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PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE 2025 (15TH EDITION)

Introduction

In this article, we’ll learn about pediatric board review courses offered in 2025 and learn why live courses are broken. We'll also be sharing resources and recommendations for those looking into live board review courses, along with a review of the 2025 pediatric board review course created by the Pediatrics Board Review (PBR) team.

PBR was created by me, Ashish Goyal. As a pediatrician, I excelled when I increased my score by 40% on the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Initial Certification exam. I was then asked by the ABP to write questions for them.

Now, as an author and coach, my mission is to provide the best pediatric board review materials to residents and pediatricians. I’ve been doing this successfully through PBR since 2011.

Test Taking Strategies

As physicians, we're trained to learn “everything” in our field, and we apply the same methodology to how we prepare for an exam. We start from the first sentence and take a top-to-bottom approach.

But these strategies do NOT work when you are studying for the pediatric boards.

That’s why at Pediatrics Board Review, we focus on creating a full, one-stop shop for you to focus your learning on three things. They include:

1. CONTENT: The specific topics that will be tested on the exam.
2. TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES: The strategy behind test taking, and how to deconstruct difficult questions with ease.
3. COMMITMENT: The tools, schedules, and systems needed to promote efficiency and accountability.

This article will cover a LOT about what pediatricians just like you need to pass the pediatric boards and how we've been helping pediatricians do just that for over a decade!

The system that I've created has been proven to be much more effective (and cheaper) than attending a 4-6 day long course where you're expected to learn everything about pediatrics. This system has helped pediatricians pass after 9, and even 10, failed attempts! And if the thousands of happy pediatricians are any indication, using the PBR Certification System is the way to go (but more on that later).

If you are insistent upon finding a traditional, live pediatric board review course, don't worry. I offer some advice and resources in this to help you find the best fit. Just keep reading. But, if you have 5 minutes, take the time now and read this article because it will likely save you time, money, and energy.

2025 Pediatric Board Review Course

Through this article, you will begin to quickly understand why a “traditional” pediatric board review course can lead to failure. PBR is not a traditional board review company, and we focus on helping physicians in ways that have never been done before. In the video below, I share with you some secrets about the boards and what it will take for low-risk and high-risk test-takers to pass the boards.

Hit the play button now and get targeted guidance for pediatricians just like you.

Click here to get the full Pediatric Dermatology and Pediatric Gastroenterology chapters from THIS YEAR's EDITION of the PBR so that you can TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!

THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT PEDIATRIC REVIEW COURSE

What Makes a Great Pediatric Board Review Course?

Having been around pediatric board materials (and helping pediatricians pass!) for more than 10 years, I have found the key to any successful pediatric review course which boils down to 5 key elements:

CONTENT CONGRUENCY

Having materials that work cohesively together has been proven to better reinforce knowledge in our brains. This is compared to having several disjointed study materials with competing methodologies. Congruency promotes a smarter, not harder, studying experience.

BOARD RELEVANT MATERIAL (NOT ALL MATERIAL!)

No course should try to shove as many topics as possible into your brain; that will only lead to information overload! Pick a course that provides a laser focus on the topics that are known to be tested, and curates your study experience around those topics.

A FOCUS ON TEST-TAKING STRATEGY

Everyone has a colleague, a friend, or a family member who is very intelligent but tests poorly. Doctors can especially overthink things and feel like each, artificial board “patient” has a case that is a life and death situation. That's simply not the case. So when it comes to standardized tests, knowing how to test is just as important as knowing about the subject being tested! Choose a course that places a high emphasis on teaching you how to TEST well.

INTERACTION

A course that promotes interaction with both your peers and the instructor can lead to a better study experience. Trying to study in isolation for hours on end, with an instructor just talking at you, will only limit the amount of information you retain. It will also provide zero opportunity for you to gain clarification on the difficult topics you struggled with.

MULTIPLE RETENTION TECHNIQUES

Everyone learns at a different pace, so finding a course that utilizes several retention techniques to help you solidify what you are studying is key.

