Hematology In-Service Exam

ASH’s Hematology In-Service Exam (ISE) is a low-stakes exam intended to be used as a medical knowledge competency assessment tool that can also provide training program feedback about the effectiveness of their curriculum. Hematology training programs in North America and around the world have been using the Hematology ISE since 2009.

The exam must be completed on the day it is started. The price for the ISE will be $275 for ASH members and $325 for non-members. Each program may also register one key faculty member to take the exam for a discounted price of $50. 

Key Dates

Eligibility and Registration

ASH welcomes all training programs to register for the ISE. Registration is only available to training programs; individual registration is not available. Only program directors and/or program coordinators may register fellows for the exam. The exam provides adult hematology and oncology questions only, so we strongly advise that ONLY adult and NOT pediatric hematology and oncology fellows register and take the exam.

ASH works with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to administer the ISE. Remote proctoring will be available for the 2025 exam. Once registration closes in February, an email with instructions for accessing the NBME portal for chief proctors and administrators will be sent from ASH and NBME staff.

U.S.-based programs are identified by their 10-digit Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) number (example: 155XXXXXXX). Other programs will be assigned a 10-digit code by ASH. If you are a new program and would like to register for the ISE, please contact [email protected].

Registration

Training programs may register for the ISE through ASH’s Trainee Enrollment Center. The only program representatives who will have access to the registration site are program coordinators and program directors. If you are new to your institution or have had a personnel change, please contact the ASH Training Department at [email protected] so that we can update our database and provide you with login information.

To register, follow the prompts through the Trainee Enrollment Center. During the registration process, you will be able to update your program’s list of fellows and identify those who will be taking the exam.

Testing Accommodations

Fellows with ADA accommodations are eligible for extra time (time and a half) In the registration form, each fellow that is registered is asked if they have an ADA accommodation. If you have a fellow who is a nursing mother, you can receive the “Stop The Clock” manual for instructions to pause the exam.

Selecting Fellows to Register for the Exam

During the registration process, you have the option to group your fellows in different payment groups in order to create multiple invoices in case your institution only allows a certain amount per invoice or credit card. If you need this function, follow the instructions on creating groups.

To add registrants manually, click “Add a registrant.” Searching the registrant’s first name, last name, and/or email address will pull any profile we have listed with that information. If no profiles are available, please click “Add new” and enter the required information for the new registrant. Please be aware that adding a new registrant creates a new profile in our database. Please enter the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. This information will be used for the exam.

Payment

Once your roster is complete, follow the prompts to finalize and proceed with payment. An invoice will not be created until you click “Finalize Invoice” on your registration list. This will create an order in our database; make sure to click once to avoid multiple charges. Please make sure your registration list is complete before finalizing your invoice. Once finalized you will not be able to make edits or additions. If you have edits or additions after finalizing your invoice, please contact [email protected].

ASH will not send invoices to each program individually. You may view and print your invoice in the Trainee Enrollment Center. Individual payments by registrants will not be accepted.

ASH WILL NOT be accepting late registration or late payments for the ASH In-Service Exam. Credit card and check payments are accepted. Credit card payments will be applied immediately to the order. Check payments take about to two to seven weeks to process from when the check is sent. Please be sure to send checks by January 24th to allow for ample processing time. If payment is not complete by February 14th, you will not be able to participate in the 2025 ASH In-Service Exam.

If a registrant is unable to take the exam, a refund will be sent to the program after the exam, minus the $25 registration fee.

NBME Web Portal

After registration has closed, the chief proctor will receive a personalized email from the NBME with their site-generated log-ins. This email will provide instructions on how to sign in to the NBME portal. Through the portal, you will be able to access the following:

• Video tutorials on proctoring an exam
• A practice-exam
• Facility readiness checklists
• Incident reports
• Instructions on workstation certification

Please be cognizant of the various communications throughout the process.

Pre-Test Workstation Certification

Two weeks before the exam, the chief proctor will receive instructions on how to complete the Workstation Certification. The Workstation Certification is a web-based tool that allows chief proctors to certify all computers that will be used to deliver NBME web-based exams. This tool ensures that all workstations meet the minimum requirements for running NBME web-based exams. It also provides NBME with enhanced monitoring and tracking capabilities in the event an issue is reported for a specific workstation.

Workstation Certification must be run prior to test day on each computer that will be used for the exam.

In-Service Exam

The ISE is offered on two days to allow for fellows’ scheduling; however, the exam must be completed on the day it is started. The exam will begin at 9:00 a.m. local time. Fellows should set aside six hours to complete the exam.

