Analyzing the Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases to Identify the Knowledge Tested on ABP Board Certification Exams

Background: To ensure the Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ID) Certifying Examination remains aligned with current clinical practice, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) conducted a comprehensive practice analysis to update the exam content outline. Methods: A panel of 9 pediatric ID physicians identified 34 core tasks across 5 performance domains to guide revisions to the existing outline. The panel identified relevant, testable knowledge areas aligned with these tasks and organized them into 22 domains and 186 initial subdomains. A nationwide validation survey of board-certified pediatric ID physicians collected relevance ratings and feedback on missing or outdated topics and suggested exam weights, which were used to guide further revisions. Subsequently, the pediatric ID subboard conducted an item reclassification process, which resulted in additional refinement. Results: The final content outline comprises 22 domains and 196 subdomains, with updated domain weights to better reflect the clinical landscape. Notably, domains such as cardiovascular, bone and joint, and urologic infections increased in weight, while antimicrobial principles decreased. Conclusions: This rigorous, inclusive process strengthens the exam’s content validity and supports the ABP’s goal of certifying physicians who possess the knowledge needed to deliver safe and effective care.