Why should I choose your course over the others?
Of course we encourage you to prepare with us! We have experience running a succinct, effective course that replicates key features of the oral board experience. We have stayed in close contact with the ABU (American Board of Urology) to make sure we do as much as possible to teach you vital information about the actual exam you will take. Most importantly, we are not just another board review course. By preparing with us, you are gaining a coach who will partner with you and help guide you through the experience even after the standard sessions are over. Every year we offer and administer additional practice cases with follow-up conversations to any individuals we identify as needing extra help or are at risk of failure. We set the bar for the concierge experience in board preparation! At this point in your career, it is critical to invest the time in your preparation and choose partners who have demonstrated that they will do the same.
What do you mean by a “personalized, concierge-style” coaching experience?
We are committed to helping you through this stressful process and ultimately getting you the pass of the oral board exam you are relying on. We take your preparation very seriously. You will have access to us for questions and help in the weeks leading up to your exam. We will collaborate and partner with those candidates who we determine need extra help and keep the one on one work going until both parties feel more comfortable and prepared. We have demonstrated this commitment year after year with scores of candidates. Think of us as your personalized coaches who will guide you through the process and prepare you to sit for and pass your oral board; indeed we are not just as another board review course.
What do you mean by your guarantee?
We stand behind our course experience. Should you take our course and fail the boards, we will allow you to take our course again for free the following year. This offer is limited only to first time attendees of our course.
I already failed the boards but have not taken your course before. Am I still eligible for the guarantee after I take your course?
Yes you are. We have helped many people who have failed in prior years and coached them to the pass.
How are things different following the pandemic?
The structure of our course had to change to maximize the benefits of a virtual structure while also maximizing preparation. We have done this since 2021 and have had no technical issues. We learned through this process that candidates really did not want to go back to the cost and inconvenience of an in-person weekend course. We have taken this feedback seriously and made the decision to continue the flexible remote format. We offer virtual mock sessions that will be similar in structure and style to those you will encounter during the real in-person board exam. We will review how to succeed in the OSCE portion of the exam and brief you on the structure of your assessment. Every candidate before you has agreed that the most important factor in all of this, however, is the feedback and coaching that follows each of your mock sessions. That is where you receive the critical input that can mean the difference between passing or failing.
Who makes up your faculty?
Our faculty is a mix of private practice and academic urologists from all across the country. Some faculty members have completed fellowships whereas others practice general urology. Each faculty member understands how the oral board format has changed over the years and can therefore replicate and coach based the actual current board exam. We feel that this is a subtle yet important facet to your board preparation.
Do I have to disclose if I failed the boards before?
No, you do not have to disclose anything you don’t want to.
What technology will you use for the virtual format?
Google Meet has been the easiest choice of virtual meeting we have chosen to use. This format allows examiners to share files from our Google Drive necessary for the exam. It has been easy to access and navigate for past participants but does require a gmail address.
Why don’t you offer CME credits?
Since our inception in 2012, we have been certified to offer category 1 CME credits. State regulations require you to have a certain number of CME credits every 2 years. Passing the boards in and of itself grants you all the CME credits that you need for that given time period, so earning more is unnecessary. Other courses may offer CME credits, but we do not consider it applicable to your board preparation or useful after you pass the boards. In short, you don’t need them in the setting of a board exam.
Do I have to be finished with my urology topic matter review?
No. In fact, most candidates aren’t fully done with their urology review before taking our course. The purpose of the course is not to test your urology knowledge or teach you urology. The purpose is to show you how the boards will run by having you experience it first hand, rehearse the dialogue with an examiner, experience some test taking anxiety, get a flavor for what will be asked, and receive the critical feedback on your performance and style. We know you have a plan for the knowledge aspect of preparation. In typical years when the exam is in March, many candidates start their topic review after Thanksgiving, and most are well underway by the New Year.
Will you be teaching any urology?
No, there are many review resources already out there for Part I and supplement texts related to Part II. By the time Part II is at hand, you have completed residency, passed Part I, and practiced urology for more than a year. The point of our course is to prepare you for the part of the oral exam that you cannot do alone.
Will you have additional cases available?
Yes, after the course, we will provide additional cases to review and study from.
Which course should I take?
There currently are two courses: ours and a course the AUA developed in the years following our original success. The “Arizona” course previously sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh is no longer offered. Candidates should be clear that the American Board of Urology (ABU) does not conduct a course of their own. Furthermore, the ABU does not endorse any preparatory course; this includes the course offered by the AUA.
We believe one of the fundamental differences between the courses is our concierge-style approach to your board preparation. We stand behind our personalized commitment to help you pass. If you would like to schedule a phone conversation to help you decide, we’d be happy to sort out some of the details with you. Ultimately, our recommendation is for you to review your options and select what is right for you.
Email Dennis and Bill at info@UrologyOralBoardPrep.com if we can help.