Physicians are always studying for something. Whether you’re taking your boards or continuing education, there are so many things to do and so many tasks to handle.
We see opportunities pop up for CME (Continuing Medical Education) credits all the time. Unfortunately, they’re never as convenient as they should be, and worse—they’re expensive, or they offer too few credits for too much work. Also, CME credits are not all the same! It’s hard to keep track of what counts as what.
We’re here to take all of the doubt and uncertainty out of CME credits.
What Are the Different Types of CME Credits?
There are two types of CME credits. They differ based on the way they’re administered and in the way that you’re required to report them. The categories are:
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™
What’s the Difference?
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are the most commonly accepted form of CME credits. They are managed by the American Medical Association (AMA) and reward you with the Physicians Recognition Award (PRA). To earn these credits, physicians must engage in learning activities that have been accredited by one of two organizations: the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education (ACCME) or an ACCME-recognized state medical society.
There are many accredited providers of CMEs out there. The types of activities in which you can earn CMEs will fall under one of two categories: Live Activities or Enduring Material. As the name suggests, Live Activities are any activities that you attend in a live capacity. Enduring Material includes any activity that is not live and can endure over time. Meaning, the material appears in print or was previously recorded.
When you’re checking to determine whether an activity is certified for an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, look for this statement:
“The [name of accredited CME provider] designates this [learning format] for a maximum of [number of credits] AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.”
What Are AMA PRA Category 2 Credits?
AMA PRA Category 2 Credits are sometimes referred to as “self-study” CME credits. These credits are given for activities that are not recognized as Category 1 credits. WARNING! Physicians are responsible for documenting and keeping track of all their Category 2 credits! You will not receive documentation about the CME credit from the accredited organization. Additionally, documentation should include the type of activity, subject matter, dates, and the number of credits claimed.
These activities must meet strict guidelines from the AMA definition of CMEs, comply with AMA ethical opinions, and not be promotional in nature.
How Many CME Credits Do I Need?
The total number of CME credits that you need per year varies from state to state, but the amount is typically 100 CME credits within a 1- to 2-year span. Check with your state medical association to get the exact number.
Acquiring 100 credits can be daunting! It can take multiple, week-long conferences to earn the required CME credits, or it could take countless 3-credit courses—taken over evenings and lunchtime seminars. CME credits are a necessity, but they’re far from convenient.
What is the Easiest Way to Get CME Credits?
The easiest way to get your pediatric CME credits is through the Pediatrics Board Review CME Edition of the All Access Pass.
Here are the benefits of getting CME through Pediatrics Board Review:
We make it extremely easy for you to claim your CME credits through our easy-to-use CME portal. You will go through a short assessment and get your credits immediately in an efficient, user-friendly manner.
We offer over 200 CME credits. You can mix and match between hardcopy books, an audio course, a video course and even live ASK THE EXPERT webinars. You can literally pick from our numerous formats to get exactly what you want. Remember, you typically only need 100 CME credits, so 200 is an abundance of riches. Also, you do NOT have to claim all of your CME at once. So, if you time your membership and CME activities appropriately, one 12-month membership can give you all of the CME credit you’ll need for TWO cycles of CME!
You don’t have to rush to get to an evening seminar or spend a week at a convention. It’s all right there in your hands, in your home, or at work.
The resources are proven to be effective and give you excellent continuing pediatric medical education. For pediatricians studying for the ABP Initial Certification exam, or the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) exam, our estimated first-time pass rate has been approximately 99% for many years in a row.
PBR’s lectures and webinars are designed by Dr. Ashish Goyal, a pediatrician who knows how to teach. The content is always provided in an easy-to-follow and easy-to-understand format, and PBR has frequently been praised for its ability to “simplify the complex.”
You get all the expertise, but with less reading, better understanding, and greater retention.
It comes with a 100% Money-Back First-Time Guarantee. We mean it.
Personalized support and camaraderie is available through a private, online forum of members of the PBR community.
How Can I Best Use My CME Budget?
We make it easy to maximize your CME budget by giving you the best value for your money. Whether it’s a question involving how to pay, who should pay, or even custom documentation needed to get approval of the CME purchase, we can help you.
Plus, we can customize your rebate to help you maximize your budget, your method of payment, your professional expenses for your tax return, and more! Rebates range from $100 to $2000.
Can I Also Get ABP MOC Points for Participating in CME Activities?
With the All Access Pass, you not only get AMA PRA Category 1 credits, but if you are board certified, then you are also entitled to ABP MOC Part 2 Points. PBR’s CME activities qualify you for both requirements with one product.
Can I Split Up the All Access Pass Into More than One Year?
Yes! The CME Edition (of the All Access Pass) offers over 200 AMA PRA Category 1 credits. If you only need some of these credits for your current accreditation cycle, you can save the remaining credits for the next cycle—as long as it’s within 12 months of your membership’s start date.
So, for example, if you only need to earn 100 credits this year, then you can use the CME Edition of the All Access Pass and claim 100 CME credits this year, and claim the remaining 100 credits in January of next year's cycle.
Conclusion
You need your CME credits from somewhere, so why not get them in the most convenient way with a Money Back First-Time Pass Guarantee? Plus, you may be entitled to a $2000 rebate! So, what are you waiting for?
A pediatric residency is three years, and during that time you can lose a lot of the good study habits and test-taking skills that you gained during medical school. And let’s face it—when you’re in your residency, you’re not always hitting the books. You’re probably working 80-hour weeks during your residency and it can seem impossible to get any studying done for the pediatric boards.
But there are small habits that you can get into during your residency that will better prepare you for your pediatric boards—little things that may not seem like much at the time, but they really do make a difference.
