Chiropractic Neurology Board Examination Study Guide
The following guide will assist you in preparing for the Board Examination of the ACNB. The examination is divided into two main sections (written and practical).
Written
Please download the ACNB Written Blueprint-2012.
The majority of the questions are case related. All long cases will use the Case Template (see Case Template Exam 2012) while brief cases will just present a short narrative. Please refer to the Blueprint for the objectives and the percentages attached to each objective. Remaining items (questions) are multiple choice with no case attached.
This link is to a Case Topics list that you may use to check off that you are familiar with each of these case types. Case Topics 2012
The References are those used in the educational process you have just completed (See ACNB Exam 2012 Primary References).
Tools and Modalities list the tools and testing/treatment modalities that the candidate is expected to know how to use (See Tools and Modalities 2012). This is an example, not an exhaustive page as many treatment tools are only limited by the doctor’s imagination, especially those for hemisphericity.
The following link is a practice test for you to use to familiarize you with the format of the written test. The cases on the practice test have been used in previous tests and have been retired from the database. 2012 Practice Test for ACNB Written Examination
ACNB Performance Examination 2012:
The Performance Examination is a test of skills needed in the clinical setting. The Performance Examination is videotaped for review in case of inter-rater disagreement or candidate appeal. The candidate is instructed to ignore the videotaping. Many candidates find it helpful to practice doing procedures in front of a camera or recorder in order to feel more relaxed during the examination. The videotaping is necessary for examination documentation, review, etc. Candidates are randomly assigned to an examination rooms and examiners.
Each candidate will be required to show proper identification and letter indicating that this is the correct location and time for his/her examination. No cell phones, books or other materials will be allowed. If you have specialized examination tools such as an amplified stethoscope, you will need to have these approved prior to the exam. These will be inspected by the on site registrar. When all candidates have arrived at their particular Performance Examination session, the group will watch a DVD giving the overall instructions for the day’s events. This will occur on time. DO NOT BE LATE. This should answer most questions. If a candidate has any additional questions, the lead examiner will answer them on video camera.
Upon entering the examining room, the candidate finds a “patient”, two board examiners, and a trained video photographer, as well as all necessary examination tools. All instructions will be presented via a DVD on a computer screen. The candidate will introduce him/her self and show the badge to the camera for validation that the correct person is being tested. Then, the DVD instructions will be played and the candidate will begin to perform a COMPLETE AND SYSTEMATIC ACNB Physical Exam 2012. The patient is to provide the candidate with responses pertinent to the testing. For example, the candidate asks the patient “sharp or dull”. The patient is to answer. No interaction will occur between the candidate and the actual examiners unless a piece of equipment malfunctions. The examiners will NOT provide information about the findings and the candidate is NOT to record findings. This part of the examination is to see that the candidate knows the proper procedures and has the proper psychomotor skills to perform a COMPLETE AND SYSTEMATIC physical examination. No diagnostic conclusions are required. The examiners will NOT ask questions to determine that the candidate knows why he/she is performing any part of the examination. The examiners will only score according to the skill itself and whether or not the candidate performs the skill correctly. Be sure to review the references listed for clinical examination techniques so that you know you are performing it correctly. Do NOT assume that the way you have always done something is the correct way to do it. Once the candidate has completed the physical examination, he/she tells the examiners that he/she is finished. The candidate will be given sixty (60) minutes for this part of the test.
Next, the candidate will view the instructions for the video clips portion of the test. This portion consists of twenty (20) video clips of different parts of an examination including but not limited to gait, tone, strength, reflexes, sensory examination, palate examination coordination & balance, etc. The candidate will answer one question about each clip. The candidate may view the clip two times. This portion of the examination will take 40 minutes. Once this portion is completed, the candidate will leave the examination without returning to the main group and is instructed not to talk to any candidates scheduled to take the examination during a later session.
Please use the following link to see how the physical exam is performed and some video clips of abnormal findings. http://library.med.utah.edu/neurologicexam/
Please click here to view the Performance Blueprint 2012.
Scoring
The test contains two primary scores: Written Exam score and Practical or Performance Exam score. The candidate must pass both exams to become a Diplomate. If the candidate passes one exam and fails the other, that candidate must only retake the one failed. The cut score is set by an Angoff Panel of Subject Matter Experts during the summer of the examination. A new cut score is set for each examination as each examination is different from the previous one. That panel is composed of both highly experienced Diplomates and new Diplomates as well as Diplomates from all of the geographic areas.
In Conclusion
The candidate should be able to read case information and answer questions regarding the case and other general questions relating to the domains and objectives above. The candidate should also be able to demonstrate competency performing a complete physical examination and identifying physical findings on video clips.