About Fellows Training Series and the In-Training Exam
What is Fellows Training Series?
Fellows Training Series is a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide support to fellows and program directors around the globe. With a collection of educational modules spanning all the topics under the Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism specialty and resources for educators, Fellows Training Series is the premier tool in the field to train the next generation of endocrinologists. Subscribe today to gain access to the modules, resources, and In-Training Exam!
What is the In-Training Exam?
The In-Training Exam is the leading self-assessment for clinical endocrinology fellows. Created each year by a panel of expert endocrinologists and educators, the In-Training Exam features 90 questions designed to gauge how well a fellow is progressing through their clinical education. The exam is a case-based tool that covers all of the topics that appear on the ABIM Board Exam, and is a great resource to identify areas for additional training. Available from mid-January to mid-February each year, you don't want to miss out on the premier tool in the field!
How do I know which subscription type to choose?
We offer 2 subscription packages, premium and basic. The majority of programs select premium, as there are a large variety of procedural tools, topical modules, and additional educator resources designed to facilitate learning. Premium also has additional In-Training Exam resources for the fellows, including a re-takeable version of the exam and a slide deck of all the questions and answer rationale. For programs that do not need as robust of a curriculum, the basic package is a great option featuring 3 procedural tools and the In-Training Exam. Learn more about what's included in premium here, and more about basic here.
When is registration available, and how do I register my program?
Registration for Fellows Training Series opens each year in late July. Programs retain access to the Series through 6/30, at which point they will need to purchase vouchers for the next academic year. Registering your program is easy! Select your subscription type, and then click the Purchase Vouchers button. You will be prompted to select the number of vouchers you wish to purchase (which should be the number of fellows in our program) and then directed to a checkout screen to purchase via credit card. If you need to pay via check, please email info@endocrine.org to request an invoice. Vouchers may be purchased for the 2023-2024 academic year until 1/10/2024.
Note that purchasing via check will delay how soon your fellows are able to participate in the program. We strongly encourage programs to pay via credit card if possible.
How much does it cost? What payment types are accepted?
Fellows Training Series Premium is $285/fellow, per year. Fellows Training Series Basic is $195/fellow, per year.
Endocrine Society can accept all major credit cards, via our online payment system.
We can also accept checks, if necessary, but this will delay your fellows' access to the Series. If your program has to pay via check, please email info@endocrine.org for an invoice and then mail your check to: Endocrine Society, PO Box 17020, Baltimore MD 21298-9419.
I purchased too many vouchers, can I get a refund?
Endocrine Society is able to modify your purchase within 24 hours of purchase. After 24 hours, we are unable to make changes and we do not offer refunds, per our refund policy.
How do I enroll my fellows in the courses? How do I enroll them in In-Training Exam?
Enrolling your fellows in Fellows Training Series has never been easier! Once you have purchased your vouchers, you will should share the voucher link found in your voucher portal. Need help accessing the link? Click here for instructions! The In-Training Exam is included in the course bundle, but will not be accessible until it launches in mid-January.
Note that once a fellow has used the voucher link, that counts as a voucher being used - so purchase enough vouchers for your program and only share the link with fellows enrolled in your program!
How do I confirm if my fellows have access to the materials and exam?
You can confirm that your fellows have access in 2 ways:
- You can ask your fellows to confirm they have successfully logged into the system and can see the course bundle associated with your subscription type;
- You can click the blue Manage Vouchers button on the Administrator Home Page to see who has used your vouchers so far.
Note that fellows will not be able to access content until you have purchased vouchers and shared the direct link with them. Also note that the fellows will not be able to access the In-Training Exam until it launches in mid-January; the other Fellows Training Series materials are available directly after purchasing vouchers.
How do I update our program director and/or coordinator?
To update your PD or PC, ask the new administrator to create an account with us at https://education.endocrine.org. Then, please email education@endocrine.org with your program name, name of the former administrator, and name of the new administrator.
Using the Fellows Training Series Curriculum
What's included in the Fellows Training Series curriculum?
Fellows Training Series has 2 subscription types that each contain a collection of educational modules designed specifically for clinical endocrinology fellows. Both subscription types provide access to each year's In-Training Exam, 3 procedural tools, and a collection of educator resources. Premium subscribers also get 6 additional topical courses and the Post Exam Resource: ITE Plus, which allows fellows to re-take the exam as many times as they want and receive answer rationale directly after. The premium package also has new courses added every year.
How do we use this curriculum to complement what we have in our program?
Fellows Training Series is overseen by a panel of experts, with the intention of providing a standardized curriculum on the biggest topics in endocrinology. While some programs may have quite a lot of content around some of these topics, fellows may still benefit from this content and from the new courses added each year. The content is designed to provide flexibility to fellows, and additional resources to program directors.
The best use-case scenario for the Fellows Training Series curriculum is to review the courses included in your subscription type (learn about basic; learn about premium) and map when you will be covering those topics within your own curriculum. You can then ask your fellows to complete the corresponding course either before or after you cover it in class, and encourage discussions around our content either in the classroom, during office hours, or within study groups.
Alternatively, you can have your fellows complete the Fellows Training Series courses on their own time and encourage discussions in other settings.
Should the fellows complete all the courses?