It’s easy to procrastinate and push the boards to the back of our minds because they’re not coming up right away. This is a bad strategy. The boards will happen at the end of your residency, and when they do come, you’re going to wish you had spent more time preparing for them.
So what can you do to study for your pediatric boards during your residency?
Studying For Your Pediatric Boards During Pediatric Inpatient Rotations
When you’re doing an inpatient pediatric rotation, you’re often moving at a frantic pace. You’re probably working with eight to ten patients, moving from one to the next (and the next and the next…). Here’s what you can do. Stop for a moment, maybe 1-3 minutes, to study the biggest problem with each patient.
You don’t even need to sit down at a computer. In the hall, pull up the PBR study guide on your phone and search for their primary condition, read a brief synopsis on the topic, or dive a little deeper if you have a problem that’s stumping you. This micro-studying approach will take very little time, but by the end of the shift you will have familiarized yourself with board-relevant information that you can also share during morning rounds to amaze your attending physician.
This process alone will put you ahead of 90% of the pack because most pediatric residents put off studying for their boards until the last possible moment. Then comes the mad scramble to relearn everything they’ve forgotten and learn about many new disorders they never even had the opportunity to encounter during residency.
Studying For Your Pediatric Boards During Elective Rotations
Pediatric board study tips for when you are on elective rotations revolve around using that time to read through at least one full chapter. There are some sections of the pediatric boards, like infectious disease, for example, that are in-depth and require some major study. While you’re working on an elective rotation, you’ll have more time to devote to entire chapters of the study guide—especially when it’s related to the elective rotation you’re working on. So, while you’re doing cardiology, study your pediatric cardiology chapter. While you’re doing a neonatology rotation, study your neonatology chapter.
It’s easier to learn about cardiology while you’re surrounded by cardiology patients and a cardiologist. It’s easier to learn about infectious disease while you’re immersed in an infectious diseases rotation and you have an attending physician to discuss topics with every day.
Maintain Your Studying Skills and Develop Test-Taking Skills
Test taking is about knowing the material and having good test-taking skills. You have to know the information, be good about time management, understand the question formats, and recognize patterns. While in medical school, you were a studier because that was your one job. Once you’re deep into residency, it can become very difficult to establish good study habits due to fatigue and distractions from your real job.
Since the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) initial certification exam will be the hardest exam of your life, it’s important to put in the right amount of time and effort to pass the exam. To best prepare, first off, use our Risk Calculator. This will determine your risk profile for failing the boards and provide a clear plan based on that profile. Here are some of the danger signs we look for in the Risk Calculator:
A history of struggling to pass ANY medical board exam
A history of board scores that are usually lower than the national average
Residency training at an “at risk” residency program
Once you know your risk profile, you can choose a study method that’s best for you. Our study guides emphasize three things: Content, Technique, and Commitment. All three are essential for you to pass the pediatric boards. You must know the content inside and out, which means that even a moderate amount of studying throughout your residency will help immensely. You must develop good testing technique, which means taking the time to understand how to process different types of board-style questions and then practicing your new test-taking skills until you master them. And, you must have the commitment to follow through with these things throughout your residency.
A three-year residency may seem like a long time to prepare for your boards, but it’s only useful if you are steadily doing some work during those years. This is not a test that you can cram for at the last minute.
Studying is Easier With a Partner
We know, through experience, that studying is considerably more effective if it’s done with a partner. So, we’ve prepared our programs with a considerable discount if a fellow resident signs up for our study guides with you. You’ll both have the benefit of our efficiency-driven study tools and materials, all for a lower price. Plus, you’ll have a partner to bounce ideas back and forth, get immediate feedback, quiz one another, and have much needed moral support. There’s no underestimating the value of a good study partner.
Make Use of Your Book Fund
If a book fund is available to you through your residency program, you can use those funds with Pediatric Board Review to get our courses and study guides. We are very accustomed to working with department staff to get orders processed quickly. This is a great way to maximize every dollar at your disposal!
Stretch Your Studying Over Years
If you’re a PGY1 or PGY2 needing access for multiple years, you can also get massive discounts through PBR. So, not only are you getting the benefit of starting your studying early during the early years of your pediatric residency training, but you’re able to save money too! It’s a win-win.
Over the last decade, PBR has helped over 10,000 pediatricians prepare for their board exams. We’re excited to help you on this journey!
The pediatrics board exam is an essential component of your career in pediatrics, but, as with any standardized test, there’s more to the board exam than simply memorizing answers to thousands of questions. Successfully passing the exam comes from having a solid command of medical knowledge and test-taking strategies. This includes knowing what to expect on the day of the exam and doing everything possible to have a methodical approach to the big day.
So, here are some things that you can expect from Pediatrics Board Review (PBR) to help you prepare for your initial certification exam. For information on the ABP Maintenance of Certification (MOC) exam and MOCA-Peds, please visit our recertification page.
Risk Calculator Quiz
While the American Board of Pediatrics provides the ABP General Knowledge Self-Assessment, do not assume your results will act as a true indication of your ability to pass the initial certification exam. This assessment is more appropriate for the ABP Maintenance of Certification (MOC) exam, not the initial certification exam.
PBR’s free, online Risk Calculator Quiz will help you understand your risk profile of possibly failing the pediatric board exam and will place you as either low, moderate, or high risk.
Knowing your risk profile for the initial certification exam will give you a plan for how to move forward with your pediatrics exam. For example, pediatricians in the low-risk group will use the 300-hour study plan in the PBR Efficiency Blueprint, while those in the moderate-to-high risk groups will use the 500-hour study plan. Your plan will not only differ in how many hours you need to set aside for studying, but also how many times you'll review the material and whether improving your test-taking strategies should be a key point of focus.
