board exam in order to become certified.

Part II can be practiced on skype too

Did you pass your Part II, if not I am taking May 2013 , I can practice with someone.

Originally Posted by twright

In terms of dress code for ABPN Part II, is shirt & tie sufficient for men? Or are most men wearing full suits? Thanks!

All the men wore full suits when I took my orals in 2011. No reason not to unless you have a sweating issue or something. It just looks unprofessional IMO.

Originally Posted by kumar28

anyone using first aid for psychiatry boards review. Also what books did u use for the neurology section review. Anyone feel that the Kaufman book is too much

Kaufman is more than you need, but since neuro is generally the most challenging part for most psych residents, it's well worth the effort to focus on neuro (which is idiotic if you think about it, but that's a topic for another thread). I went through Kaufman fairly thoroughly for about 4 weeks and got 85+% on the neuro section (pass was maybe around 60%) although I had failed the neuro section on every PRITE during residency (never studied for it). And I remember the neuro questions were so easy for me with my preparation... I would answer most of them within 10 seconds (including reading the question). So I would spend a decent amount of time on neuro as the psych part is pretty easy and only used the Spielman(?) question book for that part.

Of course, YMMV.

Originally Posted by Amima

So, anyone who was board eligible before can become board certifed after 2016 new format of written examination alone? If it is true that will be great. I do not think so, psychiatrist have to take oral board exam in order to become certified.

Theoretically , yes if you 're not BC within 7 yrs post graduated. The information as follows from ABPN:
The ABPN does not recognize or use the term “Board eligible” and does not issue statements concerning “Board eligibility.” The Board informs an applicant of admissibility to examination only when the applicant has an active, approved application on file in the Board office.
• Effective January 1, 2012, ABPN will require a physician to become Board certified within seven years following successful completion of ACGME-accredited or ABPN approved residency training in their primary specialty.
• Graduates can take the ABPN Certification Examination as many times as allowed during the 7-year period.
• Individuals who have completed an accredited residency program prior to January 1, 2012 will have until January 1, 2019 to become board certified.
• Individuals who do not become certified during the 7-year period (or before January 1, 2019 for those who completed residency training before January 1, 2012) will be required to (1) repeat the required clinical skills evaluations; and (2) complete one stage of MOC (90 CME credits, 24 self-assessment CME credits, and 1 PIP Unit which includes a clinical and feedback module) in order to be credentialed to take the ABPN Certification Examination.
hope this helps.

Originally Posted by benjee

...• Individuals who do not become certified during the 7-year period (or before January 1, 2019 for those who completed residency training before January 1, 2012) will be required to (1) repeat the required clinical skills evaluations; and (2) complete one stage of MOC (90 CME credits, 24 self-assessment CME credits, and 1 PIP Unit which includes a clinical and feedback module) in order to be credentialed to take the ABPN Certification Examination.
hope this helps.

Bears repeating--you will need to pass 3 CSVs (which are orals, by a different name--though at least you get feedback) and the CME requirements merely to be eligible to sit for the written exam.

Good luck. Best to pass the first time if you can!

thanks that was helpful

thank you

Hi , I am looking for a desi study partner for sept 2013 Child Psy board( written ) preparation.
I am in Eastern time zone.
please email me at
Saadiamd@yahoo.CA

I am looking to purchase beat the boards material for psych boards. Please PM me if you are trying to sell. Thanks.