Fellows Training Series is constantly growing, and is under review by the working group to bring it all up-to-date and explore new content needed. The courses are designed to benefit your fellows, and provide a standardized education on these topics. We encourage fellows to work through each course, and to explore the recommended courses associated, to expand their education further. However, should a course not align with your program's curriculum or does not seem appropriate for their year in fellowship, it is up to the program director to guide their fellows on which courses to complete.
I have fellows who graduated this year and need continued access to the curriculum to study for their Boards.
Fellows who graduated over the summer can retain access to course materials through 12/31 to study for Boards. Please email education@endocrine.org with your program name, names of your graduated fellows, and when they graduated from your training program so we can enroll them in the appropriate graduate bundle. Please note that graduated fellows only maintain this access through 12/31.
When is the In-Training Exam available each year?
The exam is available from mid-January to mid-February each year, although the actual dates will change. Please refer to the Program Administrator landing page to find this year's dates. Programs can proctor the exam at any point during this period. The exam is administered online, and can be accessed on any major browser - although Chrome and Firefox work best.
Note that real-time technical support is available M-F, 9am-5pm ET.
What content does the exam cover?
The exam is based on ABIM's blueprint for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. The expert panel that develops the exam uses this blueprint to develop the questions, with a mind to the distribution of topics accordingly. The general breakdown is as follows:
- Adrenal - 10%
- Pituitary - 10%
- Lipids/Obesity - 12%
- Female Reproduction - 7%
- Male Reproduction - 7%
- Diabetes - 24%
- Bone - 15%
- Thyroid- 15%
My fellows are registered for the exam. What's the next step?
After you have purchased vouchers for your program, select a proctoring date between mid-January and mid-February. Please circulate this date to your fellows to make them aware. The exam is intended to serve as a benchmark of how the fellows are progressing through their training, so continue along with your program's curriculum and the Fellows Training Series courses. On the date and time of your selected exam date, have the fellows arrive or sign in 30 minutes prior to the start of your exam to ensure they can login and navigate through the system prior to the start of your exam.
Can I proctor the exam on more than one date for different fellows?
We strongly encourage programs to proctor the In-Training Exam for all of their fellows at the same time, to ensure the fellows do not discuss the exam until everyone has completed it. That being said, we understand that clinical schedules may not allow all of your fellows to take the exam at the same point and you may select multiple proctoring dates if needed. Should you need to do this, please ask your fellows to avoid discussing the exam until everyone has completed it.
Is the exam online?
Yes, the exam is online and can best be access from a browser such as Firefox or Chrome. Fellows can access the exam by logging into their account on the Center for Learning and following the access instructions that will be provided.
Is the exam proctored virtually or in person?
Since the exam is online, your fellows can either gather in one place to take the exam on individual computers with the proctor in the room or the fellows can take the exam at home on their own computers. If the fellows take the exam at home, please remind them to take the exam closed book. Proctors can opt to have all the fellows call into a virtual meeting (like on Zoom) to proctor them this way.
How should I prepare for exam proctoring?
Exam proctoring is easy! As long as you have access to a computer with a major internet browser (Chrome and Firefox are preferred), you're good to go! Ensure the fellows know the date and time of their exam, and ask them to arrive or sign on 30 minutes prior to starting. At the date and time of your exam, ask everyone to login to education.endocrine.org, click on the "By Invitation" tab, and enter the Invitation Code provided by Program Administrator and click "Enroll." (Note: Invitation codes will be provided to Program Directors and Coordinators in early January.) After fellows enter the Invitation Code they will be taken to the In-Training Exam course page, where they can view instructions and other information. When they are ready to proceed, they should click on “Get Started”.
Typically, the biggest part of proctoring is contacting Endocrine Society if your fellows encounter any issues. Sometimes these issues can be resolved by refreshing the browser page, or by clearing the cache and then refreshing. If neither of these options resolves the issue, please email education@endocrine.org for additional help. Lastly, please ensure your fellows are completing the exam closed-book, to avoid skewing results.
There is a four-hour time limit on the exam. Please contact education@endocrine.org if you have any student that needs reasonable accommodations.
When are exam results available?
Exam results will be made available in late-March of each year. These results can be used to guide remedial learning for your fellows, as they outline the specific topic areas and learning objectives your fellows could improve in.
What reports do program administrators receive?
Program administrators will have access to 2 main reports: the group assessment report, which outlines how your program performed as a whole; and the individual assessment report for each fellow, which outlines how each fellow performed, which questions they got correct, and what topics they were strongest in.
What is included in the group report vs the individual report?
The group report includes statistics comparing your overall program to the other programs participating in the exam, both overall and by fellowship year. It also includes how your program performed overall within each topic area; the individual scores of each of your fellows; and how many fellows answered each individual question correctly.
The individual report, available for each fellow, includes the fellow's score, how many questions they answered, and how they did compared to other fellows in their cohort. It also includes how that fellow did within each topic area, compared to how other fellows did in that area; and which questions they got correct along with the learning objectives.
Who can access exam results?
Exam results can only be accessed by program administrators - the director, associate director, or coordinator. Fellows must request their reports from their program administrator, and we strongly encourage the program director to review the report with the fellow to facilitate the remediation process.