For all of the risk categories, we have provided structure and guidance that will help you get to your goal of passing your pediatrics board exam. We help you with time management, community support, and we have a proven track record of success.
Did you know that PBR has helped pediatricians pass after as many as seven failed attempts? We even helped one pediatrician pass on his tenth attempt!
We can help you too.
What Should You Expect from the Pediatrics Board Exam?
If you've never taken the exam before, you can go through a short tutorial before the exam begins. PBR members are trained to go through the ABP tutorial BEFORE the exam day. Keep in mind that this tutorial is technically for the ABP MOC exam. Initial certification exam test-takers SHOULD go through it because it’s almost the exact same tutorial seen on their exam day. The slight difference will be around the number of blocks that the tutorial mentions for the exam (the initial certification exam has four blocks rather than the two mentioned in this tutorial). Going through this tutorial before your exam can remove one point of stress at the beginning of a very important day.
According to the American Board of Pediatrics, you must arrive for your pediatrics board exam at least 30 minutes before your scheduled test time. If you arrive late, the test proctor may actually bar you from entering to take the exam, meaning that you'll have to pay a rescheduling fee and take the exam the following year.
When you arrive at the testing center to take your pediatrics initial certification exam or maintenance of certification exam, you'll initially be scanned for prohibited electronic devices and will need to show a valid ID to be admitted into the testing center. You'll be given a secure storage locker to stow away your personal belongings and effects. You'll also have to turn your pockets inside out to ensure that you're not carrying prohibited items, and you’ll be asked to roll up your sleeves to show that you're not wearing a wristwatch. After that, you'll be given two laminated note boards and two markers. Immediately before you enter the exam room, you'll be asked to sign your name and document the time.
After you've signed in for the exam, someone will escort you to a workstation where the exam will take place. You will be allowed to take in your photo ID, your storage locker key, earplugs, the two laminated note boards, and two markers. If you would also like to take something else into the room, you can check the Prometric pre-approved items list.
You'll be monitored at all times while you're in the facility, and all testing sessions will have audio and video recorded. Testing advisors will also periodically walk through the exam room to monitor for any irregular behavior.
If you need any assistance, you can raise your hand for help. If you encounter a hardware or software problem while taking your exam, it's important to leave the message on your screen so that an exam official can determine the source of the error. You shouldn’t lose any testing time and your score shouldn't be affected because of any technical problems, but must communicate any such problems to a testing official as soon as possible.
If This Sounds Daunting, We Can Help!
So much of passing your boards comes down to not only your knowledge of medicine, but to your ability to take standardized tests under the very artificial environment mentioned above. This includes the development of your test-taking strategy, and it also includes understanding the many ways to optimize your test-week schedule, your test-day schedule, and yourself. PBR helps in all these areas with a team-based approach led by Dr. Ashish Goyal. Dr. Goyal is PBR’s author and he has coached members to success after as many as nine failed attempts.
Want to skyrocket your scores and get the greatest bang for your buck? We recommend:
PBR’s No Brainer Bundle
Increase your chances of board success to 95% with ALL of our pediatric knowledge base resources. You will get access to our hardcopy books, online editions of the books, audio course, video course, access to live ASK THE EXPERT webinars, a digital picture atlas, our Full Online Test-Taking Strategies Course, and even three 90-Day Personalized Study Schedules created just for you by Team PBR. The No Brainer is the BEST way to leverage your study time for maximum results.
Dr. Goyal will teach you how many questions are in each section and what kinds of questions to expect. He has also identified three major categories of questions that every ABP question will fall into, and he’s created algorithms to help you process each category of questions. He’s also discovered shortcuts to help get questions correct by identifying answer choices that are similar, opposite, contain “hard stop” words, contain “hedging” words, and those that are meant to leave you wondering why it feels like there are multiple correct answer choices.
You will learn all of this through PBR’s test-taking strategy courses. These courses have repeatedly been the key to success for professionals taking medical board exams, and they’ll help you too.
So, if you would like help preparing for your pediatrics board exam, look to the leader in this field here at Pediatrics Board Review (PBR). From helping you build your fund of knowledge the right way, to helping you with all the ins and outs of your exam day, we can help you pass your exam the very first time or your money back — guaranteed!
In this article, we’ll learn about pediatric board review courses being offered in 2023 and learn why live courses are broken. We'll also be sharing resources and recommendations for those looking into live board review courses, along with a review of the 2023 pediatric board review course createdby Pediatrics Board Review (PBR).
PBR was created by me, Ashish Goyal. As a pediatrician, I excelled when I increased my score by 160 points on the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Initial Certification exam. I was then asked by the ABP to write questions for them.
Now, as an author, my mission is to provide the best pediatric board review materials to residents and pediatricians. And I’ve been doing this successfully with PBR since 2011.
As physicians, we're trained to learn “everything” in our field, and we apply the same methodology to how we prepare for an exam. We start from the first sentence and take a top-to-bottom approach.
But these strategies do NOT work when you are studying for the pediatric boards.
That’s why at Pediatrics Board Review, we focus on creating a full, one-stop shop for you to focus your learning on three things. They include:
The specific topics that will be tested on the exam.
The strategy behind test taking, and how to deconstruct difficult questions with ease.
The tools, schedules, and systems needed to promote efficiency and accountability.
This article will be covering a LOT about what pediatricians just like you need to pass the pediatric boards (and how we have been providing that successfully for the past decade).
