Do Medical Certification Exams Present More Challenges to International Medical Graduates?

• In Event: 63.084 - Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: 63.084-20 - Division I Roundtable B: Use of Exams for Education in the Professions

Abstract

International medical graduates (IMGs) have gradually increased in the US medical training and workforce in the last two decades. This study examined the candidate performance, demographics, time used, and differential item functioning (DIF) of IMG relative to US medical graduates (USMG) on a subspecialty exam. The findings suggest that IMGs performed better in both the certification and maintenance of certification exams. IMGs used more exam time but regression analysis proved the variance of exam time used was not explained substantially by the IMG status, performance, age, or gender. DIF results suggest that IMGs integrated well into the US physician workforce. The study provided evidence that the secure exams are appropriate and fair assessments to IMGs.

Authors

• Yanling Zhang, American Board of Internal Medicine

• Stephen Cubbellotti, American Board of Internal Medicine