It was after working with several pediatricians on their board exams that I started to realize that there was a major gap in the medical education field that covered all 5 elements, and pediatricians were suffering the most because of it. This is why I created the PBR Certification System, and why it is at the core of our members' success.

A PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE WITH A 100% MONEY-BACK FIRST-TIME PASS GUARANTEE

What is the PBR Course?

PBR's 2025 pediatric board review course offers you a complete SYSTEM. We not only teach you about the pediatric topics you need to know for the boards, but we also teach you test-taking strategies and Deep Study techniques to ensure you have the BEST chance at passing your pediatric board exam. We also provide a peer group for educational support.

For the 2025 American Board of Pediatrics initial certification exam, maintenance of certification (MOC) exam, and MOCA-Peds assessment, here are a few of the reasons that pediatricians prefer PBR:

• You learn more than enough pediatric content to get a score that is ABOVE the national average.
• You understand the reasons to AVOID pediatric “board review questions” as a source of learning.
• You learn about test-taking strategies that allow you to answer board questions quickly and accurately (even when you're not fully knowledgeable about a topic).
• You learn to create a streamlined study schedule to prepare for the boards that will liberate you from the confusion and overwhelm that you're currently experiencing.
• You learn how to prepare for each of these exams efficiently.

The PBR Certification Methodology Includes…

The Clarity Expander

One of the toughest obstacles to overcome while studying for the pediatric boards is clarity. This means having a firm understanding of what you do (and do not) need to know in order to pass. For example, did you know that the AAP PREP questions are NOT the best study questions? Or, that you should NOT try to study every single topic laid out in the American Board of Pediatrics content outline? Or, that if you failed last year, you should NOT tailor your studies to address low scores from your score report?

PBR’s system is the only proven system to help you gain clarity on these nuances so that you study smarter, not harder!

The Retention Maximizer

Maximize your chances of content retention through common sense explanations, innovative “DOUBLE TAKE” topics that are repeated throughout the Core Study Guide, PBR “PEARLS” that are almost guaranteed to show up on the exam, story-based mnemonics, and concise content.

The Repetition Amplifier

Utilizing a multimodal approach to studying through hardcopy books, online videos, downloadable MP3s, mobile access, an online picture atlas, and other creative techniques allows you to review the same core materials in multiple ways. By promoting studying via multiple modes, our system encourages deeper learning to help you while studying for the pediatric boards!

The Strategic Approach

Learn Test-Taking Strategies that allow you to systematically approach, process, and answer board-style questions on standardized exams. There are rules you can learn to help you “beat the boards” and pass your exam. There is also a structured approach to processing every single board-style question in order to make the experience error-free and robotic.

The Network Experience

Do NOT study in isolation. Utilize the support of hundreds of pediatricians in the PBR Discord Community to help you quickly answer your board review questions. You can also work with Team PBR to create a study schedule specifically designed for you, and you can attend live webinars with content experts to help blow past complicated questions that are slowing you down. Just press the “ASK THE EXPERT” button. Then, you can focus on your studying while we do the research. Again, you should not have to do this alone, and the PBR community is here to support you.

WHY PBR DOESN'T OFFER A TYPICAL, LIVE PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE

Why Typical, Live Pediatric Board Review Courses Won’t Work in 2025

Beyond the fact that they are incredibly expensive, the typical live courses are not set up to give you a strategic study method to pass the boards. The entire system is broken. Here is a comparison chart for you to see the difference between a typical board course, and PBR:

Your TYPICAL Board Review Experience

The PBR Board Experience

You purchase a hard copy study guide and attend an 8-hour-long live course. You buy 2-3 additional resources from other companies for reference, because you don’t want to miss any topics (and if you’re ambitious, you’ll keep Nelson’s). Studying is sporadic at best, and all-consuming at worst. You study alone for several hours, not following any particular study schedule. You get through only a handful of board review questions, or you focus too much on questions, and find it difficult to narrow answers down to one. With no understanding of test-taking strategy, you move on. When you get to the actual board exam, you get so flustered by the actual questions asked that you get anxious and have difficulty answering questions on topics you actually know well.

