What is the Catch-Up exam?

What is the Catch-Up exam?

The Catch-Up Exam will not be given until 2030, so the ABD is still working out the details. However, an approach that will be much like taking four years of CertLink questions in one week is being considered.

Diplomates taking the Catch-Up Exam will have one week to answer all questions using the CertLink platform. The exam will be open-book, and diplomates will have 10 minutes to answer each question. 

Before taking the exam, diplomates will choose their desired mix of subspecialty concentration questions.

However, there will be no article-based questions. Also, they will not get immediate feedback about whether their answer was correct, nor a rationale for the correct answer. And they will not get a second chance to answer any questions they get wrong. 

If they do not pass the Catch-Up Exam, their certification will lapse until they are able to pass.

We will update this FAQ as the first administration approaches in 2030.