POLICIES

BASIC Training Policy

EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 2025

EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 2025

As the staged exam system reaches the 10-year mark, the ABA has recently reviewed its BASIC Exam policy and decided that it will remain a qualifying exam for initial ABA certification. Candidates must pass the exam for entry into the exam system. However, in an update to its policy, the ABA will not address how the programs utilize a resident’s performance on the BASIC Exam.

Each residency program, and not the ABA, establishes its program’s academic and graduation requirements. With this policy update, individual programs remain free to set specific requirements for their residents at the program’s discretion.

The ABA will continue to inform programs of the performance of their residents on the BASIC Exam. Additionally, each residency program will continue to complete and submit to the ABA CCC reports for residents who choose to take the BASIC Exam and pursue ABA certification. However, if a candidate fails the BASIC Exam a second or subsequent time, it will no longer lead to an automatic “unsatisfactory” on CCC reports.

This ABA policy update is effective for all candidates who choose to pursue ABA certification and applies only to those currently active in residency as of Jan. 1, 2025 and future residents.

The ABA believes the BASIC Exam continues to provide an independent evaluation to assess foundational knowledge of residents and to demonstrate their ability to meet a high standard.

BASIC Training Policy FAQs

The BASIC Exam remains a qualifying exam for initial ABA certification. Candidates must pass the exam for entry into the exam system. However, in an update to its policy, the ABA will not address how the programs utilize a resident’s performance on the BASIC Exam.
Jan. 1, 2025
As the staged exam system reaches the 10-year mark, the ABA has recently reviewed its BASIC Exam policy and decided to update it, acknowledging that programs, and not the ABA, establish academic and graduation requirements.
This ABA policy update is effective for all candidates who choose to pursue ABA certification and applies only to those currently active in residency as of Jan. 1, 2025 and future residents.

This update will also be effective for any fellow who hasn’t passed the BASIC Exam prior to Jan. 1, 2025.
This updated policy only applies to candidates who take the BASIC Exam after Jan. 1, 2025. It will not be applied retroactively to anyone who took the exam prior to Jan. 1, 2025.
The updated policy will not apply retroactively. Previously awarded “U”s will not be changed based on this policy update. It only applies to candidates taking the exam after Jan. 1, 2025.
While the ABA policy will be updated, individual programs remain free to set specific requirements for their residents at the program’s discretion.

Each program, and not the ABA, establishes its program’s academic and graduation requirements.
The ABA will continue to inform programs of the performance of its residents on the BASIC Exam. Additionally, each program will continue to complete and submit to the ABA CCC reports for residents who choose to take the BASIC Exam and pursue ABA certification.

Again, if a candidate fails the BASIC Exam, a second or subsequent time, it will no longer lead to an automatic “unsatisfactory” on CCC reports.
The ABA believes the BASIC Exam continues to provide an independent evaluation to assess foundational knowledge of residents and demonstrates their ability to meet a high standard. We continue to encourage residents to take the BASIC Exam as soon as they are eligible as it provides valuable feedback. A 2018 study concluded that taking the BASIC Exam fosters and measures the acquisition of important foundational knowledge during residency.