Program Administration

This page includes information that may be of special interest to program directors and coordinators.  

Timeline Breakdown

In the initial certification process for diagnostic radiology in an ACGME-accredited program, the timeline is broken down by four training years.

• R1/PGY-2 - First Year of Residency Training
• R2/PGY-3 - Second Year of Residency Training
• R3/PGY-4 - Third Year of Residency Training
• R4/PGY-5 - Fourth Year of Residency Training (Graduating Year)

Throughout this residency timeline, there are important action items that must be completed on the predetermined due dates.

• New resident application
• Training verification
• Exam information

The table below outlines the action items and the due dates.

 

New Resident Application

Program Coordinator/Director

Annually from July 1 to July 31, program coordinators/directors will add new residents* to their account in  myABR. To complete this process, program coordinators/directors will need to have all the information found on this Program Checklist.

Once this process is completed, the resident will be notified by email and asked to complete his or her application during the open application period of July 1 to October 31.

Please encourage residents to complete their application in myABR during their first year (R1/PGY-2) of training. The initial application fee is due at first-time application in myABR. Payments are made via myABR.

*If a resident has transferred into your program, please do not add them as a new resident. Click here for more information.

Resident

From July 1 to October 31, residents will apply through myABR. To complete this process, residents will need to have all the information found on this Resident Application Checklist.

During the application process, the resident will be asked to approve the photo uploaded by the program.

• If the resident approves the photo, the resident can continue the application process.
• If the resident declines the photo, the application will be locked, and an email will be sent to the program coordinator/director requesting that a new photo be uploaded. The photo approval/decline process will repeat until the resident approves the photo.

 

Training Verification

R3/PGY-4

Annually the ABR sends email reminders at the beginning of the calendar year for program coordinators/directors to input the training credits in myABR by February 15 for the residents who are eligible to take the Qualifying (Core) Exam.

Training verifications will confirm that a resident is eligible for the Qualifying (Core) Exam. The exam has been developed to be taken during or after 36 months (R3/PGY-4) of diagnostic radiology residency training. However, if a resident has started late or taken a leave of absence, and has completed at least 32 months of DR training, the program director may request that the resident take the Qualifying (Core) Exam prior to 36 months. The program director must contact the ABR for information on how to obtain this waiver.

 

R4/PGY-5 – Final Verification

Annually the ABR will send final training verification forms for graduating residents via email to the program coordinators/directors at the beginning of June. Forms need to be submitted to the ABR by email to adminsupport@theabr.org no later than August 1.

Final verifications will confirm successful completion of the residency training requirements, namely, 48 months of training, with a minimum of four months in nuclear radiology and three months in mammography/breast imaging. The final verification will also confirm if the resident did or did not complete Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR) training during the residency. Program coordinators/directors in RCPSC-accredited DR residencies may confirm successful completion of residency training requirements for residents completing less than 48 months of training, if RCPSC competency-based requirements have been met.

 

Exam Information

 

Qualifying (Core) Exam

Registration

Annually, candidates who are eligible* to sit for the Qualifying (Core) Exam will receive an email invitation from the ABR inviting them to register for the exam. This email invitation will be sent three months before the exam. For additional information on the Qualifying (Core) Exam dates and locations, click here.

Scoring

Exam results will be posted in myABR approximately one month after the last day of the exam administration.

*Eligible candidates need to have the following:

• An active application with the ABR.
• Program verification of required training.
• Full payment of ABR fees.

For more information regarding the Qualifying (Core) Exam prerequisites, click here.

 

Certifying Exam

Registration

Step 1: Create Practice Profile

Annually, candidates who are eligible* to sit for the Certifying Exam will first receive an email from the ABR prompting them to create their practice profile. This reminder will be sent four months before the exam. Candidates can create their practice profile in their myABR account. For additional information on how to create a practice profile, click here.

Step 2: Register

After Step 1 is complete, candidates will receive an email invitation from the ABR inviting them to register for the exam. This email invitation will be sent three months before the exam.

Scoring

Exam results will be posted in myABR eight to 10 weeks after the Certifying Exam.

*Eligible candidates must:

• Have paid all ABR fees.
• Hold an active medical license.
• Be Board Eligible with the ABR.
• Have successful completion of internship and DR residency verified by their program.
• Have passed the Qualifying (Core) Exam.
• Complete residency at least 12 months before the exam.

For more information regarding the Certifying Exam prerequisites, click here.

 

Other Information

Late Application

Residents in their third year of residency who did not complete a first-time application during the open application period of July 1 to October 31 can apply during the late application period in March. A late submission fee will be applied to their myABR account. Please note that the late submission fee does not apply to the application or exam fee costs.

Exam Fee Table

Click here for fee table.

 

Transfers

Residents are expected to remain in the same program for all four years. If a resident wishes to transfer for any reason, that transfer must be approved by the initial program director as well as by the new program director. To notify the ABR of a transfer, please complete and submit the transfer form located here to information@theabr.org.

Withdrawals

If a resident has withdrawn from your program, please submit this form to the ABR at adminsupport@theabr.org to confirm the resident’s official end date with your program.  

Leaves of Absence

Leaves of absence may be granted to residents at the discretion of the program director in accordance with the institution’s rules. Depending on the length of absence, an extension of training may be required for a resident to remain eligible for Initial Certification. Please see the ABR’s Residency Leave Policy for details. (Individuals who have successfully completed an RCPSC-accredited residency that does not include specific requirements for total time in residency are not required to comply with the Residency Leave Policy. They are, however, required to comply with minimum time requirements in Breast Imaging and Nuclear Radiology, as detailed elsewhere in the eligibility requirements.)