You get a suite of materials focused on teaching you topics that are known to be tested on the exam and have resulted in passing scores that are well above the national average. You are provided with a comprehensive study schedule that is customized to fit your personal and work life. You receive access to the exclusive PBR Discord Community, where you can get questions answered in real time by both fellow test takers and board -certified PBR alumni. In addition to the test subjects, you have access to our LIVE Test-Taking Strategies Course, which is packed with eye-opening information about techniques to tackle standard test questions, teachings to maximize your knowledge retention during your study sessions, and more! When you get to the exam, you feel calm, prepared, and ready to pass!

Does the “typical” experience sound familiar? It definitely does to me because that's exactly what I did when I failed the pediatric board exam the first time I took it.

I was SHOCKED. But, I eventually uncovered multiple secrets to help me pass the initial certification exam and increase my score by 40%.

Trial and Error

Then, through my many trials and errors, I created a SYSTEM that has gone on to help so many pediatricians pass the exam.

This system has not only helped first-time test takers pass the boards on their first attempt; it has helped high-risk pediatricians FINALLY pass after 5, 7, 9, and even 10 failed attempts. Every year, we get tons of testimonials from pediatricians that finally pass!

PBR maximizes your learning experience and helps you pass the boards with this proven system.

For anyone who has failed the pediatric boards before, failed a USMLE Step exam, or struggled to get above a 222 on the older USMLE Step 1 exams, our Test-Taking Strategies & Coaching course is a breath of fresh air and a “must have.” Also, while live courses that cover “all of pediatrics” are of little benefit, a LIVE, 2-Day Test-Taking Strategies Course is the most leverageable option to accelerate your chances of success. By the end, you'll feel like a test-taking NINJA!

THE MOST EFFICIENT PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW COURSE 2025 HAS TO OFFER

What are the Pediatrics Board Review (PBR) Resources?

At the center of the PBR system, you will find the Pediatrics Board Review Core Study Guide and the Pediatrics Board Review Q&A book. We focus on the idea of having congruency across all of our resources. So, all of our pediatric study materials are born from these two resources. This is done so we can help you get the repetition and reinforcement needed as you go from one PBR resource to another.

PBR's CORE STUDY GUIDE

The PBR Core Study Guide is your content Bible. No more buying 3-4 different study materials to hodgepodge a study schedule together. We have done the curation of content for you! If it's not in your PBR Core Study Guide, then YOU DON’T NEED TO STUDY IT.

• Offered in hardcopy and online formats
• Contains a Success Blueprint and Roadmap to Success which tells you exactly how to use the PBR resources
• Has a strong focus on testable and tested topics
• Includes hundreds of time-saving story and image-based mnemonics, along with other memory aids
• Contains online systems that allow for one-click access to HUNDREDS of high-yield images across the web

PBR's QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) BOOK

This is NOT like other question banks. This is valuable, high-yield content that's just as valuable as the PBR study guide and should be used as part of your core content review. Use OTHER pediatric prep questions for PRACTICE of your test-taking strategy. KNOW the difference between questions to use for STUDYING versus questions to use for PRACTICE.

• Available in hardcopy and online formats
• Extremely high-yield questions and answers
• Contains detailed explanations and excerpts from PBR's Core Study Guide

PBR's ONLINE PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW VIDEO COURSE (OVC)

Get the value and insight of a live conference from the comforts of your room. This is your “online version” of an in-person pediatric board review course, except you can take it ANYWHERE because it's compatible on your phone or tablet.

• Videos cover the entire PBR Core Study Guide and the PBR Q&A Book
• Live summertime “ASK THE EXPERT” webinars are held featuring content experts to answer all of your questions
• The online pre-webinar ASK THE EXPERT question portals allow you to send in your questions as they come to mind
• Recorded webinars are available for replay
• Learn from board-certified pediatricians and PBR alumni

PBR's PEDIATRIC BOARD REVIEW AUDIO COURSE

Maximize your efficiency by taking the audio course with you to the gym, the grocery store, your car, or the mall.

