ABIM failed :-(

[meddoc2006]

I was very surprised that I did not pass the ABIM boards in 2009 (albeit barely) and am even still in shock. My question is, does anyone know if others can tell if you failed? or can they just check online if you're certified or not?

How about possible fellowship programs, etc?

Thanks!

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[Bobblehead]

People can look your name up on the ABIM website and you will be listed as not certified without further explanation (i.e. they will not state you had failed the exam).

Regarding your other question: http://www.abim.org/certification/policies/general.aspx

ABIM considers the certification or recertification status of its candidates and diplomates to be public information.

ABIM provides a diplomate's Certification status and personal identifying information, including mailing address, e-mail address and social security number, to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) which publishes The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists. FSMB and ABMS use personal identifying information, including social security numbers, as a unique internal identifier and maintain the confidentiality of this information. On request, ABIM provides a diplomate's Certification status and address to professional medical societies and other organizations that provide ABIM-sanctioned educational resources and products used for self-assessment of medical knowledge or practice performance in the Maintenance of Certification program.

ABIM provides residency and fellowship training directors with information about a trainee's prior training and pass/fail status on certifying examinations. If a trainee has given permission, ABIM will provide the program director with the trainee's score on his/her first attempt at the Certification examination for that area of training.

 

[Gastrapathy]

People can look your name up on the ABIM website and you will be listed as not certified without further explanation (i.e. they will not state you had failed the exam).

Regarding your other question: http://www.abim.org/certification/policies/general.aspx

ABIM considers the certification or recertification status of its candidates and diplomates to be public information.

ABIM provides a diplomate's Certification status and personal identifying information, including mailing address, e-mail address and social security number, to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) which publishes The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists. FSMB and ABMS use personal identifying information, including social security numbers, as a unique internal identifier and maintain the confidentiality of this information. On request, ABIM provides a diplomate’s Certification status and address to professional medical societies and other organizations that provide ABIM-sanctioned educational resources and products used for self-assessment of medical knowledge or practice performance in the Maintenance of Certification program.

ABIM provides residency and fellowship training directors with information about a trainee's prior training and pass/fail status on certifying examinations. If a trainee has given permission, ABIM will provide the program director with the trainee's score on his/her first attempt at the Certification examination for that area of training.

I think that just means that your PD gets your score. Other folks from your program will probably find out. Anyone who knows you took the test can search your name on the ABIM website and see the absence of certification.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Your PD will get your score if you released it to them. They ask you this when you actually take or sign up for the exam. Your PD will find out you failed it no matter what -- "releasing" it just gives them your full score report.

Fellowship PD's will not get this information. They cannot request it from the ABIM nor anyone else. They can search online and see you are not certified and ask you about that, but they cannot tell "did not take" vs "failed". If asked, I highly suggest you are honest since lying in an application is fraud and can get you terminated immediately anytime in the future if discovered.

Fellowship PD's do get the same information about their fellows -- i.e. who passed/failed the fellowship ABIM exam, and what their scores were.

 

[Scaredshizzles]

Your PD will get your score if you released it to them. They ask you this when you actually take or sign up for the exam. Your PD will find out you failed it no matter what -- "releasing" it just gives them your full score report.

Fellowship PD's will not get this information. They cannot request it from the ABIM nor anyone else. They can search online and see you are not certified and ask you about that, but they cannot tell "did not take" vs "failed". If asked, I highly suggest you are honest since lying in an application is fraud and can get you terminated immediately anytime in the future if discovered.

Fellowship PD's do get the same information about their fellows -- i.e. who passed/failed the fellowship ABIM exam, and what their scores were.

Is the ABIM just p/f or do you actually get a numerical score. And does that numerical score mean anything in terms of getting jobs or applying for fellowship if you apply after doing a year of hospitalist or something strange like that.

 

[Bobblehead]

Is the ABIM just p/f or do you actually get a numerical score. And does that numerical score mean anything in terms of getting jobs or applying for fellowship if you apply after doing a year of hospitalist or something strange like that.

Straight pass/fail although you get percentiled on your overall and subsection scores. I've never heard of anyone ask your percentile score for anything and you cannot really compare scores between exam administrations anyway so the individual score is relatively meaningless.

The only thing that matters is whether you pass or not. Barely pass = board certified, pass in the 99% percentile = board certified.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Is the ABIM just p/f or do you actually get a numerical score. And does that numerical score mean anything in terms of getting jobs or applying for fellowship if you apply after doing a year of hospitalist or something strange like that.

Mostly agree with above. The score report you receive has a numeric score on it, and a percentile. If you release your score report to your PD, they get the same thing. No one else will ever ask for it, nor care, as long as you pass.

 

[Dr.spee]

For those whoDID NOT PASS,here is my advice:
Three key Elements to passing the board:

1) adequate time preparation. Studies have shown people who prepare for 6 months are more likely to pass than people who study 3 months You need to carve out blocks of time during the week and stick to that time religiously. During that time, you do lots and lots of multiple choice questions.

2) Exam content. After the exam, I realized almost all the content was in theBoards Basics book published by ACP. But, it wasn't the text that was highlighted or in a table. It wasunhighlighted normal text that most people would skip over. MKSAP by itself wasnot enough for me because I needed the core concept repeated and I found myself memorizing the question and not the concept. I stuck withMedstudy and it was very helpful. I would only do a review course 4-6 months before as a way to motivate yourself. You can't learn all of internal medicine in one months time.

3) Self-confidence. This is the hardest part. I felt beaten after each exam, even the one I passed. But, you have to put yourself in the mindset that the right answer is there andyou can distinguish it from the rest. The exam does NOT define your worth or value as a physician. You need to have enough self confidence to realize they are trying to trick you and you are way smarter than that.

I'm selling all my study materials:board basics 3, medstudy flashcards, medstudy core curriculum books, Awesome review series books, Medstudy video syllabus. They are in great condition. You can either email me directly or look at my post in the sales/classified section of this forum.
Feel free to message me directly with questions.