ACC In-Training Exam

NEW! A $100 late fee will be assessed for each examinee registered after the deadline.

About the ACC In-Training Exam

The American College of Cardiology In-Training Exam (ACC-ITE) is developed to assist cardiovascular Fellows in Training (FITs) and their Program Directors. The ACC-ITE is designed to:

  • Provide an objective assessment instrument for the medical knowledge competency of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
  • Give FITs an opportunity for self-assessment and to identify knowledge gaps
  • Give program directors the opportunity to evaluate their program
  • Assist in preparing FITs for board certification examinations

Registration for the In-Training Exam will open in July 2024.

When registration opens in July 2024, you will need to go to your Training Program Portal on ACC.org to register your Fellows for the In-Training Exam. Please note that you must add your Fellows to your Training Program Portal before you can register them for the In-Training Exam.

The In-Training Exam will be held on October 15 and 16, 2024.

If you have questions about the ACC-ITE, please contact Julie Bainbridge at 800-253-4636, ext. 6633 or jbainbri@acc.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click the frequently asked questions below to expose their answer.

How is the ACC-ITE developed?
How is the ACC-ITE developed?
The ACC-ITE is written by a committee of 12 expert physician-authors, most of whom are training program directors and Fellows of the ACC. The committee creates the content blueprint for the exam and writes multiple choice questions according to well-established principles of examination construction. The 150 questions are subjected to several rigorous rounds of review and revision.
What is the blueprint for the ACC-ITE?
What is the blueprint for the ACC-ITE?
The blueprint for the ACC-ITE is modeled after the blueprint for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification examination in cardiovascular medicine, and the topics covered are shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: ACC-ITE Blueprint
Medical Content Category % of Exam
Arrhythmias 15%
Coronary Artery Disease 21.5%
Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy 17%
Valvular Disease 15%
Pericardial Disease 4%
Congenital Heart Disease 5%
Vascular Diseases 6%
Systemic Hypertension and Hypotension 7.5%
Pulmonary Circulation Disorders 3%
Systemic Disorders Affecting the Circulatory System 4%
Normal Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology 2%
  100%
What is the purpose of the ACC-ITE?
What is the purpose of the ACC-ITE?
FITs may use the results of the exam to identify areas of deficiency that require further learning and to compare their performance with that of their peers in training programs throughout the country. Program directors may use the results to provide educational counseling, develop curricula and validate the need for planned curricular changes.
Can the ACC-ITE be used for advancement?
Can the ACC-ITE be used for advancement?
The ACC-ITE is neither a qualifying nor a certifying instrument. It should not be used for determining who should be promoted or who should be eligible to take the ABIM certification examination in cardiovascular disease. It is designed only as an assessment tool.
Who should take the ACC-ITE?
Who should take the ACC-ITE?
The examination is designed for first-, second- and third-year cardiology fellows in a training program. All FITs are encouraged to participate. Each training program director decides who will take the examination at their facility. The ACC imposes no requirements, and the test is open to all training programs.
Should FITs study for the ACC-ITE?
Should FITs study for the ACC-ITE?
The goal of the ACC-ITE is to gauge progress in training, not to achieve a certain level of performance. Examinees, therefore, are advised not to study for the examination. Studying may result in an inaccurate self-assessment of the training experiences and an inability to plan appropriately for correcting deficiencies. For those about to take the ABIM certification exam, the ACC offers a variety of self-assessment products and programs to assist you in improving on those areas where you had deficiencies. Browse the Education and Meetings pages on ACC.org to learn more about our Certified Education products and programs.
When will the ACC-ITE be administered?
When will the ACC-ITE be administered?
In 2024, the ACC-ITE will be administered on two different days – October 15 and 16. Each training program should select the day(s) that would be most convenient for them.
How much does the exam cost?
How much does the exam cost?
The cost per examinee is $450.00. An invoice for the total number of examinees, per institution, will be e-mailed to the program coordinator after online registration has closed. NEW! A $100 late fee will be assessed for each examinee registered after the deadline of Friday, August 30. Please contact jbainbri@acc.org for manual registration and invoicing after the registration deadline.
What happens if I register after the deadline?
What happens if I register after the deadline?
