[dillersg]

I did not have any technical issues. Whatever instructions the ABR gave was very easy to follow. I bought the cheapest Logitech webcam I could find on Amazon for the side view monitoring. I think I used a 15 inch PC laptop. I went to Chicago for the core and certifying exams. Was so happy that I could take this from home. Was a much more pleasant experience and I am happy that the ABR it seem has committed to home testing for the future. Saves time and money and I always found the whole testing environment nerve wracking.

My background is working in a private practice reading about 70 percent neuro and covering a mid size community type hospital.

I took the CAQ about 4 years after fellowship. I was planning on taking it right when I became eligible but then it got pushed off due to Covid and then I just didnt have the impetus to take it. Also my practice never brought it up and its expensive. But I figured if I ever wanted to change jobs or go back to academics then I would need it.

The Neuro CAQ was similar to the formats used for the Core and Certifying exam. Image quality was ok and limited images per question. But overall, thought it was more straight forward than those exams. I felt ok after the exam. Half of the exam I thought was very straight forward (OLA like questions) and I felt like I got most of those correct. Important NOT to overthink those. Then there are questions where I was guessing between two choices that both seemed reasonable. In real life, you would give a differential but obviously the exam forces you to pick one. There were some but not as many as the core where I had no idea what they were asking.

To prepare I did Neuroradiology a core review. Solid book. I thought it was a good use of time and covers a lot of the classics that you might not see regularly but are typical topics tested.

I did a free iBook called MCQ based review of Neuroradiology. This is only for brain but overall excellent. Whoever wrote this book, I owe a BIG thanks. I used it for the certifying and CAQ. Good image quality and good questions.

And then I flipped through the case review series books for head and neck and spine. Not sure how much I got through but definitely did not finish them.

There was very little advanced imaging on the exam (spectroscopy, perfusion, DTI, etc) and I havent done basically any advanced imaging since fellowship. So I was happy I did not spend time on that. I also did not use Sulcus. I used it for the certifying and was happy that I did not spend money on it again.

[mario.mtz30_447]

There was very little advanced imaging on it.

The CAQ needs a CAQ

[farzadahmadimedrn710_43]

Its an easy test. Doing much prep for it is a waste of time if you had a decent fellowship and are doing neuroradiology the majority of your time in practice. Felt on the same level as the certifying exam if you picked all neuro sections.

[Mohamed]

I think two very basic fmri, one obvious tractogram, and 0 Mrs questions

[Unknown Member]

Were there any physics/NIS questions? 
 
I’m pretty confident about the brain/spine stuff but kind of anxious about head and neck. I don’t see much of it in my daily practice. It would suck to conditional a section and have to do a repeat exam. 

[dillersg]

 
I know a few people who have conditioned and had to retake a section. They were mildly annoyed. Except for costing them some more money they said it wasn’t a big deal. They just retook one section the following year and they both passed. 
 
Unless, you are in academics or looking to change jobs, I am not sure how important having a CAQ is. Half of the neurorads in my group have let theirs expire.

[rafaeldbraga]

Thank you BGF!! Thank you Blue deep and captain waffles. That’s very helpful info. 

[rafaeldbraga]

Thank you BGF for a nice overview of different aspects of this exam and study resources. I am also glad that I can take this exam remotely.

[kstepanovs_485]

Quote from BGF

 Half of the neurorads in my group have let theirs expire.

Wait, what do you mean it expires? Do they make people retake the exam after a certain period of time? I don’t see any mention of this on the ABR website. 

[dillersg]

Before OLA, I think you had to take an exam every 10 years or so to maintain it. Similar to how people had to recertify their regular diagnostic status and take a test every 10 years. If you dont participate in MOC it will expire.

[kstepanovs_485]

Quote from BGF

Before OLA, I think you had to take an exam every 10 years or so to maintain it. Similar to how people had to recertify their regular diagnostic status and take a test every 10 years. If you dont participate in MOC it will expire.

Ah ok got it, thanks!