The system that we’ve created has been proven to be much more effective (and cheaper) than attending a 4-6 day long course where you're expected to learn everything about pediatrics. And if the thousands of happy pediatricians are any indication, using the PBR Certification Methodology is the way to go (but more on that later).If you are set on finding a traditional, live pediatric board review course, we do offer some advice and resources to help. Keep reading below to find a list of companies we've compiled who are offering live pediatric board review courses and the cost of attending. But, if you have 5 minutes, take the time to read this article because it will likely save you time, money, and energy.
Through this article, and through videos like the one below, you will begin to quickly understand why a “traditional” pediatric board review course can lead to failure. PBR is not a traditional board review company, and we focus on helping physicians in ways that have never been done before. In the video below, I share with you the arrival of the a new edition the PBR Core Study Guide, the Question & Answer books, our Test-Taking Strategies Course, and information around the differences between PBR and other board review courses that allow us to excel at what we do.
So hit “play” button below and watch this book “unveiling” video to get an excellent understanding of what makes PBR different than any other medical board review program.
Click here to get the full Pediatric Dermatology and Pediatric Gastroenterology chapters from THIS YEAR's EDITION of the PBR so that you can TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!
THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT PEDIATRIC REVIEW COURSE
What Makes a Great Pediatric Board Review Course?
Having been around pediatric board materials (and helping pediatricians pass!) for more than 10 years, I have found the key to any successful pediatric review course which boils down to 5 key elements:
CONTENT CONGRUENCY: Having materials that work cohesively together has been proven to better reinforce knowledge in our brains. This is compared to having several disjointed study materials with competing methodologies. Congruency promotes a smarter, not harder, studying experience.
BOARD RELEVANT MATERIAL (NOT ALL MATERIAL!): No course should try to shove as many topics as possible into your brain; that will only lead to overload! Pick a course that provides a laser focus on the topics that are known to be tested, and curates your study experience around those topics.
A FOCUS ON THE TEST-TAKING STRATEGY (JUST AS MUCH AS THE TOPICS): Everyone has a colleague, a friend, or a family member who is very intelligent, but tests poorly. When it comes to standardized tests, knowing how to test is just as important as knowing about the subject being tested! So, your chosen course should place a high emphasis on teaching you how to TEST well.
INTERACTION: A course that promotes interaction with both your peers and the instructor can lead to a better study experience. Trying to study in isolation for hours on end, with an instructor just talking at you, will only limit the amount of information you retain. It will also provide zero opportunity for you to gain clarification on the difficult topics you struggled with.
MULTIPLE RETENTION TECHNIQUES: Everyone learns at a different pace, so finding a course that utilizes several retention techniques to help you solidify what you are studying is key.
It was after working with several pediatricians on their board exams that I started to realize that there was a major gap in the medical education field that covered all 5 elements, and pediatricians were suffering the most because of it. This is why I created the PBR Certification Methodology over 9 years ago, and why it is at the core of everything that PBR offers.
A PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE WITH A 100% MONEY BACK FIRST-TIME PASS GUARANTEE
What is the PBR Course?
The PBR's 2023 pediatric board review course offers you a complete SYSTEM. We not only teach you about the pediatric topics you need to know for the boards, but we also teach you test-taking strategies and Deep Study techniques to ensure you have the BEST chance at passing your pediatric board exam. We also provide a peer-group for educational support.
You learn about test-taking strategies that allow you to answer board questions quickly and accurately (even when you're not fully knowledgeable about a topic).
You learn to create a streamlined study schedule to prepare for the boards that will liberate you from the confusion and overwhelm that you're currently experiencing.
You learn how prepare for each of these exams efficiently.
The PBR Certification Methodology Includes…
The Clarity Expander: One of the toughest obstacles to overcome while studying for the pediatric boards is clarity. This means having a firm understanding of what you do (and do not) need to know in order to pass. For example, did you know that theAAP PREP questions are NOT the best study questions? Or, that you should NOT try to study every single topic laid out inthe American Board of Pediatrics content outline? Or, that if you failed last year, you should NOT tailor your studies to address low scores from your score report? PBR’s system is the only proven system to help you gain clarity on these nuances so that you study smarter, not harder!
The Retention Maximizer: Maximize your chances of content retention through common sense explanations, innovative “DOUBLE TAKE” topics which are repeated throughout the Core Study Guide, PBR “PEARLS” that are almost guaranteed to show up on the exam, story-based mnemonics, and concise content.
The Repetition Amplifier: Utilizing a multimodal approach to studying through hardcopy books, online videos, downloadable MP3s, mobile access, an online picture atlas, and other creative techniques allow you to review the same core materials in multiple ways. By promoting studying via multiple modes, our system encourages deeper learning to help you while studying for the pediatric boards!The Strategic Approach: Learn Test-Taking Strategies that allow you to systematically approach, process, and answer board-style questions on standardized exams. There are rules that you can learn to help you “beat the boards” and pass your exam. There is also a structured approach to processing every single board-style question in order to make the experience error-free and robotic.
The Network Experience: Do NOT study in isolation. Utilize the support of hundreds of pediatricians in the PBR Discord Community to help you quickly answer your board review questions. You can also work with Team PBR to create a study schedule specifically designed for you, and you can attend live webinars with content experts to help blow past complicated questions that are slowing you down. Just press the “ASK THE EXPERT” button. Then, you can focus on your studying while we do the research. Again, you should not have to do this alone, and the PBR community is here to support you.