Please refer to the NBME Proctor Manual in the NBME portal for instructions on proctoring exam. If you have any problems, please contact the NBME Support Desk at 215-495-6000 or [email protected].

Testing Date for International Programs

Although ASH does not need to know when North America-based programs are testing, international programs must specify a preferred test date in order to coordinate technical support and exam availability.

Please contact the ASH Training Department at [email protected] with your preferred date from the options listed below.

• March 25, 2025, 9:00 a.m. local time*
• March 26, 2025, 9:00 a.m. local time

Please note that the exam becomes available at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on March 25th, 2025. If your fellow does not test on March 25^th, they will automatically roll over to the March 26^th test date. If your fellow does not test on either day they will automatically be registered for the April 1^st make-up test date.

Post-Test Program Verification

In the weeks after testing is completed, chief proctors will receive instructions on how to verify their program and participant information through the NBME portal. Verification is extremely important. It is the last opportunity to ensure that all program and participant information is correct before scoring begins, at which point edits will no longer be accepted.

The most important aspect of verification is making sure that fellows are in the correct cohort (first-, second-, or third-year fellow), as scores are reported for each class of fellows. Please also verify that other program and participant information is accurate and up to date, including missing or untested participants, program year, birthday, institution affiliation, and address. Demographic information cannot be changed after post-test verification.

Exam Scores

ISE scores will be posted in the NBME portal approximately two months after the exam. Instructions on how to access the scores will be sent as soon as the scores are released. Score reports will not be sent to individual programs.

Scores for individual programs will not be posted until payment is received. If you are unsure about your payment status, please contact the ASH Training Department at [email protected] or ASH Customer Service at 202-823-4882.

Questions?

Can our fellows test remotely, at home, or without a proctor?
For the 2025 exam, your fellows will be able to test remotely. The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), will provide instructions in the web portal for remote proctoring. Remote proctoring requires either Zoom, WebEx, or Microsoft Teams.

Can my fellows test on different days, i.e. some on the 25^th and some on the 26^th? 
Yes, you are welcome to split the group. However, once the test is started, it has to be completed in a six-hour window. You may also utilize the make-up exam day for additional fellows.

Only some of my fellows can test on March 25^th or 26^th. What happens to the others?
Those who are “untested” will roll over to the make-up date. If they do not test on the make-up date, ASH will process a refund.

We cannot test on March 25^th, March 26^th, or April 1^st. Can our order be refunded?
Absolutely. Please contact [email protected] to begin process on your refund. If you are uncertain about your availability, we encourage you to maintain your registration order and after the make-up exam, for any examinee that remains “untested”, the program will be issued a refund. If your registration order is not yet paid, that examinees order will be canceled.

Our proctor is required to work from home. Can they proctor the test remotely? 
Yes. For the 2025 exam, remote proctoring is encouraged. Instructions for remote proctors and remote workplace certification will be made available on the web portal after registration.

I need to change my roster considering the new dates (i.e. adding or removing fellows from your roster).
Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for assistance.

For any additional questions related to the 2025 In-Service Exam, please contact [email protected].

I cannot sign in to the ASH TEC registration site.
Your username and/or password may need to be updated. You may reset your username and/or password by clicking on the appropriate links on the Trainee Enrollment Center homepage. If you have trouble resetting your username or password, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for assistance.

I cannot view certain aspects of the registration site.
Our webpages are browser and firewall sensitive. Please try a different browser if you are having trouble viewing any component of the registration site. If you continue to have trouble, please contact [email protected].

My program information and/or program director’s information is incorrect, and when I try to update it does not show correctly.
Please be assured that your edits are saved in our system. We are working to correct your view once you have updated the information. Continuing to update multiple times will create multiple records in our database causing a hiccup in the system.

It is exam day and my examinee cannot sign in!
Some of the demographic information that we use as a security measure may be incorrect. For example, often the birthday or email address was entered incorrectly. For issues similar to this, please contact ASH Training Department [email protected]. For technical issues, like the site being blocked or the exam not starting, please contact NBME Support Desk at 215-495-6000 or [email protected].

How much does it cost to take the In-Service Exam?
The cost for ASH members will be $275 and the cost for non-members will be $325.

Who do I contact with general questions about the In-Service Exam?
For general questions about the In-Service Exam and the registration process, please contact the ASH Training Department ([email protected], 202-823-4882) or ASH Customer Service ([email protected], 866-828-1231).

Who do I contact with technical questions about the In-Service Exam?
For technical questions regarding the proctor manual, proctoring the exam, exam day incident reports, post-test program verification, or any technical issues, please contact the NBME Support Desk at 215-495-6000 or [email protected].