Becoming board certified will demonstrate your commitment as a physician, to continually expand your knowledge and expertise in your chosen specialty. Certification involves a formidable process of testing, as well as evaluation by your peers in pediatrics. Before you are eligible to become a board certified pediatrician, the following pediatric certification requirements must be satisfied. 

• You must graduate from a medical school that is accredited in the United States, Canada or a World Health Organization recognized foreign medical school. 
• Three years of residency training in pediatrics must be completed and verified. 
• You must have an unrestricted state medical license. 

Each of these requirements will be source verified and confirmed by the certification board of the American Board of Pediatrics. Your program director plays an important role in your application process by giving his or her assurance that you meet the standards that are expected of a board certified pediatrician. 

Once the application is completed and all documentation and recommendations have been received, applications are thoroughly evaluated before a physician will be allowed to take the exam. When these conditions have been met and your application has been approved, you will be able to sit for the board certification exam. 

What is board certification?

Board certification is a voluntary process. Once you finish your residency, you have a certain length of time to pass the certification exam. Applications (available online) to take the pediatric board certification exam are accepted only during specified registration periods. Registration fees must accompany your application. 

The test is usually offered only once per year – in the fall. It is a one day test and includes four sessions with optional breaks between each section. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions – with a single best answer. The exam is seven hours in length. Check out the online tutorial available through the American Board of Pediatrics website. 

The pediatric board certification exams are copyrighted and held at secure, computer testing center locations – they are proctored by professionals. 

You are encouraged to use study materials that are directed towards the pediatric board certification exam, however they are not through American Academy of Pediatrics. 

How the test is scored?

The exam score is based on how many questions you answer correctly. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. The test scale ranges from 1 to 300 – with 180 the passing score. The score is scaled for reporting purposes, there are many versions of the exam. 

How long is the wait for results?

Your exam score will be posted on your online portfolio within approximately 60 days following your test. You can expect your long awaited certificate to be mailed to you in approximately four months. 

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It’s time to heave a big sigh of relief that you are almost done with your Nurse Practitioner program! You should be very proud that you have completed (or almost completed) this challenging degree. Even though you have that demanding goal completed, you need to think about the certification exam. Once that’s behind you, you really will feel like you can take a deep breath. But – first things first.  

Nurse Practitioner Certification
In order for you to practice in your chosen field as a Nurse Practitioner, you must take the certification examination that is in conjunction with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The Nurse Practitioner exams are based on objectives that allow the Academy to measure the skills and knowledge that is required of Nurse Practitioners. They are based on competencies developed during the NP program.

Specialties within the realm of a practicing Nurse Practitioner include: 

• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

*Note: As of December 2016, the Adult Nurse Practitioner exam will no longer be offered. 

Once you have successfully completed the didactic and clinical program, you will be qualified to sit for the nurse practitioner certification exam. You are able to begin the application process six months before you graduate from your nurse practitioner program. 

Application process
You must apply to take the nurse practitioner certification exam. First, register online – and complete the application. Once the application is complete and you have gathered all of the documents required, the application can be faxed, mailed or emailed. You will receive a letter of acceptance when your application is approved. When your application has been processed and accepted, you will be able to schedule when and where you will take the test. 

Following submission and acceptance of your application, you will have a 120 day window to take the exam – these dates will be explained to you in your acceptance letter. 

Practice tests
Along with your traditional methods of studying for the exam, practice exams are available for you to purchase. They are useful tools for you to prepare for the nurse practitioner certification exam. By using practice exams, you will be able to become familiar with the format of the test questions on the certification exam. Each practice test can be used only once, but additional practice exams are available for purchase multiple times.  

What the exam will look like
The Nurse Practitioner certification exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions. This includes 15 questions that are actually ‘pretest’ questions that do not count in your certification exam score. 

At the time you finish your test, you will notice a ‘preliminary pass or not pass’ on your computer screen. If you have successfully passed the test, you will receive a letter containing your exam score – as well as your certificate within three weeks of taking the test. If you do not pass the exam you are able to sit for the exam twice during a calendar year. 

Once the nurse practitioner certification exam is behind you, you will be able to begin your new advanced career. Successful completion of the Nurse Practitioner certification exam shows that all of your hard work has paid off and you are on your way to a rewarding and enjoyable new beginning. 

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Are you looking for the right opportunity to pursue after passing your exam? Consider Elliot Health System!

The American Board of Family Medicine requires physicians to take the MC-FP Exam to be recertified or for your initial certification. The family medicine board certification requirements can be made into a checklist for your medical license that must be unrestricted to practice in Canada or the United States. The compliance documents for the physician’s professional role and their license to practice medicine are documents that must be submitted.  

In order to be ready, you should prepare in advance for an all-day affair of sitting and answering questions on a computer. 

