To take the Internal Medicine Certification Exam, eligible physicians can register through the Physician Portal during open registration. Exam appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis by Pearson VUE, the testing vendor.
Registering for the ABIM exam is a crucial step in a physician’s career. The process, while seemingly complex, is actually quite straightforward if you follow the guided steps.
How to Register for the IM Boards:
- Go to the “My Exams” page in the Physician Portal.
- Click the green “Register” button next to the exam you wish to take.
- Complete the registration steps.
- After completing the registration steps, you will be redirected to the Pearson VUE website to schedule your appointment.
- To schedule your appointment, you can also call Pearson VUE directly at 1-800-601-3549, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT. Provide the Pearson VUE representative with your ABIM ID. Please add “ABIM” before your ID number (e.g., ABIM999999) and confirm the examination you will be taking.
After registering for the Internal Medicine Certification Exam, there are several important points to keep in mind to ensure a smooth process.
After Scheduling:
- You will receive a confirmation email from Pearson VUE with your exam details. If you do not receive this confirmation email within one day of scheduling, check your junk or blocked filter. If you do not receive confirmation within one week, check your Physician Portal to confirm registration.
- You will receive a reminder email from ABIM two weeks prior to your exam date.
ABIM strictly adheres to registration deadlines with no exceptions. Missed deadlines will not be considered for appeal. You are responsible for making your own travel and hotel arrangements. ABIM or the exam vendor does not provide recommendations for overnight accommodations. Thorough preparation before the exam day will help you feel more confident and achieve better results.
Before Exam Day:
- Familiarize yourself with the ABIM Examination Policies.
- Complete the Certification Exam Tutorial to prepare for the exam format.
- Review the Exam Day Information.
- A reminder email will be sent two weeks before your exam date.
Exam Day Schedule:
- The Internal Medicine Certification Exam is approximately 10 hours long.
- The exam is one day long and is divided into four sessions, each with a maximum of 60 multiple-choice questions.
| Activity | Time Allotted |
|---|---|
| Check-in | Varies |
| Tutorial | Optional, up to 30 minutes |
| Instructions and Pledge | Up to 10 minutes |
| First Session | Up to 2 hours (max 60 questions) |
| Break | Optional, up to 100 minutes (divided into 3 breaks)* |
| Second Session | Up to 2 hours (max 60 questions) |
| Break | Optional, up to 100 minutes (divided into 3 breaks)* |
| Third Session | Up to 2 hours (max 60 questions) |
| Break | Optional, up to 100 minutes (divided into 3 breaks)* |
| Fourth Session | Up to 2 hours (max 60 questions) |
| Optional Survey | Up to 10 minutes |
| Total | Approximately 10 hours |
| * You will have 100 minutes of break time to use throughout the exam. The break time you use after each exam session will be deducted from the total available break time. For example, if you take a 10-minute break after session one, the remaining break time for the exam will be reduced to 90 minutes. |
Learn more about Exam Day Information to best prepare for your Internal Medicine Certification Exam. Understanding the exam schedule will help you allocate your time effectively and reduce stress during the exam.
