Q:What is the difference between Board Qualified and Board Certified?
A:Board Qualified status indicates that a podiatric surgeon has passed the written examination for certification in Foot Surgery or Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery. Individuals who are Board Qualified are not members of ABPS but are considered to be “in progress.” Board Qualified surgeons may not promote their status on letterhead, publications, or other advertisements.
Board Certified status indicates that a podiatric surgeon has completed written and oral examinations along with appropriate residency and case requirements. Board Certified podiatric surgeons are members of ABPS and may promote their status on letterhead, publications, or other advertisements. For detailed information, see: pathway to certification.
Q:How long does Board Qualified status last?
A:It lasts seven years from the time you pass the examination.
Q:How do I prepare for an examination?
A:The best preparation is to review textbooks and recent journals. We have a practice test available to get a sense of the types of questions that appear on our examinations. For more information see our study guide (Document 420).
Review courses can be found online. However, ABPS does not endorse or recommend any particular course.
Q:When can I apply for an examination?
A:You may go to the dates and deadlines section of our website to find the current dates for examinations. Review appropriate ABPS documents for eligibility requirements.
Q:How do I apply for an examination?
A:Please start by reading through the documentation for the examination you will be taking. The ABPS documents are the definitive source of information for each examination. It is imperative that prospective candidates familiarize themselves with the relevant documents before beginning the on-line application process. The documents contain the specific requirements and step-by-step instructions to apply for an examination. To download and read the documents, go to the documents library section of our website.
Once you have read the documents and completed any necessary steps, you can apply for an examination online using your ABPS ID and password.
Q:I took the Board Qualified (or Board Certified) examination last year and didn’t pass. How do I re-apply for the examination?
A:From your "My Account" page, go to the “My Tasks” menu option then select “Apply for an Exam.”
Q:Why don’t the oral examinations appear when I select “Apply for an Exam?”
A:You must enter all of the required cases before the oral examination options will appear. Please note: Once your cases have been entered and your payment has been made, you cannot alter your case list.
Q:When I am applying, do I have to enter all my cases at once?
A:It doesn’t matter how many you enter at one sitting, however you will not be able to submit your cases until your list is complete.
Q:Is a paper application available?
A:No, the application is completed and submitted online.
Q:Can I pay only the application fee when I apply?
A:No, you must pay both the application fee and the examination fee when you apply.
Q:What is computer adaptive testing?
A:A computer adaptive test is a computer-based examination which is automatically tailored to the ability level of the individual examinee. As each question is answered, the computer assesses the response and selects the next question based on whether the previous answer was right or wrong. Questions become progressively more or less difficult as the program assesses and establishes your ability level. The difficulty level of each question is determined by the question’s statistical performance in ABPS examinations. Computer adaptive testing is graded on the level of difficulty achieved, not on the number of correct answers. Adaptive testing uses a large pool of questions and your set of questions will be unique to you.
Q:If I purposefully miss answers, will my exam be easier?
A:Answering questions incorrectly will result in an easier examination. However, since the examination is graded on difficulty, not percentage of correct answers, purposefully answering questions incorrectly will result in a lower score. To pass the examination, you must answer every question to the best of your ability.
Q:What subjects will I be tested for on the examination?
A:Please see ABPS Document 500, “Examination Blueprints (PDF),” which describes the areas tested based on the examination being taken. Also see ABPS Documents Library.
Q:Where are the testing sites?
A:We offer 200 testing sites nationwide.
Q:What are the testing sites like?
A:All Pearson VUE test centers, regardless of type, are designed to provide a consistent, standardized testing experience in a quiet, distraction-free environment that promotes peak test taker performance. All centers are designed to provide candidates with the most comfort possible during the examination process. Testing rooms are separate from the registration, screening, and score reporting rooms so that candidates are not distracted by other activity occurring at the center.
Q:What do I do if I have lost my password?
A:For password issues, please call ABPS at 415-553-7800.
Q:What kind of cases do I need to become Board Qualified and what type of case documentation is required?
A:Board Qualification candidates must submit their residency case logs through Podiatry Residency Resource (PRR).
Q:What kind of cases do I need to become Board Certified and what type of case documentation is required?
A:For detailed explanation of content of procedures to be logged and the administrative requirements for logging them, please carefully read ABPS Document 110, ABPS Document 220, and ABPS Document 210. See ABPS Documents Library.
Q:How do I prepare for an examination?
A:The best preparation is to review textbooks and recent journals. We have a practice test available to get a sense of the types of questions that appear on our examinations. For more information see our study guide (Document 110).
Q:Is there a board review course I can take?
A:Review courses can be found online. However, ABPS does not endorse or recommend any particular course.
Q:What is the difference between the Self-Assessment examination and the Recertification examination?
A:The Self-Assessment examination only applies to diplomates certified prior to 1991. For detailed information, see ABPS Document 111 and ABPS Document 112. See ABPS Documents Library.
Q:I certified after 1990. How often do I recertify?
A:Every ten years. To give you adequate opportunities to recertify before your certification expires, you have a three year window in which to pass the examination. You may take the examination in the eighth, ninth, or tenth year following your initial certification and similarly every ten years. For information about applying for recertification, please see ABPS Document 112 (recertification). See ABPS Documents Library.
Q:I certified before 1991. Do I have to recertify?
A:No, but you must successfully complete the Self-Assessment process every ten years to maintain board certification. Please see ABPS Document 111 for more information. See ABPS Documents Library.
Q:How do I change my ABPS status?
A:Any questions regarding a change of status with ABPS can be directly addressed to Debbie Dottin at 415-553-7803.
Q:Are re-registration fees to be paid in full?
A:Yes, they must be paid in full.
Q:Can I pay my re-registration fee by credit card over the phone?
A:No, we need your actual signature as proof of payment. ABPS will provide the necessary form needed to complete credit card transactions. These can either be obtained online or by calling our office directly at 415-553-3083.
Q:Will I automatically receive a receipt from ABPS once my re-registration fees are paid?
A:Your cancelled check or credit card statement will serve as your receipt. However, we will gladly provide you with a receipt upon request.
Q:Can I use somebody else’s credit card to make payment?
A:Yes, but you must provide us with the credit card holder’s name, complete billing address, signature, and phone number.
Q:Which credit cards do you accept?
A:Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Q:When can I expect to receive my annual re-registration fees invoice?
A:Re-registration fees invoices are mailed out between July 15th and July 31st.
Q: What is the difference between computer adaptive testing (CAT) and the kind of written examination I took when I certified?
A:The type of content being tested is the same, only the method of administering the examination has changed. A computer adaptive test is a computer-based examination which is automatically tailored to the ability level of the individual examinee. As each question is answered, the computer assesses the response and selects the next question based on whether the previous answer was right or wrong. Questions become progressively more or less difficult as the program assesses and establishes your ability level. The difficulty level of each question is determined by the question’s statistical performance in ABPS examinations. Computer adaptive testing is graded on the level of difficulty achieved, not on the number of correct answers. Because of this, you may not skip questions or change an answer once you have proceeded to the next question. Adaptive testing uses a large pool of questions and your set of questions will be unique to you.
Q:If I can’t go back and answer questions or answer easy questions first, will I do worse on the examination?
A:Be forewarned that adaptive tests can feel harder than paper and pencil tests. However, studies show that people perform almost identically on adaptive tests as they do with paper and pencil examinations. The only performance difference is that people with disabilities tend to perform better on adaptive tests.
Q:f I purposefully miss answers, will my exam be easier?
A:Answering questions incorrectly will result in an easier examination. However, since the examination is graded on difficulty, not percentage of correct answers, purposefully answering questions incorrectly will result in a lower score. To pass the examination, you must answer every question to the best of your ability.
Q:I rarely use computers. Will I be at a disadvantage compared to my colleagues?
A:Computer adaptive tests are very straightforward and easy to navigate. There are instructions at the beginning of the examination and onsite proctors will be available to help you learn very quickly how to navigate the test.
Q:What subjects will I be tested for on the examination?
A:Please see ABPS Document 500, “Examination Blueprints (PDF),” which describes the areas tested based on the examination being taken. Also see ABPS Documents Library.
Q:Where are the testing sites?
A:We offer 200 testing sites nationwide.
Q:What are the testing sites like?
A:All Pearson VUE test centers, regardless of type, are designed to provide a consistent, standardized testing experience in a quiet, distraction-free environment that promotes peak test taker performance. All centers are designed to provide candidates with the most comfort possible during the examination process. Testing rooms are separate from the registration, screening, and score reporting rooms so that candidates are not distracted by other activity occurring at the center.
Q:Can Board Qualified members advertise their status?
A:No. To advertise your ABPS status, you must be Board Certified. Please see our Advertising Guidelines for detailed information.