News:

The NBE is no longer accepting applications for the 2009 ASCeXAM and ReASCE examinations. If you wish to cancel your application for either the ASCeXAM or ReASCE examination, your must notify the NBE office in writing. The application fee, less a $200.00 processing fee, will be refunded to you if the NBE office receives written notification by June 5, 2009. After this date, there will be no refunds.

Quick Steps for Applying for the 2009 Examination:

The deadlines to register for the 2009 examinations are quickly approaching; don't miss out taking this year's examination.

Submit the following documentation to register for the 2009 PTEeXAM or RePTE examination:

1. Fill out application on pages 7 and 8.
2. Include the appropriate application fee.
3. Include a copy of your current license to practice medicine or letter from your program director.
4. Sign the application on page 7 bottom right-hand side.

Note: Applications for the 2009 PTEeXAM and RePTE examinations must be received at NBE headquarters by June 12, 2009.

NOTE: Documentation for certification does not need to be included with your application to register for the examination and can be sent after you have passed the examination.

ATTENTION: The 2009 NBE Exam Applications for ASCeXAM, ReASCE, PTEeXAM and RePTE are now available. Please see the application links below.

• ASCeXAM: Note: Applications for the 2009 examinations must be received at NBE headquarters by May 29th, 2009.
The 2009 ASCeXAM will be held on Monday, October 19, 2009.

• ReASCE: Note: Applications for the 2009 examinations must be received at NBE headquarters by May 29th, 2009.
The 2009 ReASCE examination will be held on Monday, October 19, 2009.

• PTEeXAM: Note: Applications for the 2009 examinations must be received at NBE headquarters by June 12th, 2009.
The 2009 PTEeXAM will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009.

• RePTE: Note: Applications for the 2009 examinations must be received at NBE headquarters by June 12th, 2009.
The 2009 RePTE examination will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009.

Announcing Basic PTE Certification
With the support of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the National Board of Echocardiography, Inc. has developed an additional certification level for those physicians who have passed the PTEeXAM and have not obtained perioperative transesophageal certification (PTE) through the advanced level process established in 2004. The NBE had instituted a process for certification in Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography as an avenue for those physicians who may not currently meet the requirements for advanced PTE Certification. For specific requirements for Basic PTE Certification, please go to the Basic PTE page.

A practice tutorial will be available for download from our web site in early July. Please check back then to familiarize yourself with how the exam looks and performs at a Prometric testing site. This tutorial will walk you through the basic steps of how to answer questions, mark questions to come back to later, and review your answers at the end of each testing block. Additionally, there will be a short orientation test section, where you may gain a sense of the types of items that are on the exam and practice answering questions.

Welcome

The National Board of Echocardiography, Inc. (NBE) is a not-for-profit corporation established to:

• Develop and administer examinations in the field of Clinical Echocardiography,
• Recognize those physicians who successfully complete either
  • the Examination of Special Competence in Adult Echocardiography (ASCeXAM),
  • the Recertification Examination of Special Competence in Adult Echocardiography (ReASCE),
  • the Examination of Special Competence in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (PTEeXAM),
  • the Recertification Examination of Special Competence in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (RePTE)and
• Develop a certification process that will publicly recognize those physicians who have completed an approved training program in echocardiography as specified in this application and have additionally passed an examination of special competence in echocardiography administered by the NBE.

The Examination of Special Competence in Adult Echocardiography (ASCeXAM) determines special competence in the subspecialty field of diagnostic cardiac ultrasound.

The Examination of Special Competence in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (PTEeXAM) determines special competence in perioperative transesophageal echocardiography according to standards met by examination.

The Recertification Examination of Special Competence in Adult Echocardiography (ReASCE) demonstrates continued competence in the subspecialty field of diagnostic cardiac ultrasound.

The Recertification Examination of Special Competence in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (RePTE) demonstrates continued competence in perioperative transesophageal echocardiography.

The examination of special competence and certification in echocardiography is not intended to restrict the practice of echocardiography. The process is undertaken, rather, in the belief that the public desires an indication from the profession regarding those who have made the effort to optimize their skill in the performance and interpretation of cardiac ultrasound.

We hope you will find this site useful in making decisions about, and going through the process of, taking these exams. To get started, you may want to read Certification Explained, and our Frequently Asked Questions. Please do not hesitate to contact us from our contact page or at info@echoboards.org.