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    NIS, RISC, and Physics study guides — free for radiology residents preparing for the ABR Core Exam.

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    Free ABR Core Exam
    Resources & Study Guides

    Focused NIS, RISC, and Physics review materials for the ABR Remote Qualifying (Core) Exam — for Diagnostic Radiology and IR/DR residents.

    NIS Study Guide RISC Study Guide Physics Review Practice Questions

    Free Core Exam Study Materials

    NIS, RISC, and Physics resources for the ABR Remote Qualifying (Core) Exam — organized by subject.

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    NIS Study Guide

    Non-Interpretive Skills

    Focused review of radiation safety, quality improvement, radiology informatics, evidence-based imaging, practice management, and professionalism.

    Radiation SafetyQI/QAInformatics
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    RISC Study Guide

    Radiological Interpretive Skills Content

    Organ-system and modality-based review covering chest, abdomen, neuro, MSK, breast, pediatrics, nuclear medicine, and interventional radiology.

    All Organ SystemsMulti-ModalityCore-Focused
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    Radiology Physics Review

    Physics & Technology

    Physics topics including X-ray production, CT, MRI principles, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, radiation dosimetry, and image quality.

    X-Ray & CTMRI PhysicsDosimetry
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    Core Exam Practice Questions

    Free Sample Questions

    Board-style practice questions across NIS, RISC, and Physics with detailed explanations — built for the ABR Core Exam.

    NIS QuestionsRISC QuestionsPhysics Qs

    About the ABR Remote Qualifying (Core) Exam

    The ABR Qualifying (Core) Exam is a computer-based examination administered remotely by the American Board of Radiology (ABR). It is required for board certification in Diagnostic Radiology (DR) and Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR). Registration is completed through myABR at the ABR website.

    NIS
    Non-Interpretive Skills

    Radiation safety, quality & safety, radiology informatics, evidence-based imaging, practice management, and professionalism.

    RISC
    Radiological Interpretive Skills Content

    Clinical radiology across all organ systems and imaging modalities.

    Physics
    Radiology Physics & Technology

    X-ray production, CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, dosimetry, radiation protection, and image quality.

    Key Exam Facts (Source: ABR)

    Remote Exam

    Taken from a private, quiet location of your choosing. No in-person testing center required.

    Live Proctored

    ABR staff view your exam live and review recordings via webcam. A side-view webcam is required.

    Computer Requirements

    Desktop or laptop (no tablets) with Windows 10 or macOS 10.11+, Google Chrome or Edge, 4GB RAM, 1080p monitor.

    Additional ABR-Verified Exam Details

    • Scoring is criterion-referenced — a passing standard is set in advance. The exam is not graded on a curve and there is no set percentage of failures.
    • Results are posted in myABR within approximately one month of the exam.
    • The exam consists of two sessions, separated by a required 60-minute intermission.
    • A calculator is provided within the exam software. No scratch paper, pens, or pencils are permitted.
    • A whiteboard (no more than 18 inches on one side) and dry erase markers are permitted.
    • Acceptable photo ID: valid U.S. driver's license, U.S. state-issued ID, or passport/passport card. Military ID is not accepted.
    • No talking or communication is permitted once the exam begins.

    Source: ABR Remote Qualifying (Core) Exam Guide · theabr.org

    Key Topics by Domain

    A broad overview of the knowledge areas within each ABR Core Exam domain.

    NIS (Non-Interpretive Skills) — Key Topics

    • Radiation safety: ALARA principle, occupational dose limits, protective measures, and guidelines for special populations
    • Quality & Safety: quality improvement frameworks, incident reporting, safety event analysis
    • Radiology Informatics: PACS, DICOM, HL7, EHR integration, data security, and image management
    • Evidence-Based Radiology: ACR Appropriateness Criteria, research study design, biostatistics, and interpreting literature
    • Practice Management: billing fundamentals, coding, RVUs, and reimbursement basics
    • Professionalism: ethics, patient communication, peer review, and physician well-being

    RISC (Radiological Interpretive Skills Content) — Key Topics

    • Chest Radiology: pulmonary nodules, interstitial lung disease, pleural disease, cardiac and mediastinal pathology
    • Abdominal & Pelvic Radiology: solid organ pathology, bowel pathology, GYN imaging, retroperitoneum
    • Neuroradiology: stroke imaging, intracranial tumors, spine pathology, head and neck, orbits
    • Musculoskeletal Radiology: fracture patterns, arthropathies, bone tumors, and sports injuries
    • Breast Imaging: BI-RADS lexicon, mammography, breast MRI, and ultrasound findings
    • Nuclear Medicine: FDG-PET/CT, bone scintigraphy, thyroid and renal imaging
    • Pediatric Radiology: developmental imaging, congenital anomalies, pediatric pathology
    • Interventional Radiology: embolization, drainage, biopsy, and vascular procedures

    Radiology Physics — Key Topics

    • X-Ray Physics: bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation, kVp and mAs effects, scatter reduction
    • CT Physics: reconstruction algorithms, Hounsfield units, pitch, dose indices (CTDI, DLP), artifacts
    • MRI Physics: T1/T2 relaxation, k-space, pulse sequences, field strength effects, SAR, MRI safety
    • Ultrasound Physics: frequency and resolution, Doppler principles, acoustic artifacts
    • Nuclear Medicine Physics: radioactive decay, gamma camera principles, PET physics, dosimetry
    • Radiation Biology: radiosensitivity, stochastic and deterministic effects, radiation protection
    • Fluoroscopy: dose metrics, C-arm geometry, scatter patterns, occupational exposure

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers sourced from official ABR documentation at theabr.org

    Built for Radiology Residents

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    RadCore is a question bank built specifically for ABR Core Exam preparation — with dedicated NIS, RISC, and Physics question sets, detailed explanations, and performance analytics to track your progress.

    NIS Questions·RISC Questions·Physics Questions·ABR Core Exam Prep