WHY WE DON’T OFFER A TYpical, LIVE PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE
Why Typical, Live Pediatric Board Review Courses Won’t Work in 2023
Beyond the fact that they are incredibly expensive, the typical live courses are not set up to give you a strategic study method to pass the boards. In fact, the entire system is broken.Here is a comparison chart for you to see the difference between a typical board course, and PBR:
Your TYPICAL Board Review Experience
The PBR Board Experience
You purchase a hard copy study guide and attend an 8 hour long live course
You buy 2-3 additional resources from other companies for reference, because you don’t want to miss any topics (and if you’re really ambitious, you’ll keep a copy of Nelson’s close by)
Studying is sporadic at best, and all-consuming at worst. You study alone for several hours, not following any particular study schedule
You get through only a handful of board review questions, finding some too difficult to narrow down to one answer. And with no time or energy to track down the answers you need, you put them off
When you get to the actual board exam, you get so flustered by the actual questions asked that you have difficulty answering questions on topics you actually know well
You get a suite of materials focused on teaching you topics that are known to be tested on the exam and have resulted in passings scores that are well above the national average
You are provided a comprehensive study schedule that can be customized to fit your personal schedule
You receive access to the exclusive PBR Discord Community, where you can get questions answered in real-time by both fellow test takers and board alumni
In addition to the test subjects, you have access to our LIVE Test-Taking Strategies Course that is packed with teachings about techniques to tackle standard test questions, teachings to maximize your knowledge retention during your study sessions, and more!
When you get to the exam, you feel calm, prepared, and ready to pass!
Does the “typical” experience sound familiar? It definitely does to me because that's exactly what I did when I failed the pediatric board exam the first time I took it.
I was SHOCKED. But, I eventually uncovered multiple secrets to help me pass the initial certification exam and increase my score by 160 points.
Then, through my many trials and errors, I created a SYSTEM that has gone on to help so many pediatricians pass the exam.
This system has not only helped first-time test takers pass the boards on their first attempt; it has helped high-risk pediatricians FINALLY pass after multiple failed attempts. Every year, we get tons of testimonials from pediatricians that finally pass after as many as seven failed attempts!
PBR is about maximizing your learning experience through a proven system that helps you pass the boards.
For anyone who has failed the pediatric boards before, or anyone who has struggled to get above a 222 on the USMLE Step 1, our Test-Taking Strategies & Coaching courseis a breath of fresh air. Also, while live courses that cover “all of pediatrics” are of little benefit, a LIVE, 2-Day Test-Taking Strategies Course is the most leverageable option to accelerate someone's understanding of the test-taking techniques and topics needed to become a test-taking NINJA!
THE MOST EFFICIENT PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE 2023 HAS TO OFFER
What are the Pediatrics Board Review (PBR) Resources?
At the center of the PBR system, you will find the Pediatrics Board Review Core Study Guide and the Pediatrics Board Review Q&A book. We focus on the idea of having congruency across all of our resources. So, all of our pediatric study materials are born from these two resources. This is done so we can help you get the repetition and reinforcement needed as you go from one PBR resource to another.
PBR's CORE STUDY GUIDEThe PBR Core Study Guide is your content Bible. No more buying 3-4 different study materials to hodgepodge a study schedule together. We have done the curation of content for you! If it's not in your PBR Core Study Guide, then YOU DON’T NEED TO STUDY IT.
Offered in hardcopy and online formats
Contains a Success Blueprint and Roadmap to Success which tells you exactly how to use the PBR resources
Has a strong focus on testable and tested topics
Includes hundreds of time-saving story and image based mnemonics,along with other memory aids
Contains online systems which allow for one-click access to HUNDREDS of high-yield images across the web
PBR's QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) BOOK
This is NOT like other question banks. This is valuable, high-yield content that's just as valuable as the PBR study guide and should be used as part of your core content review. Use OTHER pediatric prep questions for PRACTICE. KNOW the difference between what to study versus what to use for PRACTICE.
Available in hardcopy and online formats
Extremely high-yield questions and answers
Contains detailed explanations and excerpts from PBR's Core Study Guide
PBR's ONLINE PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW VIDEO COURSE (OVC)Get the value and insight of a live conference from the comforts of your room. This is your “online version” of an in-person pediatric board review course, or a DVD course, except you can take it ANYWHERE because it's compatible with your internet-enabled phone or tablet.
Videos cover the entire PBR Core Study Guide and the PBR Q&A Book
Live summertime question and answer webinars featuring content experts to answer all of your questions
Online pre-webinar question portal which allows you to send in your questions as they come to mind
Recorded webinarsare available for replay
Learn from board-certified PBR alumni
PBR's PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW AUDIO COURSE
Maximize your efficiency by taking the audio course with you to the gym, the grocery store, your car, or the mall.
The MP3 course is available as a streaming OR a downloadable resource.
Load the downloadable version onto your favorite MP3 player, or listen to it on your computer.
Listen to the streaming version via your desktops or mobile device.
PBR's DIGITAL PICTURE ATLAS
Review 400 of the most high-yield and board relevant images QUICKLY through the power of the web and without having to flip back and forth in your Zitelli. This is also known as the Virtual Atlas of Pediatric Pictures (VAPP).
Accessible on your desktop, mobile device or tablet
Available in PDF or Online Format
Access all of the PBR images in ONE place with reference posts available for review
Quick access to the corresponding topic within the PBR study guide
PBR CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS GUIDEAs with everything in medicine, things change. To make the PBR materials as error-free and up-to-date as possible, we use all of your suggestions and error submissions to create a Corrections and Clarifications guide.
Here are the benefits of the Corrections and Clarifications Guide:
Receive updates in the world of pediatrics
Review a detailed list of corrections to our materials
Obtain an advanced look at NEW content that is going to go into the next edition
Get answers to questions that you have submitted to us for review or clarification
PBR's DISCORD COMMUNITY!A critical component to the success of so many pediatricians is PEER SUPPORT! Without it, your efficiency and your drive to study can plummet. The PBR Discord Community is a pediatric board review forum that is exclusively for PBR members.
