Preparing for Boards: Perspective from a Program Director

Author: Dawn C. Allain, MS, CGC

It may come as no surprise that recent graduates of genetic counseling training programs are often anxious when preparing to sit for the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC)-certification examination. As a program director and a practicing genetic counselor, I understand the stress our graduates face. After all, the ABGC-CGC credential represents our profession’s gold standard, and a large majority of employers require that genetic counselors have certification. Additionally, in Ohio and many other states, ABGC-certification is required to obtain a license to practice as a genetic counselor. Therefore, the stress makes sense, but you can manage it. Here are few things I tell graduates who are planning to take their board examinations.

You are prepared!

All of the graduate programs in North American undergo an extensive peer reviewed process by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC), which determines that the program you attended has met the established qualifications and educational standards [Conflict of Interest Disclosure: I am the current President of ACGC]. This accreditation process is important as not only does it foster and facilitate higher levels of academic performance, integrity, and quality by both genetic counseling students and graduate training professionals, but it also ensures that programs are preparing students for certification exams and experiences in practice. Thus, remember your program’s curriculum was developed to ensure you have attained the competencies, attitudes, and skills necessary to successfully sit and pass the ABGC-certification examination.

You need to prepare!

While your program has ensured you have attained the competencies, attitudes, and skills necessary to pass the ABGC-certification examination, you still need to prepare yourself to take the examination. I suggest all graduates do the following:

1. Spending time reading and understanding the following sections of the ABGC website:
   • ABGC Examination Bulletin – Read the whole document! This bulletin contains the instructions to help you complete the application process, delineates your responsibilities to obtain and maintain your certification, and outlines general information you need to know about scheduling, preparing for and taking the examination. Highlight what you do not understand and reach out to the ABGC’s Executive Office for clarification!
   • ABGC Examination: Content Outline – Again, read the whole document. This document outlines the breakdown of the content areas on the examination, including the number of questions in each category and the types of questions (e.g. recall, application, analysis). Use this document to develop a study outline based on the content area. Look at your past graduate school training and determine which content areas your assessments/evaluations revealed weaknesses and strengths in. For example, if you took a written comprehensive examination, which areas of content did you struggle with and which areas were less difficult? Use this knowledge to target where your study emphasis will be in your study outline.
   • ABGC Examination: Sample – This document provides you with some sample questions to give you a feel for the examination. Use it as a reference so you understand how the examination poses the questions, but don’t get bogged down in the details of the questions.
   • ABGC Examination: Scoring Methodology – This document explains how ABGC scores the examination. Read it to understand the process and use it as a factual resource, rather than relying on genetic counselors who have taken the examination telling you about how the examination is scored.
2. Use the resources available:
   • The ABGC Practice Examination – This examination reflects the actual content of the ABGC-certification examination. Taking this examination about a month before taking the examination can help determine areas of focus over the remaining time to prepare.
   • The Online Review Course in Medical Genetics and Genomics can be used to supplement content areas [another conflict of interest disclosure here: I am a faculty member of this course]. As you are studying a specific content area, you can listen to a lecture on that topic, which will help strengthen or reinforce your knowledge. The course also offers quizzes and a practice examination, which again can help identify areas of strengths and weaknesses, allowing one to know where to spend more energy preparing.
   • Review graduate course content areas and notes for the major categories.
   • Review the learning objectives in the following genetic counseling textbooks:
     1. A Guide to Genetic Counseling
     2. Facilitating Genetic Counseling Process: A Practice Manual
     3. Genetic Counseling Practice: Advanced Genetic Counseling for the Laboratory
     4. Thompson & Thompson Genetics in Medicine
     5. Another list of references can be found on the ABGC website.
   • Set up a schedule. Plan a week-by-week breakdown of when and what you are going to study based on your study outline.
   • Study with others if you can, particularly individuals you did not go to graduate school with as it provides different perspectives on content. Identify new graduates in your area and set up a study group. If there are no new graduates, reach out to NSGC and join a study group.

You need to rest and relax!

How to best prepare varies from person to person, so do not compare what you are doing to what others are doing. As an adult learner, you know what works for you. Other actions to take:

• Do NOT study every day of the week. When you study, do not spend more than 2 hours a day during the work week and no more than 3-4 hours a day on a weekend. If you do, you will burn out! Remember, you are using this knowledge EVERY day on your job so as you are working you are preparing.
• Stop studying the week before the examination; however, keep preparing. By preparing I mean get sleep. Exercise. Spend time with friends and family. Get more sleep!
• Have a good meal and do not drink alcohol the night before the examination. You want to go in clear headed the day of the examination.
• Have a good breakfast the morning of the examination and stay hydrated.
• Be confident. You are ready.