In Practice

The oral exam consists of four 30-minute 1:1 sessions, totaling approximately 3 hours, (including orientation and breaks). Each session evaluates the candidate’s abilities in image interpretation, image-guided procedures, and periprocedural patient management. Candidates interact with a different examiner for each session, with exams conducted sequentially and 10-minute breaks. Examiners will guide candidates through multiple cases, which reflect the full scope of interventional radiology practice rather than individual practice settings.

Session categories are broken down into:

• Core interventional radiology

• Arterial diagnosis and intervention

• Venous and lymphatic diagnosis and intervention

• Oncology, biliary, and genitourinary diagnosis and intervention

The computer-based exam has 178 questions in four 30-minute blocks, and is approximately 4 hours long (including orientation, tutorial, and breaks). Exam content includes:

• Essentials of Diagnostic Radiology

• Interventional Radiology

Learn more about The Certifying Exam’s format, prerequisites, registration and other exam prep materials on the ABR website.

• There are 2 common pathways followed for those taking the certifying exam soon after graduation:

  1. Take the exams as soon as is permitted by ABR. Computer-based exam in the fall immediately following graduation and the oral exam the following spring (i.e. graduation in June 2024, computer-based in fall 2024, oral in spring 2025).

  2. Take both the computer-based and oral exams in the fall 1 year after graduation (i.e. graduation in June 2024, both exams fall 2025).

• Both exams must be passed within 6 years of graduation, otherwise additional training may be required (though there is no limit on number of attempts or time limit between the 2 components).

• This is highly variable among exam takers, and largely based on preference. Most people do not take dedicated time off for studying and instead report studying for brief periods daily, starting anywhere from 3 months to 2 weeks before taking the exam.

• Many prior examinees report using similar study resources as they did for the Qualifying (Core) exam, including review books and question banks. Additionally, the ABR-provided clinical study guides, non-interpretive skills guide, and ACR contrast manual are often mentioned resources for reviewing specific topics.

• For the oral exam, the ABR has made a mock exam re-enactment video, which is available on the website. Systematic case review practice is recommended most, whether via a review book, orally with a colleague/attending, or independently.

• Common exam-taking locations include at home (home office) or at a work office (personal or borrowed). Factors to consider include choosing a quiet environment, no surrounding distractions, and strong internet connectivity. Many examinees use their personal or work computers/laptops to take the exam.

• A webcam and microphone are required. For the oral examination, a built-in computer webcam is fine, but an external side view webcam is required for all ABR computer based examinations. It has been strongly recommended by prior test-takers to use a mouse (rather than the laptop trackpad) to more easily navigate images and image stacks. Using wired headphones is also recommended to minimize dropped audio issues.

• Technical issues mid-exam can be very stressful. An exam readiness check link is sent to all registrants prior to both exams; this should be done on the computer that will be used, and in the location you plan to take the exam. Completing this check can help recognize and correct possible technical issues prior to taking the exam.

• During the computer-based exam, if an issue arises during the exam itself (loss of internet, frozen computer, etc.), a help desk is available to walk examinees through troubleshooting options - keeping this number handy in your exam location is strongly recommended. Please note that any questions that have already been viewed will be locked once your exam access is restored.

• For the oral exam, if technical issues are significant enough to prevent completion of any session, there are “make-up” sessions built in at the end of the day for examinees to re-do these sections. In case you need to make up a session, it is recommended that you have the entire day available for the exam, even if you are registered for a morning exam.