The forum allows you to:
Ask questions about topics that are confusing you.
Share mnemonics and insights of your own.
Get educational and emotional support during one of the most stressful times of your life.
Increase your EFFICIENCY by leaning on others to answer your questions instead of going to the black hole of Google.
PBR's TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES & COACHING“Test Day” can be a terribly stressful time for the pediatric board exam. The key to avoiding test anxiety is to:
Have a solid foundation of knowledge.
Make the process of answering questions almost mechanical.
Your board exam is like a GAME with rules that CAN be learned. There are strategies you can to learn in order to master your question-answering technique. Through PBR's ONLINE Test-Taking Strategies & Coaching courses, you quickly learn how to identify answers EFFICIENTLY, leaving you with time to spare.
The online course is a MUST for everyone taking the Initial Certification exam, even if you are attending our Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course.If you've ever struggled with any medical board exam in the past, or if you did not score above a 222 on the USMLE Step 1 exam, we strongly suggest the Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course.
Learn how to answer questions with little knowledge on a given topic.
Learn shortcuts that allow you to answer certain questions WITHOUT reading any of the vignettes.
Learn why focusing on the ENGLISH (more than the medical concepts) can help you zero in on the correct answer choice when you're left with those final two options.
Get the Core Concepts in Test-Taking Strategies Webinar to learn the fundamentals of test-taking strategy.
Get 5 QUESTION PROCESSING webinars to go deeper into advanced test-taking strategies as you learn to process questions systematically.
Learn shortcuts, including what it means to have answer choices that are either very similar or complete opposites.
Learn techniques to address problems with diet, anxiety, insomnia, and test-day fatigue.
Get help creating your own test-day schedule. Learn what to do during your breaks, what to eat, what NOT to eat, how to remain as energized at the end of the exam as you were at the beginning of the exam, and much more!
We've helped pediatricians succeed after SEVEN failed attempts. Imagine what this program could do for you.
THE LIVE 2023 PEDIATRICS BOARD REVIEW TEST-TAKING STRATEGY COURSEIn addition to the online courses, I also offer live training to teach you test-taking strategies to help you pass the pediatric boards.
Compared to the online courses, the Live Pediatrics Board Review Test-Taking Strategy Course gives you a unique experience to get your questions answered and tailored to you. If you scored as high risk on the PBR Risk Calculator, this course would be the best way to ensure a pass on the boards.
PBR is the first medical board review company to offer a comprehensive course on test-taking strategy and “deep learning.” We have helped pediatricians become MASTER test-takers so that they can increase their chances of passing the boards exponentially.And with our new, Zoom-based live course, the live course can be attended from the comfort of your home without the expense of travel or lodging. Be sure to check our live page to see when both the in-person and Zoom courses are available.
ALL OF THE PHYSICIANS BELOW PASSED AFTER GOING THROUGH THE TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES COURSE
A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM TO HELP YOU PASS THE BOARDS IN 2023
The “No Brainer” Package: Everything You Need to Pass the Initial Certification Exam
PBR was created to help others avoid failure and frustration. Pediatricians get frustrated about overwhelming and incongruent resources. They also get frustrated by overwhelming costs.
PBR has been part of the solution by pioneering newer, faster, and more effective strategies to educate pediatricians. The Online Video Course, the Virtual Atlas of Pediatric Pictures, the live summertime webinars, and the members-only Discord support area are just a few ways we've changed how doctors think about board review.
I want you to focus on the CONTENT, the COMMITMENT and the TECHNIQUE needed to pass the boards. Not the chaos around multiple resources, or the expense related to a resource that could be helpful.
That's why we recently created the No Brainer package. It includes 100% of our multimodal content-based resources to help you build your fund of knowledge through our All Access Pass. It also includes the option to have Team PBR create up to three 90-Day Personalized Study Schedules specifically for you to help with accountability and commitment. And it also includes our Full Online Test-Taking Strategies Course to help you with your test-taking technique. All for less than the cost of a single board review video course.
The enrollment fee for the NO BRAINER package is almost 50% OFF and it offersall of our knowledge base resources. Plus, it’s less than the cost of a single, traditionalvideo course.
It's what you “should” get for the Initial Certification exam. Learn the pediatric content AND the test-taking strategies to pass. Plus, get up to 3 Personalized Study Schedules created by Team PBR.
12 Months of Access
Core Study Guide in Hardcopy and Online Formats
Q&A Book in Hardcopy and Online Formats
MP3 Audio Course in Downloadable and Streaming Formats
Pediatric Picture Atlas in Downloadable PDF and Online Formats
Online Video Course Covering All 31 PBR Chapters
“ASK THE EXPERT” Question Portals for All 31 chapters
Live Q&A Webinars with Content Experts for All 31 Chapters
Test-Taking Strategies Core Concepts Webinar
Test-Taking Strategies FULL Online Course
A 90-Day Personalized Schedule created by Team PBR Based On Your Work Schedule, Pace of Reading, Risk Profile & Much More
2nd 90-Day Personalized Schedule
3rd 90-Day Personalized Schedule
Free Expedited Shipping
Discord Community Access!
