ABP Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Subspecialty Certifying Examination
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine is one of the pediatric subspecialties for which the American Board of Pediatrics offers subspecialty certification. The credential is intended for physicians who have completed the required fellowship training and are pursuing board certification in the care of newborns, especially preterm and critically ill infants. The certifying examination is a computer-based assessment administered under the ABP’s Computer-Based Administration Policy. ABP publishes a subspecialty content outline and describes exam development, scoring, and score reporting; those resources-not rumor or older memory-should drive preparation. This guide is independent and is not an ABP publication.
The exam’s content reflects the breadth of neonatal-perinatal practice rather than a single NICU topic. Candidates should expect coverage that runs from maternal-fetal and antenatal assessment through delivery-room resuscitation, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, neurologic and neurodevelopmental problems, nutrition and fluid/electrolyte management, infectious disease and immunology, hematologic/oncologic/endocrine/metabolic disorders, genetics and dysmorphology, long-term outcomes, and ethics, quality improvement, patient safety, and health systems.
Preparation should be active and outline-based: map weak domains, read the ABP content outline, review exam-development and scoring information, and practice applying physiology and evidence to clinical vignettes. ABP does not state item counts, time limits, fees, passing scores, or retake rules on the public page used here; verify those details on the ABP website before scheduling.
What you'll study
About ABP Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine preparation
Is the exam computer-based?
Yes. The ABP lists the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine certifying examination within its Subspecialty Certifying Exams and publishes a Computer-Based Administration Policy for exam administration. The public page used for this guide does not provide a paper option, item count, or seat time. Check the ABP “Exam Day: What to Expect” and scheduling pages for logistics and any accommodations process.
How many questions and how much time?
The ABP page used here does not state a question count or time limit for this exam. Those details may appear in the subspecialty content outline, exam dates and fees page, or candidate instructions. Do not rely on numbers from an older edition or a commercial course. Verify on abp.org before you build a pacing plan.
What score do I need to pass?
The source does not give a numeric passing score. ABP provides Scoring, Scoring FAQs, and Exam Pass Rates pages, but the public page used here does not translate those into a raw-score target. A fixed “percent correct” goal can mislead. Use ABP’s scoring explanations and your in-training exam feedback to identify gaps, and verify the current standard on abp.org.
Can I retake if I fail?
The ABP public page used here does not state a retake policy, waiting period, or attempt limit for this subspecialty exam. Those rules can affect scheduling and eligibility, so confirm them directly with ABP before assuming a retake timeline. Do not treat general board rumor or old policies as current.
How much does it cost?
The source does not list a fee. ABP directs candidates to “Exam Dates and Fees for Subspecialties” and “How to Apply: All Applicants.” Fees can differ by application window and may change, so use the current ABP page rather than an older figure. Budget for travel and other logistics separately.
What topics should I study first?
Start with the ABP subspecialty content outline, then rank domains by your own in-training exam and clinical experience. A sensible order is high-volume neonatal problems first-respiratory, cardiovascular, nutrition/fluids, infection-then neurologic/developmental, hematology/oncology/endocrine/metabolic, genetics, maternal-fetal, and ethics/QI/health systems. Revisit weak areas with vignette practice rather than rereading alone.
What are common failure modes?
Common preparation errors include studying only NICU respiratory management, skipping ethics/QI/patient-safety and health-systems content, and memorizing facts without practicing vignette reasoning. Another is using outdated question counts or pass marks from older material. Candidates also lose time to logistics. Build a broad outline-based plan, simulate timed decision-making, and verify exam-day rules on ABP.
How should I use practice questions?
Use practice questions to expose reasoning gaps, not to memorize answer choices. Write a one-line rationale for every option, then revisit the corresponding content outline domain. Keep an error log by domain and re-test only after reviewing the physiology or evidence. Because ABP does not publish a sample item count here, do not equate your practice percentage with a passing score.
When should I apply and schedule?
The source does not provide dates, application windows, or scheduling deadlines. ABP has “Exam Dates and Fees for Subspecialties” and “Apply and Schedule” pages, plus test-accommodation information. Check those pages early, especially if you need accommodations or are balancing fellowship clinical duties.