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 radiation oncology, the timeline is broken down into 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

 

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 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 on 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 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

The ABR will send an email at the beginning of each calendar year to remind program coordinators/directors to input the training credits in myABR by February 15 for the residents who are in their third year and are eligible to take the physics and cancer biology portions of the Qualifying Exam. The clinical portion of the Qualifying Exam is taken after residents complete their R4/PGY-5 residency year.

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

 

R4/PGY-5 – Oral I-131 and Parenteral Administration Log

Resident

Residents who have completed the appropriate NRC training and are graduating from their fourth year (R4/PGY-5) will need to turn in the attested and signed RO – Oral I-131 and Parenteral Administration Log to the program coordinator/director. For a blank copy of the log and more information, click here.

Program Coordinator/Director

The ABR sends email reminders at the beginning of June for program coordinators/directors to submit completed RO – Oral I-131 and Parenteral Administration Logs. Forms need to be submitted to the ABR by email to adminsupport@theabr.org no later than August 1.

 

R4/PGY-5 – Final Verification

The ABR will send final training verification forms for graduating residents via email to the program coordinators/directors at the beginning of June each year. 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; that is, 48 months of completed requisite logs per NRC guidelines and a minimum of four months in nuclear radiology and three months in mammography/breast imaging.

 

Exam Information

 

Qualifying Exam

Registration

Annually, candidates who are eligible* to sit for the Qualifying Exam will receive an email from the ABR inviting them to register for the exam. This email invitation will be sent 2 to 3 months before the exam. For additional information on the Qualifying Exam dates and locations, click here.

Candidates have the option to wait and take all three parts of the Qualifying Exam after successful completion of residency.

Candidates who received full credit for 36 months of residency training qualify to take only the Physics and Cancer Biology portions of the exam.

Candidates who received full credit for 48 months of residency training qualify to take the Physics, Cancer Biology, and Clinical portions of the exam.

Scoring

Exam results will be posted in myABR 4 to 6 weeks after the qualifying exams.

*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 Qualifying Exam prerequisites, click here.

 

Certifying Oral Exam

Registration

Annually, eligible candidates who have met the prerequisites may be scheduled for the Certifying Oral Exam. Eligible* candidates will receive an email from the ABR inviting them to register for the exam. This email invitation will be sent approximately 5 months before the exam. For additional information on the RO Certifying Oral Exam dates and location, click here.

For information on the Certifying Oral Exam prerequisites and registration, click here.

Scoring

Exam results will be posted in myABR 2 to 3 weeks after the Certifying Oral Exam. For more information, click here.

 

*Eligible candidates must:

• Have paid all ABR fees.
• Hold an active medical license.
• Be Board Eligible with the ABR.
• Have an active application.
• Have successful completion of internship and RO residency verified by their program.
• Have passed the qualifying exams.

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 cost.

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.

 

Leave 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.