BOARD NEWS

NEW! Instructions for Authors Updated and Enhanced on JABFP Web Site

The newly revised Instructions for Authors is now available at the 𝒥ABFP web site (http://www.jabfp.org). While retaining information on the 𝒥ournal’s areas of interest, several additions have been made to the 𝒥ournal’s guidelines. The additions include: detailed information on manuscript preparation; conformity with professional standards; and instructions for submitting manuscripts to 𝒥ABFP—with step-by-step instructions for using Rapid Review. All of these sections have been enhanced, with links to the mentioned examples embedded in the text.

Rapid Review Update

Authors have been using the web-based Rapid Review since its launch in March to send their new manuscripts to 𝒥ABFP. Authors submitting their first manuscript through Rapid Review must create an author account. Authors MUST include an e-mail address when creating their account. Authors will receive an e-mail confirmation that their manuscript has been received. The 𝒥ABFP editorial staff will also use e-mail to correspond with authors about the status of their manuscript.

Peer reviewers also enjoy the convenience of Rapid Review. Manuscripts are e-mailed to reviewers, who in turn send their reviews back via Rapid Review. This eliminates the delays associated with postal mail deliveries.

Looking for a Job? Need to Post a Position?

The on-line version of the 𝒥ABFP’s classified ad section is updated immediately as classifieds and other ads are received. Jobs are listed by region and are seen by all. Links to the contact person and/or organization are provided when listed by the advertiser.

Computer Based Testing and the ABFP Recertification Examination

The ABFP began its transition into computer-based testing (CBT) last year, offering approximately 2300 computer seats at more than 200 testing centers for the July certification and recertification examinations. These seats were highly prized; more than 6500 of the 11,000 candidates who were tested requested a computer seat. Those candidates who were exposed to the ABFP’s test presentation software were highly complimentary. This software facilitates time management, prevents questions from being left unanswered inadvertently, and greatly expedites question review.

Based upon this experience, the ABFP expanded its available pool of CBT seats to 8800 this year, with testing on two consecutive Fridays and Saturdays in July, in addition to approximately 6500 seats at the traditional paper and pencil sites that will be offered on the first Friday. Almost 7000 of the computer seats were filled by May 1. In addition, this will be the first time that the ABFP has offered the examinations on a Saturday; based upon early returns, this option has also been extremely popular. An online test center selection process has been offered this year that has provided candidates with instant confirmation of their test center selection at the time that they make their choice. This replaces the old process in which test center notifications were sent to all candidates at the same time in early May.

Next year, the ABFP will move completely to computer-based testing, offering more than 13,000 seats over three consecutive Fridays and Saturdays from the middle of July to the first week of August. This will complete the transition to CBT testing. The ABFP has been pleased with the response of Diplomates to this move. More than 90% of our candidates are within a 2-hour drive of one of the CBT centers, and 80% are within an hour’s drive. Coupled with the convenience of Saturday testing dates, CBT has greatly reduced the travel and lost opportunity costs associated with taking the examinations at the small number of paper and pencil sites located in major cities.