Overview 

The ACPM In-Service Examination (ISE) is administered annually in the Summer. This exam allows program directors and residents to identify specific areas where more study and experience are needed. It can also be a tool for programs to gauge the training at their respective institutions with other national programs. Finally, the voluntary exam affords resident trainees an opportunity to assess their individual performance with others at the same level nationally. The exam is available for PM residents in their first or second year of training. Recent graduates (within 6 months of graduation) are also welcomed to enroll.

Type of Purchase Pricing
In-Service Exam Member Resident $150
In-Service Exam Non-Member $225
In-Service Exam & Membership Bundle (membership expires December 2024). This membership bundle is available for current and incoming residents.  $225
In-Service Exam & Membership Bundle (membership expires December 2025). This membership bundle is available ONLY FOR INCOMING RESIDENTS beginning their residency in July 2024. $275

  • Membership status of current residents will be verified prior to invoicing and/or finalizing payment.  

  • ACPM should receive the payment for the exams by the above deadline.  

  • Residents will receive access to the exam only after ACPM receives the payment.   

  • Exam access information, including URL and resident-specific login, will be emailed to the program/residents shortly before the examination period. 

EXAM DATES  

The Inservice Exam will be offered ONLY during the following dates to ensure efficient enrollment of all residents to access the exam.  

  • Tuesday July 30 (Recommended for graduates; limited exam analysis of at the individual level will be available by end of August; program level and national level analyses will only be available in October)

    All the remaining exam results will be available in October.  

  • Friday August 9

  • Friday August 16  

  • Friday August 23  

  • Tuesday August 27​
Friday August 30

Programs can choose up to two dates for their residents to take the exam.

EXAM MECHANISMS

During the exam, the resident will be allowed to 1) increase font size, 2) skip questions, 3) review and or change exam answers before submitting.

PROCTORING 

Programs must provide a proctor. ACPM will not provide a proctor.  

Programs may determine exam logistics including in-person or virtual administration. Virtual proctoring is permitted for the 2024 In-Service Exam. Programs are required to provide their own proctor. Guidelines for the administration of the in-service exam are as follows: 

  • Once the program directors pick one of the dates listed above, ACPM staff will send instructions to access the exam through our learning management system. 

  • Programs that choose to proctor virtually may do so by using any of your virtual platforms such as Zoom, GoToMeetings, etc.   

  • Programs that have the capacity and permission to offer the exam in-person may continue to proctor the residents the same way as they did in previous years. 

EXAM FORMAT 

The exam’s 110 questions are written in a "one best response" format, and residents are given 2 1/4 hours to complete the exam. Though not intended to be an examination preparation tool, the In-service Exam can be a gauge of how well residents are being trained and prepared for the content of the Board examination. It is designed for residents in all specialty areas of Preventive Medicine. The material covered in the exam relates to the core portion of the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) certification exam and includes questions on chronic disease, infectious disease, occupational and environmental medicine, epidemiology, and health services administration.   

RESULTS 

Program results will be distributed in October 2024 (except for graduating residents who take the exam on July 30). Results include national data, program data, and individual results.

KEY DATES AND DEADLINES 

  • April 30 – Registration Opens  

  • July 9- Deadline for Program Registration and Payment  

  • Once Payment is received – ACPM will collect information from programs to ensure ACPM login/exam access to residents

  • Exam Dates - July 30, August 9, August 16, August 23 and August 27 and August 30.

  • October 2024 – ACPM will send the results to the programs (except for the residents who take the exam on July 30)

QUESTIONS 

Please contact Anita Balan abalan@acpm.org.