ABEM Board Exam Update 2026: From Oral Exam to OSCE-Based Certifying Exam
Introduction
If you’re taking boards in 2026 or later, you won’t face the old Oral Exam — instead, ABEM will replace the Oral Exam with a new Certifying Exam in 2026, a major change that represents one of the biggest updates in ABEM exam history. Instead of a purely oral, virtual assessment, the new exam will combine clinical reasoning cases with OSCE-style stations that test communication and procedural skills.
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Why ABEM Is Replacing the Oral Exam in 2026
ABEM’s goal is to make the test feel more like the job you already do — not just answering questions on Zoom, but also showing how you communicate, lead, and perform procedures in real time. These ABEM oral exam changes mean the test will now evaluate not only knowledge but also OSCE-style performance skills like communication and procedures. The new Certifying Exam is designed to better reflect real-world practice and improve fairness via structured rubrics and examiner training.
ABEM Certifying Exam 2026 Structure (Including OSCE Stations)
The ABEM new certifying exam 2026 is built around two major case types, combining oral-style discussions with OSCE emergency medicine board scenarios. Think of the Certifying Exam as two buckets of cases: one where you talk through clinical decisions with an examiner, and another that feels like an OSCE with patients or simulators. The first major case types are Clinical Care Cases (~15 minutes each) and the second are Communication & Procedure Cases (~10–15 minutes each).
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ABEM Oral Exam vs. Certifying Exam 2026: Key Differences at a Glance
Here’s a comparison of the ABEM Oral Exam vs. the Certifying Exam 2026, showing the key differences residents need to know.
|
Feature |
Oral Exam (through 2025) |
Certifying Exam (from 2026) |
|
Format |
Virtual, structured oral cases |
In-person, hybrid cases (oral + OSCE) |
|
Location |
Remote (Zoom-based) |
AIME Center, Raleigh, NC |
|
Case Types |
Oral patient cases only |
Clinical Care Cases + Communication & Procedure (OSCE-style) |
|
Procedures Tested |
None directly |
Yes – procedural stations |
|
Communication Skills |
Assessed verbally with examiner |
Assessed via standardized patients/OSCE stations |
|
Length |
Multiple structured cases (~2 hours) |
Multiple case stations, each ~10–15 minutes |
|
Frequency |
~3 exam windows/year |
~9 exam windows/year |
|
Focus |
Clinical reasoning only |
Reasoning + communication + professionalism + procedures |
|
Transition Rule |
Last offered in 2025 |
Mandatory for all new certifiers from 2026 |
How to Prepare
Because the Oral Exam is retiring, your prep should evolve too. Preparing for the ABEM certifying exam update means not only practicing traditional oral cases but also adding OSCE prep for communication and procedural stations.
1. Practice traditional oral cases.
2. Add OSCE-style communication and procedural simulations.
3. Master high-yield procedures like airway management and chest tube placement.
4. Continue regular ECG, X-ray, and ultrasound review.
5. Build exam endurance with full simulation days.
Emergency medicine residents facing the OSCE emergency medicine boards should make sure their preparation includes both case-based reasoning and hands-on procedural practice.
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FAQs on ABEM 2026 Exam Changes
- Q: What is the ABEM new certifying exam 2026t?
A: It’s the in-person replacement for the Oral Exam, featuring both clinical reasoning cases and OSCE-style communication/procedure stations..
- Q: When does the new exam start?
A: In 2026; the Oral Exam is retired after 2025.
- Q: Do I need to take the new exam if I already pass the Oral Exam?
A: No, passing the Oral Exam in 2024–25 completes certification.
- Q: Where will it be held?
A: At the AIME Center in Raleigh, NC.
- Q: How many cases are there?
A: Multiple Clinical Care and Communication/Procedure stations; ABEM has not released the exact number.
- Q: How should I prepare?
A: Blend oral case practice with OSCE simulations, procedural refreshers, and image review.
