Iran ENT Specialty Board exam-day guide
Iran ENT Specialty Board · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
National ID card (kart-e melli) plus birth certificate or passport
Iranian exam centers normally require photo identification matching your registration data. Bring the original national ID card and at least one backup document with a photo. Confirm with the provider (the examining body or the university running the practical station) which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is sufficient; mark this as needs_review until confirmed.
Printed exam admission card / registration confirmation
Most Iranian board exams issue a printed or downloadable admission card (kart-e vorud be emtehan) with your candidate number, station schedule, and center address. Print two copies and keep one in your bag. If the provider issues it only electronically, confirm whether a printed copy is required.
Station schedule and center address, checked the day before
Practical exams are often held at a teaching hospital or skills lab rather than the written-exam venue. Reconfirm the building, entrance, and reporting time with the provider, since addresses on older notices are sometimes outdated.
White coat or scrubs, as specified by the provider
Dress codes for practical stations vary by specialty and center. Ask the provider whether a white coat, scrubs, or formal dress is expected, and whether the coat must be plain with no hospital or university logos.
Basic instruments you are permitted to carry
A stethoscope, penlight, and tendon hammer are commonly allowed. Do not bring instruments the provider has not approved; some centers supply all equipment at each station and prohibit personal items. Confirm the permitted list with the provider.
Watch without smart features
Many centers prohibit phones and smartwatches in the station area. A simple analog or digital watch helps you track station time if wall clocks are not visible. Confirm whether any watch is allowed.
Water and a light snack for the waiting period
Practical exams can run several hours with long waiting periods between stations. Bring water and a snack you can eat outside the station area. Confirm whether food and drink are permitted in the waiting hall.
Phones off and stored before entering the secure area
Expect a phone ban in the station corridors. Leave your phone with a companion or in the designated storage if the center provides it. Confirm the provider's policy on personal belongings, since some centers do not offer secure storage.
Review of the station format and timing
Know in advance how many stations there are, how long each lasts, and whether there is a rest station or a written component. Ask the provider for the published station count and timing rather than relying on accounts from previous years.
Rest and travel plan for the morning
Plan to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for Tehran traffic or intercity travel. Identify the exact entrance and a backup route. Confirm the reporting time with the provider, as late arrival rules are strict and vary by center.
Practice of the hands-only routine for each common station type
Rehearse the sequence you will use at history-taking, physical examination, interpretation, and communication stations: introduce yourself, obtain consent, state findings aloud, and summarize. This is preparation you control regardless of the center's specific rules.
Confirmation of results and scoring timeline
Ask the provider when and where practical results are published and how the practical score combines with the written score. Do not rely on unofficial reports; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm the venue, building, entrance, reporting time, and permitted items with the provider in writing if possible. Re-read the official exam notice for any last-minute changes. Check that your ID documents are valid and that your name matches your registration exactly.
Do a final content pass focused on high-yield station types for your specialty: focused history, targeted examination, common image or ECG interpretation, and communication scenarios. Practice aloud with a colleague and time yourself, since practical stations reward clear verbalization more than silent competence.
Prepare and pack your bag: ID documents, admission card, white coat or scrubs if required, permitted instruments, watch, water, snack, and a pen. Lay out clothing so the morning requires no decisions.
Reconfirm travel: route, travel time, parking or metro access, and a backup plan. If traveling from another city, confirm your accommodation and set two alarms. Avoid starting new topics; review your own summary notes only.
Charge nothing that will be confiscated: leave smart devices at home or plan where they will be stored. Sleep on a normal schedule. Eat a normal dinner and avoid heavy caffeine late in the evening.
Eat a proper breakfast and hydrate, since the exam may run long with limited breaks. Arrive at the center earlier than the reporting time. Keep your ID and admission card in an outer pocket for quick inspection.
Before entering the secure area, turn off and store your phone, use the restroom, and check your appearance against the dress code. Once inside, follow staff instructions on where to wait and when to move to your first station.
At each station, read the prompt fully before acting, then follow a fixed routine: introduce yourself, state what you are doing and finding, and summarize at the end. Speak clearly enough for the examiner to follow your reasoning.
Watch the time signal and leave a few seconds to finish your summary. If a station goes badly, do not carry it into the next one; each station is scored separately and a poor start does not determine the outcome.
If equipment is missing or a prompt is unclear, ask the station examiner or staff politely and briefly. Do not improvise on matters of safety, and do not discuss station content with other candidates in the corridors.
Leave the secure area without discussing specific station content with candidates who have not yet been examined. Note the provider's stated date and channel for results and keep your admission card until results are confirmed.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification matching your registration data. If your name, ID number, or photo does not match, you may be refused entry. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what to do if a document is lost.
Follow the provider's rules on personal belongings and electronic devices. Phones and smartwatches are commonly banned in station areas; confirm whether secure storage is available, because some centers do not provide it.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late-arrival rules differ by center, and candidates arriving after the cutoff may not be admitted. Confirm the cutoff with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
Dress according to the provider's code for practical exams. Confirm whether a white coat, scrubs, or formal dress is required and whether logos are prohibited.
Do not communicate with other candidates about station content during the exam, and do not share station details with candidates who have not yet been examined. This protects exam integrity and is typically treated as misconduct.
Ask before using personal instruments or equipment the center has not supplied. Some stations require you to use the provided equipment only. Confirm the permitted list with the provider.
Treat examiners and staff with courtesy and follow their instructions on station entry, exit, and timing. Disputes about a station should be raised through the provider's official channel after the exam, not at the station.
Understand how the practical score is weighted and combined with the written score before exam day. Confirm the scoring and pass criteria with the provider; do not rely on unofficial accounts.