Primary Certification

2022 ABPMR Part II Examination Announcement

Throughout the pandemic, the ABPMR has made decisions to ensure the safety of exam candidates, volunteers, and staff; one of the most significant was the decision to administer the Part II Examination in a remote format in 2020 and 2021. We are proud that these administrations were so successful thanks to hard work by staff, flexibility of ABPMR volunteers, and understanding and adjustment by candidates to the new format.

Today, we have an exciting announcement: The ABPMR Board of Directors has decided to continue the remote format for the Part II Examination in 2022 and for the foreseeable future. The remote examination sets the same high-quality standard for certifying physicians in PM&R as the in-person exam, and has certain advantages for exam candidates and ABPMR volunteers.

After months of discussion between ABPMR staff and board directors, this decision was made based on sound data and feedback, including:

  • Examination data from 2020 and 2021 showed the remote format met the same reliability and validity criteria as in-person examinations.
  • 83% of 2021 exam candidates advocated for continuing the remote format for future administrations. They cited cost savings (airfare, hotel, meals), convenience, and lower stress.
  • The ABPMR successfully administered the remote examination in 2020 and 2021 to nearly 1,000 candidates.
  • As COVID-19 and its variants continue to develop and change, the remote exam is the wisest choice for the near future.

“The decision to continue the remote exam format was made after careful consideration and with the input of previous candidates and the volunteer oral board examiners who make Part II possible,” says James McDeavitt, M.D., ABPMR board chair. “The remote exam has proven to be as secure and rigorous as the in-person exam, and of course most candidates prefer this format. This was the right decision for the ABPMR and our exam candidates, and we’re looking forward to building on the success of our virtual administrations from the last two years.”

ABPMR staff is already planning the 2022 administration; the application opens to candidates on Oct. 15 and spring exam dates will be announced soon.


Originally Published: September 15, 2021