The MC-FP Examination
* No score will be given on the 20 field questions. 
* Section 1 is two hours with 120 multiple choice questions.
* A 15-minute break is allowed. 
* Section 2 and 3 are Module exams and both are 45 minutes in length with multiple choice questions.
* The 70-minute break is allowed.

You should take the break because a few deep breaths, getting something cool to drink and let your brain relax with re-energize the mind.

* Section 4 consists of 80 multiple choice questions and is 95 minutes in length.
* The break time is 15 minutes.
* Section 5 has 80 multiple choice questions and is 95 minutes in length.
Be careful when you select a module. It cannot be changed after it has been confirmed. When the exam has reached its time limit that exam has ended. If you fail, you have to remain qualified to retake the exam. There is no limit on how many times you can retake the exam.

The family medicine board certification requirements have a list of every type of physical malady you will come in contact with during your practice.

The Self Assessment Module Requirements
* The Part II module earns 15 points.
* Completing 3 modules will give you the 50 points required. 
* The  Knowledge Assessment and a Clinical Simulation has 60 questions. 
*The required credits of Continuing Medical Education or CME

Part II Module  
* Knowledge Assessment and a Clinical Simulation with 60 questions on a selected topic. You have to answer 80% of the questions correctly and then the module must be completed within a year.
Part II Alternative Modules that can be completed to count toward the 50 points. 
* Patient Centered Medical Home 10 points 
* Health Literacy Module 10 points

Part III
* You passed the MC-FP examination.

Part IV Modules
* Performance in Practice or PPM
* Methods in Medicine Module or MIMM is for physicians who don’t participate with “hands on” patient care or work in the administrative capacity.

The Part IV module needs one part of each stage to be completed successfully. Part IV alternative modules that can be completed to count toward the 50 points.

MC-FP Entry Fees For The Modules
* Payment is due at the start of each module.
* The modules that are completed before starting the Entry Cycle Process will be forfeited.
* Part II modules must be completed within one year. Incomplete modules can be rescheduled or a different module can be chosen. 
* Fees for modules not taken will be refunded.
* You will receive 15 CME credits for completing each module. 

The family medicine board certification requirements apply to physicians in the military, the Coast Guard, Police departments, private practice and agencies that employ a doctor.

Congratulations! You have taken the Maintenance of Certification Program for Family Physicians or MC-FP exam and maintained your license to practice medicine. 

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Are you seeking the perfect place to practice medicine now that you have passed your MC-FP? Consider the opportunities Elliot Health System has to offer.

Let’s face it. It’s hard work reaching the status of APRN; and paying off the debt you’ve racked up in order to reach that status can amount to even more of a challenge than the toughest clinicals in your academic career.

But, this isn’t a hopeless challenge. In fact, there programs in place that can help with your APRN loan repayment strategies. One such program is the New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Certain areas of New Hampshire are in dire need of medical professionals of all types, including APRNs, so they are more than happy to help you with paying off your loan—if you can meet the requirements.

What Is The New Hampshire SLRP?

Basically, there is a shortage of health professionals throughout the state of New Hampshire. The Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) and Rural Health & Primary Care Section (RHPC) instituted the New Hampshire SLRP in order to remedy this shortage by providing loan repayment to medical professionals working in areas affected by this shortage.

These underserved areas include:

• Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/Ps)
• Health Care Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
• Governor’s Exceptional Medically Underserved Populations (E-MUP)
• Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs)
• Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSAs)
• Facilities/organizations funded by HHS programs

What Are The Requirements For Your Practice?

Practices participating in SLRP:

• Agree to provide care to all patients, regardless of ability to pay
• Agree to have a sliding-fee schedule in place based on federal poverty guidelines
• Must accept both Medicaid and Medicare
• Must provide free care if medically necessary

What Are Your Service Requirements?

If you choose to participate in SLRP, you’d better plan on staying awhile. In order to be eligible for APRN Student Loan Repayment, there is a minimum service requirement of thirty-six months—if you opt for full time service. If you choose part time service, the requirement is twenty-four months.

How Is Eligibility Determined?

Eligible applicants must:

• Be US Citizens
• Be without any unserved obligations for service to any other agency, whether governmental or non-governmental
• Not be involved in any other loan repayment program
• Be licensed in the State of New Hampshire
• Be able to begin full- or part-time clinical service once a contract has been signed

Which Professionals Qualify For New Hampshire SLRP?

There are three tiers of medical professionals who can receive SLRP under this program. APRNs fall under tier 2. Eligible APRN positions include:

• Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
• Certified Nurse Midwives (NMs)
• Primary Care Physician Assistants (PAs)
• Psychiatric Nurse Specialists (PNSs)

RNs and LPNs are not eligible for funding.

