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Qualifying Exam

 

Dates & Fees

LATE Dates & Fees

Exam Dates

November 3-12, 2025

 

Registration Period

May 6 – October 10, 2024

October 11 – 22, 2024

Registration Deadline

October 10, 2024 at 11:59 p.m., ET

October 22, 2024 at 11:59 p.m., ET

Fee*

$960

$1,260

* Fees subject to change

While we strongly advise you not to delay certification, sometimes things happen. If you do not take the first available seat, for any reason, your board eligibility status will change to “Delayed Certification.” This may result in additional requirements to remain board eligible. 

Learn more

Qualifying Exam Overview

The Qualifying Examination (QE) is designed to measure medical knowledge and diagnostic reasoning. It is administered one week each fall in over 200 computer-based Pearson VUE centers in the US and Canada.

Exam Build

Approximately 305 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions based on the EM Model

Pictorial question types:

Some questions have stimulus images such as x-rays or ECGs.

Reference documents at your disposal:

  • Common abbreviations
  • Normal lab values
  • 1.0 Signs, Symptoms and Presentations: 10%
  • 2.0 Abdominal & Gastrointestinal Disorders: 7%
  • 3.0 Cardiovascular Disorders: 10%
  • 4.0 Cutaneous Disorders: 3%
  • 5.0 Endocrine, Metabolic & Nutritional Disorders: 5%
  • 6.0 Environmental Disorders: 2%
  • 7.0 Head, Ear, Eye, Nose & Throat Disorders: 4%
  • 8.0 Hematologic Disorders: 3%
  • 9.0 Immune System Disorders: 2%
  • 10.0 Systemic Infectious Disorders: 7%
  • 11.0 Musculoskeletal Disorders (Non-traumatic): 3%
  • 12.0 Nervous System Disorders: 6%
  • 13.0 Obstetrics and Gynecology: 3%
  • 14.0 Psychobehavioral Disorders: 2%
  • 15.0 Renal and Urogenital Disorders: 3%
  • 16.0 Thoracic-Respiratory Disorders: 7%
  • 17.0 Toxicologic Disorders: 4%
  • 18.0 Traumatic Disorders: 9%
  • 19.0 Procedures & Skills: 8%
  • 20.0 Other Components: 2%
  • Total: 100%

Acuity Frames: Target (± 5%)

  • Critical: 30%
  • Emergent: 40%
  • Lower Acuity: 21%
  • None: 9%

Physician Tasks

For this dimension, the Board has assigned the following specific percentage weights to the Modifying Factor of age:

  • Pediatrics: 8% minimum
  • Geriatrics: 6% minimum

Sample Non-Stimulus Question

Appears on all multiple choice question exams.

What is the most common cause of massive rectal bleeding in an adult?

(A) carcinoma of the left colon

(B) carcinoma of the right colon

(C) diverticulosis

(D) mesenteric thrombosis

(E) polyps

Sample Stimulus Question

x ray of fractured hand

Appears on all multiple choice question exams.

How many bones are fractured in the hand x-ray shown?

(Please click the stimulus to view larger image.)

(A) one

(B) two

(C) three

(D) four

(E) five

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