The American Board of Radiology (ABR) recently announced significant changes to the exam schedule for radiology residents beginning in June of this year. In the first of a two-part series that will explore topics of interest to radiology residents, we spoke with Charlotte Taylor, MD, vice chair of education and residency program director at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, to hear how the ABR's new board-certification timeline may affect residency programs.
Radiology residency programs are gearing up for major adjustments as the American Board of Radiology (ABR) transitions to a new board‑exam schedule that will begin this year, according to Charlotte Taylor, MD, vice chair of 
Charlotte Taylor, MD, vice chair of education and residency program director at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
In an interview with AuntMinnie, Taylor explained that the revised exam structure -- placing both the Core Exam and the Oral Certifying Exam closer together in training -- will require residency programs to rethink how they schedule clinical rotations, call responsibilities, and exam‑prep time. Under the new timeline, the current R3 class will take the core exam in June of their R3 year and the oral exam after graduation, typically during fellowship or early employment. The class behind them will shift further: They will still take the core exam in June of R3 year, but will take the oral exam in June of R4 year. The following class (class of 2029) will shift to take the core exam in the fall of R4 year and oral exam in June of R4 year. This staggered approach means that no two classes will take major exams simultaneously, easing logistical strain but creating a multiyear transition period.
Transition plan for diagnostic radiology residents from 2027 to 2029* | ||
Graduation year | DR qualifying (core) exam | DR oral certifying exam |
| 2027 | June 2026 (PGY-4/R3) | Early 2028 (first oral exam) |
| 2028 | June 2027 (PGY-4/R3) | June 2028 (PGY-5/R4) |
| 2029 ("steady state") | Fall 2028 (PGY-5/R4) | June 2029 (PGY-5/R4) |
| *Information courtesy of the American Board of Radiology | ||
Taylor called the ABR's rollout "well thought out," adding that the phased schedule should prevent exam‑prep conflicts between cohorts. But she noted that the three‑year transition will demand "a lot of adaptation," making it difficult to establish a uniform, dedicated board‑prep structure in the short term. Programs will need to lighten call schedules and reorganize duties to ensure trainees have adequate time to prepare.
The coming changes may also influence how residents use their R4 year. Historically, when oral boards occurred during residency, the final year functioned largely as a "board‑prep year." Today's R4 year has become more elective‑heavy and includes opportunities for specialized pathways. Taylor said she is watching closely to see whether the new exam timing will push programs to repurpose some electives for more targeted exam preparation.
Still, she does not expect a major disruption: unlike the Core Exam, the Oral Exam emphasizes case interpretation rather than heavy memorization, meaning residents benefit more from clinical exposure than from protected study time.