• The MP3 audio course is available as a streaming OR a downloadable resource.
• It follows the hardcopy materials almost exactly
• Load the downloadable version onto your favorite MP3 player, or listen to it on your computer.
• Listen to the streaming version via your desktop or mobile device.
• Change the speed as needed and get multiple repetitions this year by simply turning it on during your drives to work!

PBR's DIGITAL PICTURE ATLAS

PBR CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS GUIDE

As With everything in medicine, things change. To make the PBR materials as error-free and up-to-date as possible, we use all of your suggestions and error submissions to create a Corrections and Clarifications guide.

Here are the benefits of the Corrections and Clarifications Guide:

• Receive updates in the world of pediatrics
• Get answers to questions that you have submitted for review or clarification
• Obtain an advanced look at NEW content that is going to go into the next edition
• Review a detailed list of planned corrections to our materials
• Review a detailed list of planned clarifications to amplify your understanding of our materials

PBR's DISCORD COMMUNITY

A critical component to the success of so many pediatricians is PEER SUPPORT! Without it, your efficiency and your drive to study can plummet. The PBR Discord Community is a pediatric board review forum that is exclusively for the PBR community.

The forum allows you to:

• Ask questions about topics that are confusing you.
• Share mnemonics and insights of your own.
• Get educational and moral support during one of the most stressful times of your life.
• Increase your EFFICIENCY by leaning on others to answer your questions instead of going to the black hole of Google.

PBR's TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES

“Test Day” can be a terribly stressful time for the pediatric board exam. The key to avoiding test anxiety is to:

• Have a solid foundation of knowledge.
• Understand that treating artificial patients in an artificial test environment requires a different level of strategic thinking
• Recognize that board-style questions have patters and weakness that you can take advantage of, but only if you know how to discover them
• Make the process of answering questions robotic.

Your board exam is like a GAME with rules that CAN be learned. There are strategies you can learn to master your question-answering technique. Through PBR's Test-Taking Strategies & Coaching courses, you quickly learn how to identify answers EFFICIENTLY, leaving you with time to spare. The online course is a MUST for everyone taking the Initial Certification exam, even if you are attending our Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course

PBR's COACHING AND MENTORSHIP

If you've ever struggled with any medical board exam in the past, or if you did not score above 222 on the USMLE Step 1 exam on the old scoring system, you should go through the Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course. Having helped pediatricians succeed after NINE and TEN failed attempts, imagine what this program could do for you.

• Learn how to answer questions with little knowledge on a given topic.
• Learn shortcuts that allow you to answer certain questions WITHOUT reading any of the vignettes.
• Learn why focusing on the ENGLISH (more than the medical concepts) can help you zero in on the correct answer choice when you're left with those final two options.
• Get the Core Concepts in Test-Taking Strategies lecture to learn the fundamentals of test-taking strategy.
• Get 5 QUESTION PROCESSING webinars to go deeper into advanced test-taking strategies as you learn to process questions systematically.
• Learn shortcuts, including what it means to have answer choices that are either very similar or complete opposites.
• Learn exam-day optimization techniques to address problems with diet, anxiety, insomnia, and test-day fatigue.
• Get help creating your own exam-day schedule. Learn what to do during your breaks, what to eat, what NOT to eat, how to remain as energized at the end of the exam as you were at the beginning of the exam, and much more!

THE LIVE 2025 PEDIATRICS BOARD REVIEW TEST-TAKING STRATEGY COURSE

In addition to the online courses, I also offer live training to teach you test-taking strategies to help you pass the pediatric boards.

Compared to the online courses, the Live Pediatrics Board Review Test-Taking Strategy Course gives you a unique experience to get your questions answered and tailored to you. If you scored as high risk on the PBR Risk Calculator, this course is the best way to ensure a pass on the boards.

PBR is the first and only medical board review company to offer a comprehensive course on test-taking strategy and “deep learning.” We have helped pediatricians become MASTER test-takers so that they can increase their chances of passing the boards exponentially. And with our virtual live course, the live course can be attended from the comfort of your home without the expense of travel or lodging. Be sure to check our test-taking strategies course page to see when the courses are available.

