The APPLIED Exam

Establishing your mastery of clinical practice management and patient care

The APPLIED Exam includes the traditional Standardized Oral Examination (SOE) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) component.

Physicians take this exam after passing the ADVANCED Exam.

Please review our FAQs for more information regarding our COVID vaccination policy for the APPLIED Exam.

Exam FAQs

The Traditional Standardized Oral Examination (SOE)

The SOE is based on guided questions that include a patient’s brief clinical history and emphasize the scientific rationale underlying clinical management decisions. You’ll participate in two 35-minute exam sessions that assess your judgment, adaptability to unexpected clinical changes, organization and presentation of information.

Note: If you completed residency training June 30 – Sept. 30, 2016, you would only take the SOE component.

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

The OSCEs assess communication and professionalism, and technical skills related to patient care. You’ll participate in seven eight-minute stations with four-minute breaks in between to review the next scenario. The sessions will be recorded for grading purposes.

Note: If you completed residency training on or after Oct. 1, 2016, you will take both the SOE and the OSCE components.

Requesting an alternate exam week

If you have a medical or military reason and can provide independent documentation to be approved by APPLIED Exam staff, you may request one exam week change, free of charge, pending availability. To request an exam week change, please email APPLIEDExam@theaba.org.

All online payments, including exam week change fees, are nonrefundable.

*If you have been issued an exam date and time, you will be required to pay the full exam cancellation fee of $1,750.