Emergency Medicine
MOC ConCert Exam Review

Spring Exam date:
March 28 - April 3, 2020

Registration:
October 15, 2019 - March 2, 2020
$1,950 registration fee

Late Registration:
March 3-9, 2020
$2,200 registration and late fee

Fall Exam date:
September 21-26, 2020

Registration:
April 15 – August 20, 2020
$1,950 registration fee

Late Registration:
August 21-27, 2020
$2,200 registration and late fee

The ABEM ConCert™ Examination for ABEM continuing certification assesses knowledge, judgment, and skills of Emergency Medicine physicians.  ABEM-certified physicians are required to pass the ABEM ConCert™ Examination - also referred to as the "ABEM Recertification Exam" or "ABEM MOC exam" - once in years six through ten of their certification as part of ABEM maintenance of certification (ABEM MOC).

The ABEM ConCert exam is administered during one week in the spring and fall each year at Pearson VUE testing centers around the United States and Canada.

The ABEM ConCert exam contains approximately 205 single-best-answer, standard multiple choice questions.

ABEM publishes a content blueprint of the material that will appear on the ConCert exam. This is how we determine which material appears in ABEM board exam simulations.

Acuity Frames

Acuity Frames: Target (± 5%)

• Critical: 30%
• Emergent: 40%
• Lower Acuity: 21%
• None: 9%

Physician Tasks

For this dimension, the Board has assigned the following specific percentage weights to the Modifying Factor of age:

• Pediatrics: 8% minimum
• Geriatrics: 6% minimum

ABEM selects ConCert exam questions for emergency medicine MOC based on how closely they align with the EM Model, as seen in the ABEM MOC exam blueprint. While questions can originate from any content area within the model, some areas are routinely selected. The list above describes the relative weight given to different elements of the EM Model in constructing the ABEM ConCert exam.

The ConCert™ Examination for ABEM continuing certification (i.e. ABEM recertification or ABEM MOC) is a proctored, high-stakes examination that covers the breadth of the clinical practice of Emergency Medicine. The exam contains approximately 205 single-best-answer, standard multiple choice questions. Each question is in paragraph form with an answer set containing one correct answer and three or four incorrect answers.

Each exam question has only one correct answer and each question is worth one point. Only one answer can be selected for each question and you should try to answer as many questions as possible. Each question answered correctly is counted in the total correct score. Unanswered questions are treated as incorrect. Incorrect answers do not count in the total correct score, nor is there a subtraction from the total correct score for incorrect answers.

After check-in, the test administrator will seat you in the testing room. Each ConCert™ Exam appointment is 5 hours and 15 minutes in length. However, only 4 hours and 15 minutes of this time is actual testing time, which is divided into two separately timed testing sessions. The first session lasts 2 hours and 5 minutes, and the second 2 hours and 10 minutes, with a 20-minute break between each section.

Your best strategy for completing the exam is to first complete the initial book, answering all questions with your initial best answer. Two reference documents are available during the examination: a list of common abbreviations used in the exam, and a list of normal laboratory values. You may flag questions you would like to return to for later review. The computer system facilitates this test-taking strategy by requiring one initial pass through an examination book before allowing you to select and go to a specific question in that examination book, in any desired order. Once an initial pass-through is completed, you may review all of the questions in that book in any order you choose before selecting the “End Review” button to finish the examination book. Once you exit an examination book by clicking on the “End Review” button, that section of the examination is completed, and you may not re-enter it.

Some questions are not scored and are used only to assure future question quality. These field test questions will not be apparent to the candidate. Including them on the exam allows ABEM to conduct research to determine if the questions are appropriate for scoring future examinations.

Approximately 1 hour of the appointment time is devoted to a 20-minute scheduled break between the two testing sessions, and several accessory activities related to the exam administration. These accessory activities include acceptance of the ABEM Policy on Examination Irregularities, an optional test tutorial, examination instructions, and a candidate survey

Each book of the examination consists of both pictorial and non-pictorial multiple choice questions. Pictorial questions refer to stimulus images such as photos of X-rays, ECGs, rhythm strips, pictures, etc. These images will be presented in a separate tab along with the relevant test question on the computer screen. CT scans may be used as stimuli but for views of the head only. Beginning with the fall 2019 exam, you may be required to interpret FAST exam and pericardial window ultrasound images. You'll see a wide variety of questions so a comprehensive EM MOC review Qbank is best.

The entire exam appointment takes approximately 5.25 hours to complete.

Before the exam do not forget to see the guidelines in the ABEM website.

ABEM ConCert exam review questions

ABEM provides several sample questions on its site. You can also start a free trial of Med-Challenger: ABEM MOC CONCERT EXAM REVIEW.

Recent Med-Challenger customer surveys indicate that residents spent, on average, 10 weeks preparing for the Emergency Medicine boards (written exam), and 5 weeks preparing for the oral exam. Pass rates were generally in the mid-90% and length of time had no correlation with a higher pass rate.

From the interviews, we also learned that there are a few key areas to focus on: Cardiovascular Disorders, Toxicology, and Traumatic disorders tended to show up more frequently.  While there were few Ophthalmologic disorders, those questions tended to be a little more difficult. (However, the test does change, so pay careful attention to the percent distribution that the Board Writers publish). There will be questions that are not regularly found in day to day Emergency care.  Pediatric rashes, recognition of specific stroke presentations, etc.

If it's time to prepare for emergency medicine recertification exam, and you’re wondering where to begin … Let us help you!

Our emergency medicine boards study guide is full of tips, tricks, and valuable insight into the art of emergency medicine MOC exam prep and the inner-workings of the ABEM ConCert exam itself. After all, this is the only thing standing between you and your new career!