The Basics: What Are These Exams?
The Psychiatry Resident In-Training Examination (PRITE) is your annual check-up during residency. Think of it as your yearly physical for psychiatric knowledge—it helps identify your strengths and diagnose areas needing improvement.
The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Psychiatry Board Examination is your final certification hurdle. Consider it the Final Boss of your standardized exam game of life. This is the culmination of your training that officially designates you as a board-certified psychiatrist.
Let's Break Down the Differences
Structure and Format
The PRITE typically includes 300 questions. You’ll take this exam at your training institution on a computer.
The ABPN Boards, however, pack in approximately 400 questions in a single day at a Pearson VUE testing center where the proctor watches you like you’re a particularly suspicious character in a murder mystery. The boards may also include multimedia elements like videos or images that you’ll need to interpret.
What’s at Stake?
With the PRITE, there’s no official passing score required to advance in your residency. The results are comparative, showing how you stack up against peers nationwide at your same training level. Your program directors receive these results to help guide your educational experiences.
The ABPN Boards are pass/fail with serious career implications. Success means board certification, which affects your employability, credentialing, and sometimes compensation. The cost difference is significant too—your program typically covers the PRITE (how generous of them), while you’ll pay out of pocket for the boards (usually upwards of $1,900).
My Experience (A.K.A. "Learn From My Trauma")
As someone who’s been through this process and developed several new gray hairs as a result, I find in-service exams useful for identifying knowledge gaps early. During my PGY-3 year, a poor performance on one section prompted me to create a dedicated study plan that ultimately paid off when I took my boards. (Translation: I scored in the bottom quartile on the obsessive compulsive disorders section and subsequently developed a concerning obsession with memorizing every antidepressant’s half-life).
The transition from PRITE to ABPN Boards requires a shift in thinking—from recalling diagnostic criteria to applying that knowledge in complex clinical scenarios. The stakes felt dramatically different too; the PRITE felt like practice, while the boards felt like the Super Bowl of my training.
How to Prepare for Both
Despite their differences, some preparation strategies work for both exams:
- Use question banks regularly. Practice questions help you get comfortable with the format and identify knowledge gaps.
- Review your PRITE performance carefully. Your PRITE results provide a roadmap of what to focus on for both future PRITEs and eventually the boards.
- Form or join a study group. Discussing difficult concepts with peers can deepen your understanding.
- Don’t cram. Consistent, spaced studying trumps last-minute marathon sessions. Even 15-30 minutes daily adds up significantly over time.
- Take care of yourself. Maintain sleep, exercise, and social connections throughout the preparation process.
Final Thoughts (From Someone Who Studied before “Anki” was a thing)
Ready to Ace Your Psychiatry Exams?
- Comprehensive PRITE and ABPN Board exam question banks
- High-yield study guides curated by psychiatrists who’ve been in your shoes
- Weekly case challenges that mirror real exam questions
- Performance analytics to identify your knowledge gaps
- A supportive community of fellow residents and early-career psychiatrists
