Re: Board Review Course

Re: Board Review Course

Jake L

10/28/2009

The original Question:

Hello Listserve-

I am wondering how effective clinicians feel the various board review courses are for successfully passing the ABC Boards.
If you have taken a review course or used a review book, what did you use and how do you feel it contributed to your board exams?

Northwestern, Newington, Texas SouthWestern (on-line), oandpstudyguide.com (material), etc. Were they helpful, did they provide new information or the same information in a new way, were they too detailed or not detailed enough?

I look forward to sharing your opinions and experiences!



Brief online search:

I sent an email to Northwestern to see if they had any statistics on the pass rate of canidates that have taken their review course but did not recieve a reply. They may be been busy with last weeks review course and overlooked or postponed answering my question.
I did notice on the ABC website that last year had approximately an 80% pass rate for their orthotic exams. I did not find any data on whether the canidates were taking the tests for the first time or retaking the exams. I also did not find data related to the pass rates of canidates from various OnP schools or review courses. I did not contact ABC to see if they record that data.


Responses:


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I took the NW course for orthotics (my 2nd discipline) & found it helpful, but not the total solution I was hoping for. I passed, but didn't feel super confident. A couple years later, I took the UTSW online orthotics course for the CEUs & wished THAT would have been available when I was prepping for the exam. The online course took my brain right back to that textbook learning & thinking mode. I would recommend UTs course. Didn't do anything other than study for prosthetics because that's my niche.

* After Furture Questioning on differences in the review course *

I don't remember content difference. I just remember feeling disappointed w/NW & very satisfied w/UTSW. It may have come down to the presentation of material at NW...felt rushed, kind of cursory....like we should all know it already.

Disclaimer: I went to UTSW & their online course felt familiar, but I do not have a vested interest in their online course success.
 
Exam advise: Study. Use your practical experience as reference point to take yourself out of test mode but USE your book-learning for the answers. I would read the question/scenario, visualize myself treating the pt & try to recall the same situation in our textbooks. Read the Atlas....seriously.


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They can't right. It depends how nervous you get taking tests.
I imagine or maybe you should check this out how they know what area are going to be tested. For instance, beyond basic geometry of ak/bk/hip, etc. will they ask you any cad cam questions such as what is a computer file, how do you save computer records, how many common types of scanner are there such as contact, non contact. You should know the types of amputations and the common surgical names beyond the o and p name such as: metatarsal amputation with met heads and mid-tarsal vs Lisfranc, and choparts. You can ask them to refer you to a few schools who have bought their product.
Take care, and good luck passing the test.


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I took the on line prep course (as I remember) UT SW offered. I also
used some older review materials from various colleagues. The very
best advice I can give is for you to review your own texts and notes
from school. Make a master list, then find someone in your area also
studying for exams. Cross reference.

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I just took my exams this past year and went to the Hanger review
course. I felt over prepared when taking the ABC exams and I highly
recommend attending if you work for Hanger. Let me know what you find
out, as I no longer work for Hanger and will be sitting for the other
discipline soon. Good luck!

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I have taken my written and written SIM for Orthotics and took the Texas on-line review course because it was easy to do at home. I don't think that it was worth the 400 dollars I spent on it and don't think I would do that one again. It has a lot of powerpoint lectures and quizzes but I think a lot of the material is good knowledge to know while working in the field but not something that will help you prepare for the exam. The written sim section of the Texas online course was the most valuble part to me because I had no idea what to expect from the written SIM. I had never ever taken a written SIM test before and it gave me an idea of what to expect. I have heard good things about Northwestern's review course but but can't give you any first hand experience information because I ddn't take the Nortwestern review just too busy to go out to Chicago for a weekend. It is daunting trying to study because there are so many question on what you should
 be studying. I read the Atlas of Orthotics and other books before hand and studied anatomy. Concentrate on pathologies and troubleshooting of the devices. One area that I totally forgot to review is HIPPA and Medicare guidlines I had no clue on some of those questions. When I do my prosthetic exams know what I know now I think I will take the written and written sim on different days but that is just me. It was way to stressfull taking them back to back.

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Thank you for the responses!