Determination of Passing Score
The passing score for the Certification Examination in Nuclear Cardiology was set by an independent national panel of peers representing the disciplines involved in the practice of Nuclear Cardiology, drawn from both private practice and academia.
The passing score is based on an expected level of knowledge; it is not related to the distribution of scores obtained during a particular examination administration. Thus, in any given year, a candidate has the same chance of passing the examination whether the group taking the examination at that time tends to have high scores or low scores. In other words, each candidate is measured against a standard of knowledge, not against the performance of the other individuals taking the examination.
The CBNC examination test results is a PASS or FAIL decision. Examinees will receive a scaled score, ranging from 300 to 700. A scaled score of at least 555 is required to pass the CBNC examination.
Reporting Scores
RESULTS WILL NOT BE GIVEN OVER THE TELEPHONE, BY FAX OR VIA EMAIL.
In 2024 scores are expected to be released and posted to your MY APCA account approximately 60 days following the end of the examination administration window. As soon as your score becomes available, you will receive an email sent to the email address you provided when you registered for the examination. If that email address is no longer accessible by you, please log into your MY APCA account to update it.
To ensure you receive notification regarding your score availability, add our email address Communications.APCA@Inteleos.org to your address book and/or “Safe Recipient” list. Candidates receiving a passing score will be listed on APCA’s Directory of Certificants.
Successful candidates with Diplomate status with CBNC (Testamurs will not receive this) will receive a certificate suitable for framing. If the email address on file is no longer accessible to you, please log in to your MY APCA account to update it.
Candidates who pass the CBNC exam will be listed on APCA’s Directory of Certificants beginning on the date that the certification record becomes active.
Please note: The Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC) certification is currently valid for 10 years. CBNC is committed to the global standards of physician excellence in patient care and is actively evaluating continued competence models. For additional information, please click here.
Testamurs
Candidates who applied as Testamurs and who passed the CBNC exam, will need to provide CBNC with documentation of having passed the Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine or Radiology board examination as well as documentation of having a current, full and unrestricted medical license before a CBNC certificate can be mailed and name added to the roster of Diplomates. A copy of the letter from the certifying board or a print-out from the certifying board’s website documenting board certified status in Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine or Radiology will be accepted as documentation for board certification. To document full and current medical licensure, a copy of the license (with expiration date) or a print-out from the state/country medical licensure board’s website documenting current, full and unrestricted medical license will be accepted. The appropriate documentation may be emailed to CBNC@inteleos.org or alternatively uploaded into your MY APCA account – upon uploading your documents you must notify staff via email to request conversion and indicate that you have uploaded into the system.
Request for Score Verification
If you have questions about the accuracy of your score, we can perform a score verification for $35 USD. Score verification ensures that the computer counted the correct and incorrect answers appropriately, but it does not review the questions and answers. When deciding whether to have your score verified, please keep in mind that the CBNC examinations are scored electronically with a high degree of accuracy, and it is unlikely that verification will alter your original score.
If you are interested in obtaining verification, please submit a completed Examination Score Verification Form within 30 days of the date on your score availability email for the examination in question.
Appeals
Candidates who fail the examination may appeal their score by following the APCA Appeals Policy. For an examination administration appeal to be considered, you must have reported the issue to Pearson VUE prior to leaving the test center and in writing to CBNC within five (5) days of taking the examination.