Click here now and learn more about the 2025 Pediatrics Board Review Live Course On Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study.

A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM TO HELP YOU PASS THE BOARDS IN 2025

The “No Brainer” Package: Everything You Need to Pass the Initial Certification Exam

PBR was created to help others avoid failure and frustration. Pediatricians get frustrated about overwhelming and incongruent resources, and overwhelming costs.

PBR has been part of the solution by pioneering newer, faster, and more effective strategies to educate pediatricians. The Online Video Course, the Virtual Atlas of Pediatric Pictures, the live ASK THE EXPERT webinars, and the private Discord support area are just a few ways we've changed how doctors think about board review.

I want you to focus on the CONTENT, the COMMITMENT, and the TECHNIQUE needed to pass the boards.

Not the chaos around multiple resources, or the expenses related to resources that could be helpful.

That's why we recently created the No Brainer package and VIP Bundle.

Our No Brainer bundle includes 100% of our multimodal content-based resources to help you build your fund of knowledge. Team PBR will also create multiple 90-Day Personalized Study Schedules specifically for you. These help with accountability and commitment. It also includes our Online Test-Taking Strategies Course to help you with your test-taking strategy. All for less than the cost of a single board review video course.

But, stop thinking about money and start focusing on how you can invest in yourself to pass the boards. Get the access you need for less than the cost of any major pediatric board review video products on the market.

No Brainer Bundle

It's what you “should” get for the Initial Certification exam. Learn the pediatric content AND the test-taking strategies to pass. Plus, get up to 3 Personalized Study Schedules created by Team PBR.

12 Months of Access

• Core Study Guide in Hardcopy and Online Formats
• Q&A Book in Hardcopy and Online Formats
• MP3 Audio Course in Downloadable and Streaming Formats
• Pediatric Picture Atlas in Downloadable PDF and Online Formats
• Online Video Course Covering All 31 PBR Chapters
• “ASK THE EXPERT” Question Portals for All 31 chapters
• Live Q&A Webinars with Content Experts for All 31 Chapters
• Test-Taking Strategies Core Concepts Webinar
• Test-Taking Strategies ONLINE Course
• A 90-Day Personalized Study Schedule created by Team PBR Based On Your Work Schedule, Pace of Reading, Risk Profile & Much More
• 2nd 90-Day Personalized Study Schedule created by Team PBR
• 3rd 90-Day Personalized Study Schedule created by Team PBR
• Free Expedited Shipping
• Discord Community Access!
• 100% Money Back First-Time Pass Guarantee

WHAT PBR MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY

Dr. Zwiener

“Tears of joy are wonderful. No thank you could ever be sufficient for all the support and guidance from Ashish and PBR over the past couple of years. Ashish who truly cares and believes in each individual person and helps guide them. I honestly used to laugh at the people who said they improved by 30 or more points, didn't think it was possible. It’s more than possible with PBR and can't thank Ashish enough! I failed each of the past 3 years not even getting within 5 points of passing.

I never ever thought of quitting or giving up, but I went all in with PBR including the core study guide (8X!!), all access pass including the videos and audio, live test taking strategies course and a 2 hour 1-on-1 session with Ashish after having a moment of revelation. LISTEN to this man. Follow his advice word for word. I finally PASSED on the 4th attempt! I improved my score by 42 points!!! It takes an army to go through this. I had to sacrifice being with my family, but we did it together. I hope and pray everyone reading this that's ever failed or struggled with test taking in general to not give up hope. It can be done. Cheers!”

Dr. Russell Zwiener Board Certified Pediatrician (2018 Member)

Dr. Yessenia

“Ashish, I did it. I can't thank you enough for creating an amazing system to keep me on track with my studying… the live weekend test taking course was well worth it. Doing the technique during the test kept me focused and allowed me to eliminate wrong answers. Thank you for all the great advice, sticking to the material, memorize, memorize, memorize then practice practice practice. After 4 failed attempts it was exhilarating to finally read the words, “we are PLEASED to announce you PASSED!” I will definitely recommend your program.”

