NBME Subject Exams
NOTE: Due to COVID-19, until further notice all NBME clerkship exams will be given with remote proctoring. This means:
- You will not be required to travel to a testing site for NBME exams.
- All students will check-in for NBME exams at 8:30am PT (7:30 AT; 9:30 MT)
All of the other information on this page not related to travel still applies to exams, so please continue reading!
General Information
The following required clerkships use National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Subject Exams as the final exam for the clerkship:
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Neurology
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Psychiatry
- Surgery
These exams are currently given in only ten locations across the WWAMI region:
Washington
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Wenatchee
Wyoming
- Casper
- Cheyenne
Alaska
- Anchorage
Montana
- Billings
- Bozeman
- Missoula
Idaho
- Boise
This means that if your rotation is not in one of the locations where the exams are given, you will be required to travel to one of these locations to take your final exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is my clerkship exam?
For the 2020-21 clerkship year (Summer 2020 through Winter 2021), all required clerkship exams (both NBME exams and non-NBME exams) will occur on the last Friday of the clerkship.
How do I know where my testing location is?
During the first week of a clerkship that uses a NBME exam, you will receive an email from UWSOM Testing Services (somtests@uw.edu) indicating where you have been assigned to take your final exam (NOTE: Medicine students will receive an email with their exam assignment during Week 7 of the clerkship). You may reply to that email and request to be assigned to a different testing site if another location is preferred due to travel considerations for your next rotation. Requests will be granted when space permits at the alternate testing site.
This map shows which clerkship sites are assigned to which testing sites by default.
Do I get release time to travel to my testing site?
It depends. Please consult the clerkship exam schedule guidelines web page for details.
Do I have to pay for travel to my testing site?
It depends. Please consult the student exam travel web page for details.
Where and when should I arrive on exam day?
Exam start times are different for each testing location. Start times, as well as parking and room information, can be found below.
Location
Nome Room
Providence Regional Building
3760 Piper St
Anchorage, AK 99508
Parking
Parking is available either in front or in back of the building.
Directions
Take elevators to lower level and follow signs to “Nome Room”.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 12:00 pm AKT. The exam will begin at 12:15 pm AKT.
Housing
Some campus housing is available. There is also a contract with an Extended Stay hotel if needed.
Contact
Shyla Cochran-Dema
Program Operations Administrator
Alaska WWAMI Program
(907) 786-4747
sdema@uw.edu
Information for exams in Billings can be found on this PDF.
Contact
Jenny Jutz
Billings Track Coordinator
(406) 672-4852
jenny.jut@riverstonehealth.org
Students testing in Boise will take their exam at the Boise State University Testing Center.
Housing
There is no student housing available.
Location
Training Room A
Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital
915 Highland Blvd
Bozeman, MT 59715
Parking
Please park in the main hospital parking lot where the circular drive is located with the flag pole.
Directions
Enter through the main doors and take the first hallway to the left into the cafeteria. Follow the wall of windows on the left through the cafeteria, and you will dead-end at some couches. Turn right, and you’ll be looking at Training Room A.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 10:00 am MT. The exam will begin at 10:30 am MT.
Housing
Contact the site coordinator below.
Contact
Kayla Hatfield
WWAMI Program Student Coordinator
(406) 239-3727
khatfield@bozemanhealth.org
Location
Casper College Testing Center
Thorson Institute of Business
Room 120
125 College Dr
Casper, WY 82601
Parking
Parking is available in the parking lot north of the Thunderbird Gymnasium.
Directions
The Thorson Institute of Business is located at the north end of the above parking lot. The testing center is on the first floor, room 120.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 11:15 am MT. The exam will begin at 11:30 am MT.
Housing
There is no student housing available.
Contact
Deb Kuhn
Casper College Testing Center
(307) 268-3850
testing@caspercollege.edu
Location
Room 121
Clay Pathfinder Building
Laramie County Community College
1400 E College Dr
Cheyenne, WY 82007
Parking
Parking is on either side of the building.
