ABEM (American Board of Emergency Medicine) certification is the board qualification for US emergency physicians. The qualifying exam is taken after completion of EM residency. Before that, the in-training exam (ITE) — taken annually during residency — serves as a diagnostic tool to measure progress.
Emergency medicine exam preparation has its own ecosystem of resources, distinct from the internal medicine and family medicine pathways. This guide covers the major EM-specific resources and the strategy for both the ITE and the qualifying exam.
The Resources
Hippo EM Board Review
Hippo EM Board Review is one of the most popular EM-specific board review programmes. It offers video lectures, a Q-bank, and board-style practice questions covering the full ABEM exam blueprint. The video format is particularly effective for EM — many clinical scenarios are better understood visually.
Hippo is strongest for residents who benefit from lecture-based learning and want a comprehensive, EM-specific review course.
AAEM Certifying Exam Review Course
AAEM (American Academy of Emergency Medicine) offers a Certifying Exam Review Course that provides structured preparation for the ABEM qualifying exam. It is endorsed by the professional academy and covers the exam blueprint systematically.
Rosh Review — The EM Q-Bank Standard
Rosh Review is the established Q-bank for emergency medicine board preparation. It offers a large bank of EM-specific questions with detailed explanations, performance tracking, and a mobile app. Many EM residency programmes provide institutional Rosh Review access.
Rosh Review is to EM what PassMedicine is to UK postgraduate exams — the default, widely-used Q-bank that most candidates will encounter.
EMRAP — The Audio Learning Resource
EMRAP (Emergency Medicine Reviews and Perspectives) is the leading audio-based EM education resource. Monthly episodes cover current evidence, clinical controversies, and practical management updates. It is not exam-specific, but the clinical knowledge it provides is directly relevant to board preparation.
EMRAP is best used as a supplement — listen during commutes, gym sessions, or downtime. It reinforces clinical reasoning and keeps you current with EM evidence.
iatroX (US) — Free Adaptive EM Bank
iatroX offers a free AI-adaptive Emergency Medicine Q-bank. The adaptive algorithm identifies your weak EM topic areas (trauma, toxicology, paediatric emergencies, cardiac emergencies) and targets them automatically.
For EM residents, the breadth of the specialty means weak areas can hide. You might feel confident in cardiac emergencies but discover — only through targeted testing — that your toxicology knowledge is below board level. The adaptive approach surfaces these gaps.
Try iatroX EM Q-Bank (free) | Compare iatroX vs Rosh Review
ITE Strategy
The in-training exam is taken annually during residency. It is not a pass/fail exam — it is a diagnostic tool that benchmarks you against national percentiles. A low ITE score does not prevent you from practising, but it signals areas that need attention before the qualifying exam.
Use your ITE results to direct your board preparation. If your ITE reveals weakness in paediatric emergencies and environmental emergencies, prioritise these areas in your subsequent study plan.
iatroX's adaptive algorithm can be seeded with your weak areas from the ITE — the platform will automatically prioritise questions in those topic areas.
Qualifying Exam Strategy
The ABEM qualifying exam is taken after completing residency. It is a comprehensive, computer-based exam covering the full breadth of emergency medicine.
Most candidates prepare over 3–6 months using a combination of a primary Q-bank (Rosh Review or Hippo), a board review course (AAEM or Hippo), and supplementary resources (EMRAP for audio reinforcement, iatroX for free adaptive weak-area drilling).
The qualifying exam rewards pattern recognition and rapid clinical decision-making — the same skills developed during residency. Question practice is the core preparation activity. Do 1–2 blocks per day during the preparation period, increasing to 2–3 blocks in the final month.
Information based on ABEM publications and public sources as of 21 April 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners.