| Candidates in Neurology/Child Neurology, Psychiatry, Psychiatry Part II |
| Candidates are those in the field of Neurology/Child Neurology or Psychiatry, who are seeking ABPN Board Certification. All candidates will need to complete and submit an application in order to qualify for an examination. Each application will be reviewed by the credentials department. Candidates become diplomates after passing their examination. Diplomates will then begin the process of maintenance of certification. Neurology/Child Neurology: Subspecialties in neurology/child neurology include; clinical neurophysiology, brain injury medicine, epilepsy, hospice and palliative medicine, neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuromuscular medicine, pain medicine, sleep medicine, and vascular neurology. Psychiatry: Subspecialties in psychiatry include; addiction psychiatry, brain injury medicine, child and adolescent psychiatry, clinical neurophysiology, forensic pyschiatry, geriatric psychiatry, hospice and palliative medicine, pain medicine, psychosomatic medicine, and sleep medicine. Apply for an examination | ABPN Physician Folios site | Visit the Pearson VUE Website |
| Candidates in Neurology/Child Neurology |
Changes in Neurology and Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology Examinations.
New credentialing process effective for residents who entered residency training in neurology (PGY-2) or child neurology (PGY-3) on or after July 1, 2005.
ABPN has made changes in the credentialing process effective for residents who entered residency training in neurology (PGY-2) or child neurology (PGY-3) on or after July 1, 2005. Some of the clinical skills evaluations (see below) that are currently conducted in the Part II examination will now take place within the residency program, and the residents will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance in the evaluation of clinical skills as part of the ABPN credentialing process. Assessment of other clinical skills will be integrated into a new computer-administered certification examination beginning in 2008. Candidates who successfully pass this computer-administered examination will be awarded a ten-year, time-limited certificate in their respective specialty. [more]
The neurology/child neurology certification examination is a 420-item, multiple-choice examination administered via computer for eight hours, including a 55-minute scheduled break at Pearson VUE testing centers. The Board advises applicants, in writing, of acceptance to the examination.
| Pearson VUE testing in Neurology Screen shots (1 through 4) are available to view of the Pearson VUE portal for the new format neurology certification examination. [more] Video Vignette sample in Neurology A 45-year-old man, shown in the video, comes to the emergency department with acute onset of double vision. [more] |
| Candidates in 2012 Psychiatry Certification |
The 2012 Psychiatry Certification Examination is a 500-item, multiple-choice examination administered via computer at Pearson VUE testing centers. Duration of the examination is nine-and-one-half hours, including a 45-minute break and onscreen instructions before both the morning and afternoon sections of the examination. The Board advises applicants, in writing, of acceptance to the examination.
| Sample Screens Sample screens are available for viewing the new psychiatry certification examination. [more] Video Vignette sample in Psychiatry A 49-year-old married man is evaluated for stress at work. [more] |
| Candidates in Psychiatry Part II |
The Part I examination is a 420-item, multiple-choice, examination administered via computer for eight hours, including a 55-minute break followed by 5 minutes on-screen instructions at Pearson VUE testing centers. The Board advises applicants, inwriting, of acceptance to the examination.
Psychiatry Part II examination changes became effective with the May 2006 examination. A vignette section replaced the former audiovisual hour.
Psychiatry Part II Oral Examination Sections and Content
Psychiatry candidates take two sections, each approximately one hour long:
- Examination in clinical psychiatry (patient)
In the patient section, the psychiatry candidate is given approximately 30 minutes to examine a patient under the observation of one or more examiners. Following the examination of the patient, the discussion with the examiner(s), which is approximately 30 minutes in length, focuses on physician-patient interaction, conduct of the clinical examination, capacity to elicit clinical data, formulation, differential diagnosis and prognosis, therapeutic management, and knowledge of therapies. Additional questions may address the basic science of psychiatry.
- Examination in clinical psychiatry (vignette)
The approximately one-hour long clinical vignette section will consist of four vignettes. The vignette cases may be presented in a written format or a short video clip. Candidates will be examined by one or more examiners with particular reference to the content of the vignettes. These discussions may also include other clinical topics.
| Video Vignette sample in Psychiatry II An 18-year-old unmarried woman comes to a local community mental health center with her three-week-old daughter. [more] |




