ConCert Examination Description and Content Specifications

ConCert Examination Description

The Continuous Certification (ConCert) examination is similar to the former recertification LLSA examination.  There are, however, two important differences.

• It is administered at over 200 Pearson VUE professional computer-based testing centers.
• It is a shorter examination of approximately 205 multiple-choice questions.

The ConCert exam is a comprehensive examination that covers the breadth of Emergency Medicine.  Each examination appointment is approximately five and one-quarter hours in length, with four and one-quarter hours devoted to actual testing time. Between 10% and 15% of the questions will have a pictorial stimulus.  The style of the test questions is identical to that of the recertification examination test questions, i.e., single-best-answer, positively-worded, multiple-choice questions focused on what the practicing emergency physician needs to know when treating patients.

The ConCert exam is a criterion-referenced examination.  All candidates achieving a final score of 75 or greater will pass the examination. 

LLSA Content on the ConCert Examination

The link between previous LLSA readings and the ConCert examination review course no longer exists.  ConCert examinations are focused on assessing knowledge needed for clinical practice.  Although LLSA questions will no longer appear on the ConCert examination, similar concepts may still be represented as they become the standards for practice in EM.  The questions of detailed information found on the LLSA tests, however, will not be found on the ConCert examinations. 

Content Specifications

The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine (EM Model) forms the basis of each of ABEM’s MCQ examinations. ABEM is currently using the 2011 version of the EM Model for its examinations. The lists below describe the relative weight given to different elements of the EM Model in constructing ABEM’s MCQ examinations. The complete EM Model was published in Academic Emergency Medicine [Acad Emerg Med. 2012; doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2012.01385.x [Epub ahead of print]]. It is also on ABEM’s website.

Reference: https://www.abem.org/public/abem-maintenance-of-certification-%28moc%29/moc-assessment-of-cognitive-expertise-%28concert%29%28tm%29-examination/concert%28tm%29-examination-description-and-content-specifications