Directions
The building is located on the north end of campus. You may walk through the main doors off the front circle drive. Room 121 will be marked with signage.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 9:00 am MT. The exam will begin at 9:30 am MT.
Housing
Contact the site coordinator below.
Contact
Deb Dolph
Administrator/Program Operations
Wyoming WWAMI Program
(307) 432-9264
debdolph@wyomed.org
Location
Providence Center
902 N. Orange St.
Missoula, MT 59802
Parking
Park in the parking lot in front of the building.
Directions
Enter through the main doors to the Providence Center. Take the elevator down to the 1st floor. Turn left out of the elevator and 107 is a couple of doors down on the right.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 9:00 am MT. The exam will begin at 9:30 am MT.
Housing
Some student housing is available.
Contact
Liz Kelsey
WWAMI Missoula Program Coordinator
(406) 243-4763
elizabeth.kelsey@providence.org
Location
Room 115
Research & Training Building (R&T)
Harborview Medical Center (Campus Map)
Parking
Please visit Parking & Transportation Options. This page will tell
you the various ways to get to HMC and where to park.
Directions
Room 115 is on the first floor and to the left as you enter building.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 8:00 am PT. The exam will begin at 8:15 am PT.
Contact
Kristen Seiler
(206) 744-6289
kseiler@uw.edu
Location
Commons Computer Lab in Health Sciences Library
3rd floor T-wing of Health Sciences Building
University of Washington
1959 NE Pacific St
Seattle, WA 98195
Parking
Please visit the UW Transportation Services website, which will tell you all the various ways to get to campus.
Directions
Please visit the Health Sciences Library website, which has maps and directions
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 8:30 am PT. The exam will begin at 9:00 am PT.
Contact
Meghan Lancaster
(206) 616-0667
somtests@uw.edu
Location
Room 021
Schoenberg Center
Gonzaga University
800 N Pearl St
Spokane, WA 99202
Parking
The Spokane regional office (uwsomspk@uw.edu) will send you a parking pass by email the week before your test. The pass must be printed and placed on the dash of your car while parked on the Gonzaga campus.
Directions
The computer lab will be on the lower level of the building.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 8:15 am PT. The exam will begin at 8:30 am PT.
Housing
There is no student housing available. Some recommended nearby hotels are:
- Madison Inn (near hospitals)
- Courtyard Marriott (near testing location)
- Fairfield Inn (near testing location)
Contact
Kelly Juarez
Spokane WWAMI Program Operations
(509) 313-7918
kellyj13@uw.edu
Location
Wenatchee Valley College Sexton Hall 6007
1300 Fifth Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Parking
Please see the provided map. Parking requires a pass or you can use the kiosk to get a day pass. You may be able to find street parking near the building.
Directions
Using Miller Street, turn onto 9th street headed toward Western Avenue. Park near Sexton Hall.
Start time
Students should arrive for check-in at 8:45 am PT. The exam will begin at 9:00 am PT.
Housing
There is no student housing available for students traveling from outside Wenatchee. Some recommended nearby hotels are:
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Wenatchee
- Hilton Garden Inn Wenatchee
- Holiday Inn Express Wenatchee
Contact
Casey Vogt
Student Services Coordinator
Confluence Health
(509) 436-6825
Cell: (509) 293-0382
Casey.Vogt@confluencehealth.org
What should I bring with me to the exam?
You must bring one of these government-issued photo IDs to the exam:
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- Military ID
You will also need to know your UW student ID number to begin the exam.
The list of things you are allowed (or not allowed) to have with you during the exam can be found on the exam environment policy page.
Will I have to take the exam on my own computer?
Maybe! We are asking all students to certify their laptops to run the NBME secure browser in case lab computers are not available on exam day.
What is going to be on the exam?
Your Clerkship Administrator can provide you specific information on your exam. However, here are two useful links:
Link to practice exam to explore user interface
NBME website–student page on Subject Exams