V. ADDENDUM—STATEMENT OF POLICY BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PEDIATRICS

FOLLOWING the deliberations of the Institute and the formal presentation to the Academy of Pediatrics of the report of the PREP Committee, the American Board of Pediatrics has considered at some length the several recommendations made and has formulated new policies to govern the admission of candidates to its examinations. Pending the revision of its booklet of standards, the Board has sent the letter displayed below to all directors of pediatric training programs. Recommendations of the Institute pertaining to changes in the type of examinations and to the evaluation of programs are still under study. To directors of pediatric training programs: The American Board of Pediatrics has made the following changes in the training requirements for admission to examination. These changes are designed to provide a greater flexibility in the manner through which the requirements may be fulfilled. The core of pediatric training is a period of two years spent in intensive, closely supervised work with both sick and well children in a hospital setting. Thereafter, the Board feels that pediatric training may properly take different paths. A total of three years of hospital work is required, one of which must be an approved internship. However, the Board strongly recommends that if the internship is other than a straight pediatric internship, a full three years of training in pediatrics be secured. The examination may be taken five years after graduation from medical school. In addition to the three years of internship and residency, two years are assigned to the practice of pediatrics or its equivalent.