100% Money Back First-Time Pass Guarantee
WHAT PBR MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY
Tears of joy are wonderful. No thank you could ever be sufficient for all the support and guidance from Ashish and PBR over the past couple of years. Ashish who truly cares and believes in each individual person and helps guide them. I honestly used to laugh at the people who said they improved by 30 or more points, didn't think it was possible. It’s more than possible with PBR and can't thank Ashish enough! I failed each of the past 3 years not even getting within 5 points of passing. I never ever thought of quitting or giving up. I went all in with PBR including the core study guide (8X!!), all access pass including the videos and audio, live test taking strategies course and a 2 hour 1-on-1 session with Ashish after having a moment of revelation. LISTEN to this man. Follow his advice word for word. I finally PASSED on the 4th attempt! I improved my score by 42 points!!! It takes an army to go through this. I had to sacrifice being with my family, but we did it together. I hope and pray everyone reading this that's ever failed or struggled with test taking in general to not give up hope. It can be done. Cheers!
Dr. Russell Zwiener Board Certified Pediatrician (2018 Member)
Ashish, I did it. I can't thank you enough for creating an amazing system to keep me on track with my studying… the live weekend test taking course was well worth it. Doing the technique during the test kept me focused and allowed me to eliminate wrong answers. Thank you for all the great advice, sticking to the material, memorize, memorize, memorize then practice practice practice. After 4 failed attempts it was exhilarating to finally read the words, “we are PLEASED to announce you PASSED!” I will definitely recommend your program.
God Bless
Dr. Yessenia Castro-CaballeroBoard Certified PediatricianAll Access Pass MemberLive Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Attendee4 Prior Failed Attempts
I am an intelligent driven pediatrician who took her Boards for the first time because her job paid for it and told her to “see what it was like.” No studying – just walked in and took it. And failed – shocking at the time – not shocking now.
The second time I took my boards – I studied – I used multiple sources – and I failed. Scoring the same as the first time. Again – what the hell happened?
The third time – I took a Board Review Course in Washington DC. I stuck with Cleveland Review. I practiced questions – but not enough (I know that now). And I took the test again – and failed by 10 points. I was in shock –
The fourth time – I found PBR – I loved it. I practiced questions (thousands – but no AAP or Medstudy – just board vitals and exam master). I took the online PBR test taking strategy course. And I failed – by 4 points. Again shock set in.
I mustered up the courage to take it again. I met with you to dissect where I went wrong. I came to Atlanta. I followed your advice – even though sometimes I didnt like it 😉 You encouraged me to get my eyes checked (double vision issues that I never truly addressed except with thicker prisms) and recommended Frannie. Then my world changed – not only in respect to passing my boards – but my actual life – My vision was a disability that I have been living with for years and I didnt even realize it. The doctor I met for vision therapy (where I felt skeptical at first) showed my what my world was missing. My visual fields were so restricted I was tunneling my vision. I was reading with only intermittent use of my left eye (my brain was shutting it off bc of the doubling). My comprehension on questions was limited and I had to read and reread questions to simply understand them. I started visual therapy and it has been life changing. And I have you to thank for your perseverance and support. I have God to thank for aligning our paths. And I have Frannie to thank for the nudges and phone calls and emails of encouragement.
Thank you Ashish – for changing my world – you are meant to continue PBR for those smart physicians who are being belittled by an organization that is meant to support us. Thank you for the Atlanta class – I met the most amazing study partner and we both passed – Just thank you! I would love to have the opportunity to help you with PBR if you are looking for physicians… We can only be stronger together.
Kate Johnson-Clark Board Certified Pediatrician (2018)All Access Pass MemberPersonalized Schedule UserLive Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Attendee4 Prior failed attempts
Ashish I passed!!. I passed. After so many many attempts.
I am thankful for your team. For the personalised schedules… and how will I forget the Atlanta test-taking strategy course?.
Aside from the fact that a lot of your strategies were eye opening and super helpful, it hit me that I was not alone. Through the years of depression, of doling out money for the exams and the near-passes (few pts below 180), I found some strength to believe that I wasn't dumb and that I could pass!. And I drew strength from the fellow attendees that day, and from you Ashish. You believed we could pass!!
I could go on and on. You have NO idea how the yrs have been for me. I only know it was my faith in God that kept me going, determined to get to this. My husband has been such a solid, solid rock beside me through this. He's right there , sometimes just listening on those nights when I'll cry and wonder; where did I go wrong?, what am I doing wrong every year? Am I soooo poor at test taking?…..
Let me just stop by saying THANK YOU Ashish for what you do. Please keep doing it. People may say; well he makes money for it. But no dear, that sacrifice of your time, the passion you bring with each teaching session and webinar, the constant unwavering faith in those you mentor……. NO you don't put a price tag on that!
For that I am grateful. You make an impact in people's lives.
Please do say thanks to your entire team as well.
I thank God for bringing PBR my way.
Dr. O. E. Board Certified Pediatrician Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Member 6 Prior Failed Attempts
Everything I’ve mentioned above is just a small overview of why PBR is again the most popular pediatric board review course in 2023. I’m so excited for all the new members currently studying with us, and can’t wait to see how many new pediatricians we have come October. If you're not a member yet, what are you waiting for? Click the image above and signup now!
Comparison Chart of 2023 Pediatric Live Courses + Costs
Alright, now if you went through this entire article and still would prefer to head to a live course, as promised, here is a list of live pediatric review courses available for 2023, in addition to their cost and the estimated expense of travel, hotel, and ground transportation.
At the end of the day, this article is meant to help you have all the information necessary to find a partner in studying for your pediatric exam, so I do hope you find what you are looking for (even if it’s not with the PBR family!).
But, please note that the course dates for all of the companies below is extremely late in the year. If you’re preparing for the initial certification exam, you need to start studying yesterday!
