February 12, 2021

APPLIED Exams to Remain Virtual for Fall 2021

APPLIED Exams to Remain Virtual for Fall 2021 
Board Plans to Return to Raleigh Administrations in the Future

 Raleigh, N.C. (Feb. 12, 2021) – The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) will continue to virtually administer the APPLIED Examination to candidates for board certification for the remainder of 2021, with plans to assess more than 3,000 physician anesthesiologists this year. The decision ensures candidates whose 2020 exams were cancelled and those who registered for 2021 exams can complete certification without delay.

The ABA has successfully examined 500 candidates virtually to date, including 88 who took part in a pilot demonstration on Dec. 17-18, 2020, the rest as part of the spring 2021 APPLIED Exam administration now underway. A fall administration is set to begin in July.

“The Board has been working diligently since May to adapt the APPLIED Exam for a virtual administration,” said ABA Secretary David O. Warner, M.D. “The success of the virtual pilot paved the way for our candidates to take their board exams virtually this year in a manner that mirrors the experience they would have received in-person at the AIME Center in Raleigh.”

The Board had hoped to return to face-to-face exams starting this fall, Warner said, but ultimately decided the pandemic still posed too great a risk to the health and safety of ABA candidates, examiners and staff to return in 2021. The Board plans a return to in-person assessments once it’s safe to do so.

The ABA recognizes the impact of the APPLIED Exam on candidates’ professional advancement and has designed this year’s schedule to assess as many physicians as possible while giving scheduling priority to candidates whose exams were cancelled last year. For this reason, registration for 2021 APPLIED Exam appointments has been closed. Candidates who pass the January 2021 ADVANCED Exam will register for 2022 APPLIED Exam appointments.

 

About the American Board of Anesthesiology

Our mission is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. As the certifying body for anesthesiologists since 1938, we work with physicians to elevate practice standards and foster exceptional patient care. We administer initial and subspecialty certification exams as well as the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology® (MOCA®) program, which is designed to promote lifelong learning, a commitment to quality clinical outcomes and patient safety. Based in Raleigh, N.C., we are a nonprofit organization and a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).