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In-Training Exam

2012 TSDA In-Training Exam

The 2012 TSDA In-Training Exam (ITE) will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012, with a backup exam date of Saturday, April 21, 2012. Backup date arrangements must be pre-approved by the TSDA office.

The ITE is designed to assess the knowledge of current residents in thoracic surgery. Subject matter will be equally divided between general thoracic and cardiac surgery. The secure exam will be available online, a raw score will be provided to test takers upon completion of the exam, and individual comparative results will be sent to Program Directors four to six weeks after the backup exam date.

The exam is offered only as a computer-based exam, and it must be completed within a 4.5 hour period. The exam must be launched between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in each respective time zone. The exam must be given at the training site, and must be actively proctored by a Board-certified thoracic surgeon. Home computer or other off-site access is not allowed.

Registration
Through the American Board of Surgery, the TSDA will be utilizing Internet Testing Systems (ITS) to administer the 2012 ITE. Residents MUST be pre-registered with TSDA by their program in order to sit for the exam. The registration fee is $350 per test taker. The Registration Form and Letter of Agreement must be completed and returned to TSDA by no later than February 17, 2012. Mail, fax and e-mail copies of the forms are acceptable. Please keep copies for your own files. Payment by check must be received prior to the exam date, or residents’ access may be denied. TSDA does not accept credit card payment or purchase orders.

Proctor and Test-Taker Records
The TSDA office will create a record in the ITS system for each program that will registers test takers for the ITE. TSDA will also create a record for each program coordinator or other contact person listed on the ITE Registration Form. The program coordinator or other main contact will be responsible for logging into their program in the ITS system, and creating a record for the exam proctor (Program Director or otherwise). Each individual test taker will be responsible for logging in and creating their user record. Additional information and instructions about these important steps will be sent to program coordinators or other main contact.

Minimum System Requirements for Online Testing
It is the Program Director’s/proctor’s/coordinator’s responsibility to ensure their institution’s operating system will function properly on exam day. Program Directors/proctors/coordinators should review the Minimum System Requirements for Online Testing, share with their institution’s IT administrator, and ensure that all of the necessary equipment, Internet, firewall and other requirements are met. Visit www.absite.programworkshop.com to view Frequently Asked Questions. (Log in is not required to view Frequently Asked Questions.) The Program Director/proctor/coordinator is responsible for running a System Test to ensure operating systems are compatible. Additional information about the System Test will be sent to program coordinators or other main contact.

2012 ITE Materials

ITE Cover Letter
ITE Registration Form
ITE Letter of Agreement
ITE General Information
ITE Minimum System Requirements for Online Testing

2011 TSDA In-Training Exam

The 2011 TSDA In-Training Exam has concluded. A total of 285 residents/fellows were registered for the exam, 13 more than 2010. Sixty-seven U.S. program and seven Canadian programs were represented on exam day. Individual score reports were mailed to Program Directors in early June.

Click here to view the 2011 ITE Residents Survey results.

Distribution of Percent Correct Graphs

2010 TSDA In-Training Exam