OSTEOPATHIC BOARD CERTIFICATION

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Neurophysiology Certification Process

Subspecialty Certification Exam

Eligibility

The following requirements must be completed before you may sit for the Neurophysiology Subspecialty Certification Exam:

  • Hold primary board certification in Neurology from the AOBNP that is active and in good standing.
  • Complete AOA-approved residency training in Neurology that included a minimum of three months of EEG with evoked potentials and three months of EMG.
  • Complete a one-year approved fellowship in EMG/EEG or Neurophysiology.
  • Successfully sit for and pass all sections of the certification examination.
  • Adhere to the AOA Code of Ethics.

Requirements

At the time of application, the applicant must submit the following:

  • Completed application submitted online.
  • Copy of current state medical license indicating expiration date.
  • Copy of fellowship certificate from the Neurophysiology program, letter from the program director or letter from the chief of neurology or Neurophysiology section documenting the applicant’s:
    • Years of clinical practice.
    • Recognition in the community as a practitioner of Neurophysiology at least 20% of his/her clinical time.
    • Standard of care provided.
    • Performance and interpretation of a minimum of 500 studies consisting of EEGs, EMGs, polysomnograms, and evoked potentials in clinical practice.

Exam Fees

An application fee of $1,500 must be submitted with your completed application. The late application fee is $450. No application will be considered complete until all fees have been paid.

If an applicant fails any part of the exam, the fee for reexamination is $950.

Exam Cancellation Fees

  • 0 – 30 days before the exam: no refund
  • 31 days or more prior to the exam date: 50% refund
  • No refunds of late fees
  • Rejected Applications: 75% refund

Note: Prior to submitting your application, please be certain that you meet the criteria to apply.

Exam Dates and Deadlines

The Neurophysiology Subspecialty Certification Exam is offered once annually. The application period opens six months prior to the exam. Upon successful completion of the application process, the AOBNP will advise applicants via email of acceptance to take the exam.

The first application deadline will be 60 days prior to the first date of the exam administration window. The final deadline will be 30 days prior to the exam administration window.

All candidates requesting exam accommodations must submit their requests at the time of application and by the final application deadline (30 days prior to the exam).

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Exam Content Outline

The Neurophysiology Subspecialty Certification Exam evaluates the neuroscientific basis, terminology, and interpretation of electroencephalography, evoked potentials, electromyography, and polysomnography as applied to clinical judgment in the diagnosis and treatment in the practice of osteopathic neurology.

The three-hour exam consists of two sections: Neuroimaging/Neuropathology, EEG/Evoked Potentials, and Electrodiagnosis (EMG, NCV, and Late Potentials). Each section is about 90 minutes in length with one scheduled 10-minute break. Please note the exam clock will resume after the scheduled break even if you have not returned.

  • The EEG and Evoked Potentials section consists of multiple-choice questions on neurophysiologic waveform data with clinical adult and pediatric case information.
  • The Electrodiagnosis section includes a written multiple-choice, single-answer test; a short written essay presenting the electrodiagnostic evaluation and expected findings of a clinical neuromuscular case; and identification of three or four EMG audio-visual waveforms.

Exam Scoring

Scoring Criteria

AOA reports candidates’ certification results using standardized scaled scores. Scaled scores are more valid and reliable compared to raw scores and make scores comparable across different forms of the exam. The AOA reports scores on a 200 to 800-point scale with a scaled score of 500 or higher required to pass.

  • A scaled score of 500 represents the minimum level of knowledge and skill necessary to pass the exam as established by AOA Certifying Boards.
  • The highest possible scaled score is 800.
  • The lowest possible scaled score is 200.
  • Overall scores are based on the total number of items answered correctly, regardless of content area.

Results by Content Area

  • When possible, a breakdown of exam scores by content area is provided to help you identify your areas of strength and areas that may need more development.
  • The number of items for each content area indicates the relative amount of test questions on the exam for that content area.
  • Content area scores are not weighted to calculate your overall score; each content area is scored separately after the overall analysis is complete.
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