Examination History & Statistics
(Caveat: The total number of members in the ABPdN is relatively small. We would caution the reader against making improper generalizations or extrapolations from such small numbers.)

The American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology has been in existence since 1995. It was originally intended to be a multidisciplinary board, examining psychologists and physicians. Between 1995 and 2002, the 5-part written examination which covered pediatric neuroscience, neuropsychology, ethics, research/statistics, testing theory, was administered as the means by which members were certified. Candidates could fail all or part of the exam and be required to retake only those sections they had failed.

During 1995-2002, forty-five people took the written exam. Fifteen more took the exam for validation purposes only. Three candidates failed multiple sections and never took the exam again. Of those that persevered, several failed sections and chose to retake them. Thirty-five candidates ultimately passed all 5 sections and became boarded members (35/45 = 78% pass rate). The number that passed the test on the first trial is unknown. The most commonly retaken task domain was Pediatric Neuroscience.

In 2002, the ABPdN temporarily ceased giving examinations because of concern that its application and written examination-only model was insufficient to assess the range of competencies required in the practice of pediatric neuropsychology. The decision was to re-tool the examination so that it more accurately assessed those skills.

Between 2002 and 2004, a study committee that included a paid, well known, non-ABPdN boarded pediatric neuropsychologist consultant, worked to enhance the application (18 pages) to guide self-selection on the part of the applicants, modify the objective examination, added the requirement of a practice sample, and developed an oral examination that was based upon the model employed by the ASPPB for the Certificate for Professional Qualification. The board also voted to structure the organization and exams such that they would meet ABPP guidelines.

In early 2004, the ABPdN reincorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in Indiana, with the sole purpose of certifying competence in pediatric neuropsychology. New bylaws were written, the trademark purchased from the original corporation and the members from the previous board that could meet the new corporation’s certification requirements were migrated. Of the original set of certified members, several (six) could not meet the current requirement guidelines because they were either not licensed health service providers in psychology, they chose not to take the remaining sequence of the exam, had inadequate backgrounds to allow for certification by the current board, or through illness or death. The remaining 29 members were required to complete the two new phases of examination (which included an oral and practice sample review). Since the written examination has been augmented now by nearly 100 questions (now totaling 200), all current candidates take all questions, with only a pre-defined set of 100 being used for pass/fail status.

When the board re-incorporated in 2004, the new bylaws and policies gave the remaining members a defined period of time by which they could complete the examination sequence. This policy allowed them two opportunities to complete the sequence before they would be required to forfeit their board certification with the new corporation (although they would certainly be welcome to start the process again).

From 1995 through July, 2006, fifty-seven applications have been submitted for consideration by the board. Since 2004, seven new applicants have taken the entire sequence. Three of these seven were required to retake the written exam, but passed the oral and practice sample (all of which were given on the same day). The content areas uniformly posing the most difficulty to the candidates were those of neuroanatomy and developmental neuropathology. All three have retaken the exam and passed on the second trial. To date, no new candidate has failed the oral or the practice sample portion of the exam.

Since the introduction of the new sequence, sixteen of the twenty-nine originally boarded members have completed the entire exam sequence. Six previously boarded members have taken the oral/practice sample portion of the exam and have not passed. Five have not taken the exam as of August 30, 2006. Two of the members have been granted emeritus status and are not expected to complete the examinations.

As of January 2006

• Total Applications (1995-2005) - 57
• Total accepted to sit for either exam – 52
• Percentage passing old exam – 78%
• Total New Applications from 3/2004 – 8/2005:11
• Total allowed to sit for new exam 7 (64%)
• Percentage passage of new written exam on first attempt: 57%
• Percentage of new candidates passing on second attempt: 100%
• Percentage passage of new candidates on sample/Oral exam: 100%

Examinations NAN, 2006

• New candidates (never previously examined)  - 9
• Previous members completing sequence – 3

Statistics for the previously boarded members:

• Percentage of passage for oral/written sample on first attempt: 72%
• Percentage of passage on second attempt: Unknown.

Additional validation study

Finally, in mid-2006, the ABPdN executive board voted to select 25 non-boarded, but recognized pediatric neuropsychologists who spend the majority of their time in the clinical practice of pediatric neuropsychology (versus teaching or research) in the U.S. to serve as a criterion sample for the written exam. This validation study is underway. The method and analysis will be published upon its completion.

This page’s statistics will be updated following every examination.