NEW! A $100 late fee will be assessed for each examinee registered after the deadline of Friday, August 30. Please contact jbainbri@acc.org for manual registration and invoicing after the registration deadline.
Is there a make-up date?
Is there a make-up date?
The chief proctor must contact ACC to discuss the possibility of providing a make-up date.
Are refunds administered?
Are refunds administered?
If the ACC is informed with enough notice prior to the exam date that an examinee cannot take the exam, then the institution will be reimbursed, minus a $75.00 administrative fee.
Where will the ACC-ITE be administered?
Where will the ACC-ITE be administered?
The ACC-ITE will be offered across the country at institutions that register their training program as a testing center for their FITs. The exam will be online and take approximately six hours and 15 minutes to complete under proctored conditions. Instructions for exam participants to access an exam tutorial and practice test will be provided in advance of the test date, in order to view the test delivery screens and practice answering test questions.
What is the role of the chief proctor?
What is the role of the chief proctor?
The chief proctor is essentially responsible for ensuring that all needs for providing the exam at their institution are met, including but not limited to registering all examinees, securing computer lab/testing room for exam administration, certifying computer work stations, administering the exam that day. In most institutions, the role of chief proctor is fulfilled by the program coordinator. This person will receive a manual to help them plan for the exam. The chief proctor's manual includes a checklist that can be used as a guide to prepare and administer the exam.
How do I get a copy of the chief proctor manual?
How do I get a copy of the chief proctor manual?
A manual will be e-mailed to the chief proctor shortly after registration closes.
Are chief proctors required to have a computer in the test room?
Are chief proctors required to have a computer in the test room?
Proctors will require a workstation in the test room to start the exam session, monitor the progress of the exam, end the testing session and submit a test administration report. Please note that if you have more than 25 FITs taking the exam on either day, you will need to identify a second proctor.
Will I have technical help to set-up the computers for test day(s)?
Will I have technical help to set-up the computers for test day(s)?
Chief proctors will receive information on how to prepare and test computer workstations for the exam, and though the process is easy, it may require assistance from your technical staff.
Will technical assistance be available to me on test day(s)?
Will technical assistance be available to me on test day(s)?
Yes, staff will be available to help on test day with technical difficulties, although it is helpful to have technical assistance from your institution available on exam date(s) to assist with internal technical issues.
What do I need to know before I register my FITs?
What do I need to know before I register my FITs?
Please have the following information at hand before registering:
  • Your program’s ACGME number
  • Names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers for your program’s training director, program coordinator/administrator, and proctor. Please fill in all fields even if the role of the training director and/or chief proctor and/or administrator is the same person.
  • The name of each FIT who will be taking the In-Training Exam, including their ACC ID number, date of birth, and any ADA accommodations they require (if applicable).
  • A breakdown of which fellows will take the exam on the first day and which will take it on the second day. If you have more than 25 FITs taking the exam on either day, you will need to identify a second proctor.
When are the results of the ACC-ITE made available?
When are the results of the ACC-ITE made available?
A score report is made available about six to eight weeks after the examination. The program director receives the score feedback and then distributes the score reports to the examinees. The ACC considers the results to be confidential and does not release them to any agency, organization or person other than the program director.

Each examinee receives feedback that shows:
  • The individual’s total scaled score, percent score and percentile rank for each of the major content areas tested.
  • A separate report that lists the educational objective associated with each of the questions that the examinee responded to incorrectly.
  • A norm table and guidelines for interpreting the data for use in comparing his or her score with the scores of different fellowship year groups.
The program director receives:
  • A score report and report that lists the educational objective associated with questions missed for each FIT.
  • An overall program performance report.
  • Mean percent correct scores and percentile ranks for each of the major content areas tested, grouped by fellowship year for all programs.
  • The norm table with guidelines for interpreting the data.