Any significant downsides to delaying boards to 1 year after residency completion?

[dggopal]

So I am strongly considering delaying my boards to next year. I just graduated IM residency and joined a chief residency in patient safety and quality.

There are a bunch of mitigating circumstances which have taken my attention off studying and we can discuss them all but at this point my question is very basic:

Will there be any future professional downside to me delaying board exams and passing them next year?

I wish to pursue hospitalist medicine with a focus on administrative time or even academic medicine (work towards program directorship)

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[chessknt]

No, none. Most people find it easier the closer you are to residency but plenty wait and pass just fine.

 

[IM2GI]

No downside to your career but I would encourage you to just suck it up and take them. The longer you wait the more painful it becomes. In the unlikely event that you fail, then you can just take them next year as you planned anyway with again no downside.

This is not a gunner exam, you just need to pass.

 

[gutonc]

I think a year is fine. I waited 3 (for a mix of good and stupid reasons). I passed without difficulty but I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[jurassicpark]

Only if your job absolutely requires board certification. Otherwise the vast majority are fine with just board eligible (check with any place you're employed or wish to be employed, some will have stipulations).

The biggest downside to waiting is you're going to forget a lot of little things. Those "trivia" type of facts, some test taking skills, etc that you have to play catch up with.

 

[jdh71]

So I am strongly considering delaying my boards to next year. I just graduated IM residency and joined a chief residency in patient safety and quality.

There are a bunch of mitigating circumstances which have taken my attention off studying and we can discuss them all but at this point my question is very basic:

Will there be any future professional downside to me delaying board exams and passing them next year?

I wish to pursue hospitalist medicine with a focus on administrative time or even academic medicine (work towards program directorship)

all you have to do is PASS

so all things being equal, just go take it . . .

but most employers will pay for your exam, and I know I waited to take my pulmonary until I started my job so that they would do just that

if they will cut you check to take them during this chief year, do it, otherwise wait until someone else will pay for it

 

[Gastrapathy]

I’d just take it. You’re likely to pass as long as your ITE scores were >35th %ile

 

[Raryn]

So I am strongly considering delaying my boards to next year. I just graduated IM residency and joined a chief residency in patient safety and quality.

There are a bunch of mitigating circumstances which have taken my attention off studying and we can discuss them all but at this point my question is very basic:

Will there be any future professional downside to me delaying board exams and passing them next year?

I wish to pursue hospitalist medicine with a focus on administrative time or even academic medicine (work towards program directorship)

You have 7 years to pass it. There's no downside as long as you pass it in that time. I had several friends who waited until the year after residency to take it so their employer would pay for it (employer wouldn't pay if the cost was incurred before they started employment). NBD.

 

[dggopal]

Had no idea employer will pay for it... Thanks for all the help and advice guys. Much appreciated!