PLAS Assessment Resources

PLAS Assessment Tools
PLAS offers a range of assessment tools that provide clear insight into a physician's medical knowledge, clinical judgment, and patient management skills in your current or intended area of practice. PLAS assessment tools include multiple-choice, clinical-science subject exams and computer-based case simulations (CCS). A listing of these assessments is provided below. Physicians preparing for assessments that include CCS should take the CCS tutorial and practice with the sample cases available on the USMLE website.

Clinical Science Subject Exams (multiple-choice question exams)

• • Clinical Neurology
  • Family Medicine
  • Medicine (Internal Medicine)
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry

Referring a Physician for Assessment
We have put together a guide to help physicians, state medical boards, attorneys, and other referring individuals or entities through the process of referring a physician for a clinical competence assessment. Included is information on the following topics:

• • When to consider making a referral
  • How to refer a physician for assessment
  • Information requested when referring a physician for assessment
  • Scheduling an assessment
  • Encouraging compliance and a timely assessment

Collaborating Assessment Programs
The following programs have a formal collaborative relationship with PLAS. The tools provided by PLAS complement these programs' other performance-based methods of assessment, such as medical record reviews, peer (preceptor) assessment and feedback, patient evaluations, and case-based evaluations of physician care. You can get information about obtaining an assessment directly from these programs. Physicians can obtain an assessment through one of these programs via self-referral or a third-party referral (e.g., state medical board, physician practice, hospital, or other healthcare entity).

• • The Center for Personalized Education for Professionals (CPEP)
  • Drexel Medicine® Physician Refresher/Re-Entry Course
  • LifeGuard
  • Physician Assessment and Clinical Education Program (PACE) at University of California San Diego (UCSD)
  • Texas A&M University
  • University of Florida

U.S. Assessment and Remedial Education Programs
Separately from its joint PLAS program with the National Board of Medical Examiners, FSMB maintains a directory of physician assessment and remedial education programs. This directory is offered as a courtesy resource guide for physicians seeking assessment programs and remedial education opportunities. Programs listed on pages 2-4 of the directory are formal PLAS collaborators. Information and details on other programs are provided solely for general informational purposes and not as a referral service.