Whenever the National Board examinations expand, as they did with the 1993 administrations, it becomes necessary to recognize that some candidates may have taken earlier formats of the National Board examination sequence. Consequently, the following equivalency statements apply to any candidate wishing to complete the current three-part sequence of the National Board, but who began the sequence under an earlier format.
Part I (Basic Science) equivalency:
Pass both Parts I and II examinations administered prior to 1976,
or
Pass both Parts I and IIA examinations administered from 1976 through 1986,
or
Pass the Basic Science examination administered from 1987 through 1992.
Part II (Clinical Science) equivalency:
(including passing the TMOD component of Clinical Science)
Pass the Part II examination administered prior to 1976, plus pass the TMOD examination administered since 1985
or
Pass the Part IIB examination administered from 1976 through 1986, plus pass the TMOD examination administered since 1985
or
Pass the Clinical Science examination administered from 1987 through 1992, plus pass the TMOD examination administered since 1985.
Part III (Patient Care) equivalency:
Pass the Part III examination administered from 1993 through 1999.
Candidates should note that section scores from different administrations may not be combined to derive an overall Part III score or determine a pass-fail status. Candidates who receive special eligibility status because of a statistical or administrative issue from a prior Clinical Skills examination are exempt from this policy. Refer to Clinical Skills Reexamination Policy.
In 2000, two of the three sections of Part III (Patient Care), VRICS (Visual Recognition and Interpretation of Clinical Signs) and Patient Management (a series of patient management problems, or PMPs) were combined into a new Patient Assessment and Management (PAM) examination. Candidates who passed Part III between 1993 and 1999, and who wish to improve a section score for either VRICS or Patient Management, will be required to take the PAM examination.
Other:
Any candidate whose National Board history does not appear to fit into any of these categories should contact the National Board office for clarification.