How Much Can You Expect Your APRN Student Loan Repayment To Be?

The amount of your APRN student loan repayment depends on whether you choose to serve full time or part time. Full time APRN participants should expect to get paid back $45,000—but if they choose to work beyond the minimum service obligation (36 months) there is an opportunity for an extension. They may receive an additional $20,000 in exchange for 24 additional months of service.

Part time APRN participants can expect $17,500 if they do the minimum service obligation of 24 months, with an opportunity for a 12-month extension, which will result in an additional $5,000.

What Is The Funding Match?

If either an eligible practice site or, optionally, the community in which you plan to practice can provide you with a one-to-one funding match for each state dollar in your SLRP contract, your application will be considered first.

What Are The Yearly Application Deadlines?

• March 15 (July 1 start)
• June 15 (October 1 start)
• September 15 (January 1 start)
• December 15 (April 1 start)

For a complete description of the program and for more information visit: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/bchs/rhpc/repayment.htm

***Disclaimer: This article is for publication purposes only. EHS is not responsible for the accuracy of the program details and eligibility are at the state of New Hampshire’s discretion. Readers are encouraged to visit the website above for more information and to see if you are eligible.

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Ready to start your APRN career? Why not take a peek at what Elliot Health System has to offer?

To start, what exactly does an Endocrinologist do?

An endocrinologist is a specialist of internal medicine. Their focus is in understanding our bodily response to hormones (or a lack thereof). These specialists investigate patient ailments to see if they are due to hormonal imbalances and they treat deficiencies as needed. Endocrinologists may work with people suffering from obesity and nutritional disorders, diabetes, bone and calcium disorders, hyperthyroidism, pituitary disorders, reproductive and gonadal problems, cholesterol issues and certain cancers of the endocrine glands. 

How do I become an Endocrinologist?

Well…it’s not a hop, skip and a jump. Or really it is, but with a few extra hops and skips. Let’s take a look at the endocrinologist certification requirements, shall we?

1. Complete a Bachelor’s Degree 

Seems obvious right? It’s a good idea to major in a science-related field so that you have the necessary background. Also, medical school can be highly competitive so take advantage of any volunteer opportunities to help build your student resume- and to help get you experience in the field of endocrinology!

2. Complete a Doctorate of Medicine or a Doctorate of Osteopathy

As you might expect, one of the most basic steps to finishing the endocrinologist certification requirements will be to finish medical school. Keep in mind, medical school is only step two so you can’t start slacking just yet. Make sure to keep those grades up and get as much hands-on experience as possible. 

3. Pass the United States Medical Licensing Exams

Because, well, of course you’ll need to become licensed to practice endocrinology (and anything else for that matter). This exam basically tells the world that you paid attention in medical school. While you will need to prepare, keep in mind the purpose is to make sure you know your stuff so if you study well during the entire medical school process, the contents of the test shouldn’t be too much of a shock. 

4. Complete a Residency in Internal Medicine

Before you can delve into the specialization of endocrinology, you’ll need to be sure you’ve got a firm understanding of internal medicine. A residency gives you excellent, hands on experience. Again, volunteer whenever opportunities arise to study the endocrine system and its functions in the real world. 

5. Become Board Certified in Internal Medicine

Hooray! Another certification exam! You’re over halfway through the endocrinologist certification requirements. 

6. Complete a Fellowship in Endocrinology

Alright by this point, you know you want to be an endocrinologist. Since you’ve already completed time in internal medicine, you should have gotten some great exposure to the field. Now you get to do even more with those endocrine glands!

7. Pass Your Certification in Endocrinology

You’ve made it to the very end and completed all of the endocrinologist certification requirements except one- the test. Once you’ve passed, pat yourself on the back because man are you specialized! 

8. You’re an Endocrinologist!

Congratulations! You’ve made it through long hours and hard exams, but you’ve also proven yourself as an amazing doctor and specialist. Now get ready to start reaping the rewards of all your hard work- you earned it!

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Now chances are you are out looking for the perfect job, so why not check out what Elliot Health System has to offer.

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The search for employment as a physician may seem like it requires as much patience and dedication as your initial medical training. Your curriculum vitae, or CV, is the most powerful instrument you have in your employment search. A physician CV gives a potential employer a detailed summary of your education, experience, and qualifications, along with relevant personal information that you decide to share. The following information presents a brief guide to the physician CV and what you should include in this critical document.

Contact Information
Include your full name, plus your mailing address, telephone number, cell phone and fax numbers, and email address. This can also be an appropriate place to list your personal website address or a LinkedIn profile page.

You can list both personal addresses and professional addresses in this section, such as your address at a professional office, clinic, or hospital. Indicate clearly which address is which. If any of these addresses are temporary, also indicate this information.