LIVE COURSES
PRICE
FLIGHT, HOTEL, GROUND TRANSPORTATION
MedStudyAugust 5-10, 2023 (Tentative)Crystal City (Washington DC) or Online
$1499*
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE can be expected for two-way plane tickets or roundtrip gas, 5-night hotel stay, plus LOST WAGES.
UCLA ReviewAugust 29 – September 1Online
$500 – $950*
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE expected in the form of LOST WAGES.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE for two-way plane tickets or roundtrip gas, 5-night hotel stay, plus LOST WAGES.
Michigan Live ReviewAnn Arbor, MI
$850 (in 2018)
Estimated at approximately $1600 of ADDITIONAL EXPENSE plus lost wages.
* Prices above are as of 2022-11-25.
“NO BRAINER”
It's what you “should” get for the Initial Certification exam. Learn the pediatric content AND the test-taking strategies to pass. Plus, get up to 3 Personalized Study Schedules created by Team PBR.
12 Months of Access
Core Study Guide in Hardcopy and Online Formats
Q&A Book in Hardcopy and Online Formats
MP3 Audio Course in Downloadable and Streaming Formats
Pediatric Picture Atlas in Downloadable PDF and Online Formats
Online Video Course Covering All 31 PBR Chapters
“ASK THE EXPERT” Question Portals for All 31 chapters
Live Q&A Webinars with Content Experts for All 31 Chapters
Test-Taking Strategies Core Concepts Webinar
Test-Taking Strategies FULL Online Course
A 90-Day Personalized Schedule created by Team PBR Based On Your Work Schedule, Pace of Reading, Risk Profile & Much More
Well, friends, the results of the 2022 pediatrics board exam have been announced! This is always an emotional time for pediatricians. For us here at PBR HQ, it's also overwhelming because we get flooded with emails from the members who have worked so hard over the past year, and have now FINALLY passed the boards! The stories from our 2022 members have been wonderful. To have members say that we have changed their lives has been nothing less than humbling. Our members are also providing feedback on making the resources we have even better so that the PBR system continues to be the best pediatric board review available. While we are known for being the premier resource for anyone at moderate to high risk of failing the pediatric boards, the results below will help you see that if we can help pediatricians pass after SIX failed attempts, then helping you pass the pediatric board exam should be easy.
In this article, I’ll be covering:
The pass rate for PBR members and first-time test takers
Feedback from our board-certified alumni on how to pass the pediatric board exams
Reflect on the pediatric board exam results 2022
Next Steps if you FAILED the boards (and common mistakes to avoid to make sure you pass next year)
Free upcoming webinar on how to ensure you pass the 2023 pediatric boards
Test-taking strategy is often overlooked when you are preparing for your board exams, yet it can be the difference between passing or failing. Since there is no question that physicians are extremely bright, why is it that even great physicians often fail their board exams?
Answer: A good clinician is not the same thing as a good test-taker.
When I failed the boards the first time, I was confused. I felt like I had a good handle on the material, but I quickly realized that how you treat a board style question is very different than how you should treat a patient. But it was too late. I had the “standard” top to bottom approach to answering board-style questions, and I ultimately failed the board exam.
I simply did not know how to approach the questions on the test effectively.
And this isn’t uncommon.
However, during my 2nd attempt at the pediatric board exam, I had a strong focus on pacing and a strategic approach to questions. That led to me not only passing my boards, but I increased my score by 160 points! I scored above the national average, and after failing the previous year, the American Board of Pediatrics asked me to write questions for them.
The skill set needed to be a master clinician is completely different than the skill set needed to be a master test-taker and win this “board-game”. Developing this strategy requires training and education like any other skill that you have had to practice. But with practice, you can have dramatic increases in your score like this member of our test-taking strategy course.
Learn Test-Taking Strategies for Medical Board Exams
HOW CAN I WORK ON MY TEST-TAKING STRATEGY?
What am I supposed to do?
While having a strong knowledge base is important to pass the pediatrics boards, it will mean nothing if you are unable to apply what you know to the test.
If you consider yourself to be a test-taker with average (or below average) scores on standardized tests, then learning test-taking strategies can QUICKLY give you an advantage to increase your score, and pass the boards.
Plus, unlike studying for a single chapter that may be applicable to 5% of your exam, test-taking skills can be leveraged throughout 100% of this exam (and every future board exam that you ever take).
Study a ton, remember none. Sound familiar?
If you've previously done well on standardized exams, just follow the PBR “Roadmap to Success” and you will do great.
BUT, if you:
Struggle with standardized tests,
Get test anxiety,
Find yourself running out of time on exams,
Were told that you were “at-risk” of failing the boards based on IN-Training Exam scores,
Have taken a year off from studying for the exam, or
Scored less than a 222 on the USMLE Step 1
… then improving your test-taking technique is just as, if not MORE, important for you to study than the actual material.
Below you’ll find some of my top strategies I teach our PBR students to sharpen their test-taking skills before the board exam.
TOP TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES FOR MEDICAL EXAMS
NEVER process a question in a top to bottom manner. Processing the information in a different order will give you much more control and clarity over the question
Do not try to predict the question or answer. When you try to guess what will be asked, or what the answer will be, you waste time and energy as you think through hundreds of possibilities.
Start by reading the question being asked of you, and then reading the vignette. This narrows your focus and gives you tremendous insight into what information from the vignette will be crucial to extract in order to answer the question correctly.
Find your answer through the process of elimination. It’s easier, less stressful and more appropriate to eliminate weaker answer choices rather than choosing the first answer that seems to be correct.
Skip “data blocks” and come back to them if needed. Most vignette-style questions can be answered by just using the text, so try that before reviewing tables of data, x-rays or images.
