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Usage of the National Board of Medical Examiners Subject Test in Psychiatry by U.S. and Canadian Clerkships

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Abstract

Objective: The authors explored psychiatry clerkship usage of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Subject Test. Methods: U.S. and Canadian psychiatry clerkship directors (N= 150) were sent an 18-item questionnaire surveying evaluation and remediation practices. Results: Of 111 questionnaires (74%) returned, 76 (69%) reported using the NBME Subject Test. As part of the overall grade, the test was granted a mean weight of 31% and a median weight of 25%. Of 72 clerkship directors who use the test for grading, 42% convert the percentile score and 38% convert the subject score. Of 60 clerkship directors who use the test for passing, 72% convert the raw score (mean = 58.3, median = 58), and 28% convert the percentile score (mean = 12.2th, median = 11th percentile). Conclusions: Most psychiatry clerkship directors use the NBME Subject Test, but no predominant method exists for weighing the test or converting it into a grade.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, UTMB, 301 University Blvd., Route 0193, Galveston, Texas, 77555-0193, USA

    Ruth E. Levine M.D.

  2. University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo, North Dakota, USA

    David L. Carlson M.D. &  Ross D. Crosby Ph.D.

  3. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

    Renate H. Rosenthal Ph.D.

  4. Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Kathleen A. Clegg M.D.

Authors
  1. Ruth E. Levine M.D.
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  2. David L. Carlson M.D.
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  3. Renate H. Rosenthal Ph.D.
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  4. Kathleen A. Clegg M.D.
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  5. Ross D. Crosby Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruth E. Levine M.D..

Additional information

Approval for this study was granted by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.

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Levine, R.E., Carlson, D.L., Rosenthal, R.H. et al. Usage of the National Board of Medical Examiners Subject Test in Psychiatry by U.S. and Canadian Clerkships. Acad Psychiatry 29, 52–57 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.29.1.52

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.29.1.52

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