God Bless

Dr. Yessenia Castro-Caballero: Board Certified Pediatrician All Access Pass Member Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Attendee4 Prior Failed Attempts

Dr. Johnson-Clark

“I am an intelligent driven pediatrician who took her Boards for the first time because her job paid for it and told her to “see what it was like.” No studying – just walked in and took it. And failed – shocking at the time – not shocking now.

The second time I took my boards –

I studied – I used multiple sources – and I failed. Scoring is the same as the first time. Again – what the hell happened?

The third time –

I took a Board Review Course in Washington DC and stuck with Cleveland Review. I practiced questions – but not enough (I know that now). And I took the test again – and failed by 10 points. I was in shock –

The fourth time –

I found PBR – I loved it. I practiced questions (thousands – but no AAP or Medstudy – just board vitals and exam master), I took the online PBR test taking strategy course, and I failed – by 4 points. Again shock set in.

I mustered up the courage to take it again.

I met with you to dissect where I went wrong and came to Atlanta, and then I followed your advice – even though sometimes I didn't like it 😉 You encouraged me to get my eyes checked (double vision issues that I never truly addressed except with thicker prisms) and recommended Frannie. Then my world changed – not only with respect to passing my boards – but my actual life – My vision was a disability that I had been living with for years and I didn't even realize it.

The doctor I met for vision therapy (where I felt skeptical at first) showed my what my world was missing. My visual fields were so restricted I was tunneling my vision. I was reading with only intermittent use of my left eye (my brain was shutting it off bc of the doubling). My comprehension on questions was limited and I had to read and reread questions to simply understand them. I started visual therapy and it has been life-changing. And I have you to thank for your perseverance and support. I have God to thank for aligning our paths. And I have Frannie to thank for the nudges phone calls and emails of encouragement.

Thank you, Ashish – for changing my world – you are meant to continue PBR for those smart physicians who are being belittled by an organization that is meant to support us. Thank you for the Atlanta class – I met the most amazing study partner and we both passed – Just thank you! I would love to have the opportunity to help you with PBR if you are looking for physicians… We can only be stronger together.”

Kate Johnson-Clark Board Certified Pediatrician (2018)
All Access Pass Member
Personalized Schedule User
Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Attendee
4 Prior failed attempts

Dr. O

“Ashish I passed!! I passed. After so many many attempts.

I am thankful for your team. For the personalised schedules… and how will I forget the Atlanta test-taking strategy course?.

Aside from the fact that a lot of your strategies were eye opening and super helpful, it hit me that I was not alone. Through the years of depression, of doling out money for the exams and the near-passes (few pts below 180), I found some strength to believe that I wasn't dumb and that I could pass!. And I drew strength from the fellow attendees that day, and from you Ashish. You believed we could pass!!

I could go on and on. You have NO idea how the yrs have been for me. I only know it was my faith in God that kept me going, determined to get to this. My husband has been such a solid, solid rock beside me through this. He's right there , sometimes just listening on those nights when I'll cry and wonder; where did I go wrong?, what am I doing wrong every year? Am I soooo poor at test taking?…..

Let me just stop by saying THANK YOU Ashish for what you do.

Please keep doing it. People may say; well he makes money for it. But no dear, that sacrifice of your time, the passion you bring with each teaching session and webinar, the constant unwavering faith in those you mentor……. NO you don't put a price tag on that!

For that I am grateful. You make an impact in people's lives.

Please do say thanks to your entire team as well.

I thank God for bringing PBR my way.”

Dr. O. E. Board Certified Pediatrician Live Test-Taking Strategies & Deep Study Course Member 6 Prior Failed Attempts

Why PBR is the Top Choice for Pediatric Board Review

Everything I’ve mentioned above is just a small overview of why PBR is again the most popular pediatric board review course in 2025. I’m so excited for all the new members currently studying with us, and can’t wait to see how many new board-certified pediatricians we have on “Results Day.” If you're not a member yet, what are you waiting for?

Click Here & Sign Up for the Most Efficient & Concise Pediatric Board Review. 100% Money Back First-Time Pass Guarantee