Test Committees

Test committee volunteers make it possible for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) program to continue to serve the state and regional medical boards and the medical education community and for NBME to serve medical schools with Subject Examinations and other assessments.

Volunteers include medical school faculty and practicing physicians from across the United States and internationally, who come together to contribute their subject matter expertise to develop questions, review test forms and evaluate the standards applied to the USMLE and NBME subject matter exams.  

Benefits of Participation:

• Letters of scholarly activity provided for promotion and tenure
• Annual acknowledgement in the NBME or USMLE Volunteer Directory and recognition letters mailed to the health system and medical school leadership of your choice
• Opportunities to grow and expand your professional network
• Opportunities to contribute to the advancement of healthcare assessment and medical education
• Access to NBME's Volunteer Community of several hundred subject matter experts
• Continuing Medical Education credits for select test development opportunities
• Travel expense reimbursement, if travel is required

Eligibility:

• Test committee volunteers must be able to pass a basic volunteer screening of their credentials and licenses.
• Test committee volunteers may not be employees or contractors of entities such as professional test preparation companies or otherwise contribute to any activities purporting to prepare individuals for the USMLE or NBME Subject Examinations outside of programs offered by Liaison Committee on Medical Education- or American Osteopathic Association-accredited medical schools.
• Test committee volunteers will be required to complete a Conflict of Interest disclosure form. NBME staff will screen volunteers’ applications for any potential conflicts of interest. If staff identifies a potential conflict, they may request additional information about the type of work the volunteer is doing or the level of influence the volunteer has with the other entity. In determining any potential conflict of interest, NBME staff will consider, on an individual basis, both the work being done elsewhere and the work being done for NBME. 
• While most test committee volunteers possess a PhD, MD, or MD-equivalent (DO, MBBS), there are a limited number of opportunities for professionals with other credentials such as those in public health, pharmacy, nursing, and more.
• Volunteers must be able to commit to at least one term of the in- and out- of meeting time commitments, as outlined in the committee comparison table below.

Hear from our Volunteers:

I feel it is a privilege to help in the physician licensure process. In return, besides a sense of accomplishment, I have gotten to know so many capable people, including many new colleagues from across the country, and I have learned so much about assessment that I have applied in my professional roles.

From the first time I came to NBME, I have been impressed with the professionalism of everyone at the organization. Each committee has afforded me with new learning opportunities, not only medical knowledge, but in the ability to develop questions and answers. These are skills that are not easily acquired, and I will be forever grateful for the many years I have been able to serve.

I truly value the relationships I have with fellow volunteer faculty and the team members at NBME. I have learned so much from experts in assessment and fellow faculty colleagues through my volunteer opportunities. It is so rewarding to know the work we do, as respected medical educators, serves to protect the health of those in our communities.

Of all my external professional engagements, I consider my work with NBME the most satisfying. It has been my privilege to have benefited from professional growth and rejuvenation over my years of working with a first-class organization, which has been a reward in and of itself. Serving on committees with gifted medical educators from across the country and world is the most effective continuing medical education one could ask for.

Serving on the USMLE and NBME committees has really been an integral part of my academic career. I have a profound respect and admiration for the due diligence of committee members, as we have participated in decision-making processes around test development, security and finances.

• If you cannot participate in a committee when an invitation is issued but are interested in future opportunities, your name will remain active in our system for consideration for other committees and in future years.
• Interested but know you can't commit the time right now? You can complete a Volunteer Profile and temporarily set your "Volunteer Pool Opt In" to "No".

• Participation in the NBME Volunteer Community does not guarantee placement on an NBME or USMLE committee or task force.