The in-service examination score as a predictor of success on the American board of preventive medicine certification examination

Background: To date, there has been no study correlating the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) in-service exam (ISE) with the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) certification exam. Purpose: To validate the ACPM ISE as a predictor of success on the ABPM certification exam. Methods: ISE and ABPM certification exam scores were standardized by year using z-scores. The correlation between practicum year ISE scores and certification exam scores for military preventive medicine residencies in the National Capital and Washington State areas (core component only) was analyzed. A multivariable linear regression model included adjustments for age, gender, Master of Public Health grade point average (GPA), prior specialty board certification, and board deferral <1 year after graduation. Data were collected in 2010 and analyzed in 2011. Results: Performance on the ISE was correlated with performance on the ABPM certification core exam (r=0.61, p<0.001). Performance on the ISE was still significant after adjusting for relevant demographic and educational variables (p<0.001). Other significant covariates included GPA (p=0.001) and board deferral (p=0.04) in the linear regression model. Conclusions: Performance on the ISE is moderately correlated with performance on the board certification core exam, and this correlation remained significant after adjustment in the linear regression model. These results serve to validate the ISE as a means for program directors to identify residents at academic risk and as encouragement for residents to take the certification exam as soon as possible after graduation.