Educational Background
List your complete educational background, starting with your undergraduate degree, any graduate degrees, and your medical degree. Include the complete name and address of the colleges, universities, or medical schools you attended, along with information on major courses of study and degrees attained.

This is also a place where you can list any academic honors you earned, including memberships in any academic honor societies.

Internships, Residencies, and Fellowships
Include details on all internships, residencies, and fellowships you completed. Provide the name of the organization or medical establishment where you were an intern, resident, or fellow, including full contact information for the organization. Include information on your medical specialty, any leadership roles you assumed, and notable accomplishments you made during your training.

Licensure and Certification Information
Provide a list of your medical licensure, with information on specialties, along with board certifications or any other credentials you hold. It is not necessary to include license numbers with this information.

Professional Experience
Your physician CV should include a detailed list of your professional experience in the medical field or related area, such as medical research or administrative positions. It’s usually better to highlight professional experience that is related to the type of position you’re seeking. For example, if you are looking to join a hospital or an active practice, highlight previous positions that involved direct patient contact and care. A separate section dealing with experience related to the position you’re after, along with another section describing other medical positions, could be effective.

Part-time positions should be listed separately from full-time positions.

Experience should be listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent position first, then the next most recent, and so on.

Include information such as position held, organization name and address, dates of employment, and a description of your duties. Provide as much quantifiable information as possible, such as the number of patients under your care, the number of residents or staff members you supervised, and so on. Note any relevant achievements you were responsible for in these positions.

Publications and Presentations
Include lists of professional publications, including bibliographic citations such as the name of the periodical where the publication occurred, date of publication, and page number (if relevant). For presentations and lectures, include the title and subject of presentation, where the presentation was made, and the organization or event that hosted the presentation.

Professional Affiliations
Provide a list of professional affiliations, such as medical organizations, industry associations, or other relevant memberships.

Professional References
Provide a list of professional references with names, positions, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and relationship to you in your professional position.

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You work extremely hard in high school to make sure you get into a good college. Then you work extremely hard in college to get the grades and recommendations necessary to get into med school. Then, after you get into med school, you find you really didn’t know what hard work was. Now you’re thinking about residencies and trying to decide what you really want to do when you finally grow up. Some of the top opportunities for medical students do not involve clinical practice.

Opportunities for medical students depend to a great extent on where you started. Your background, culture, whether you’re from a rural, urban or small town environment, all have significant influence on your goals. People with rural or small town ties are more likely to want to go back to that type of environment to practice and often pick primary care, especially Family Practice. Individuals who came from the inner city may want to dedicate their lives to helping the people they grew up with. But whatever dreams you have, there are a myriad of choices.

Residencies: The usual route.

• Primary care – Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Ob-Gyn, Pediatrics, Med-Peds.
• General surgery – The starting point for most surgical specialties and subspecialities. If you just want to do surgery in a rural area with a small hospital, you will be ready to start your practice.
• Orthopedic surgery, emergency medicine, other normal residencies
• Transitional year – Basically this is a year of internship, a year of medical and surgical rotations to give the future dermatologist, radiologist, neurologist, ophthalmologist or anesthesiologist experience beyond the narrow confines of his field.

But there are other paths to follow, some rather off the beaten track.

• MD/JD joint degrees – After completing med school, it would seem difficult to keep on going to school, but the opportunities and the financial benefits for someone with both a medical and a law degree are tremendous. There are many areas of law in which the dual degrees will make you an expert, most obviously healthcare. But management of medical organizations and academic careers in both medicine and law are possibilities as well.
• Other combined MD degrees – Adding a PhD, MBA (Master of Business Administration), MPH (Master of Public Health) or an MPA ( Master of Public Administration) opens up a multitude of career paths outside of the usual medical practice.
• Administration – With or without a residency a medical degree can open doors to a job as an administrator, especially in hospitals or healthcare organizations. A second degree such as a MPA or MBA can be obtained later to advance your career.
• Pharmaceutical company executive – The drug companies are looking for MDs with administrative skills.
• Medical consultant – An expert is needed by architects, healthcare planners, authors, film producers and multiple government agencies to sort out the language and concepts.
• Public service – Otherwise known as a political career, this is a definite possibility for those with public speaking abilities and strong political beliefs.

There are a huge number of training programs available to improve your leadership skills, improve your writing and business talents, turn you into an orator and start you on a course that may take you a long way towards your dreams.

And if you decide you really do want to practice medicine in one of its many forms, there are companies that specialize in helping doctors get established wherever they want to live. New England, the Southwest, the Gulf Coast – pick your own version of paradise.

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Want to learn more about opportunities with Elliot Health System?

This network update goes over an EPN/S Governing Board Leadership Opportunity, Welcome (Provider Alignment), Provider Alignment Survey and more.

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