Assess Fellows. Strengthen Your Training Program.
The ACC-ITE is an annual exam that helps cardiovascular training programs assess fellow knowledge, identify gaps, benchmark program performance, and meet the medical knowledge competency of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). It provides clear, actionable insights to support training decisions while helping fellows track progress and prepare for board certification exams.
Exam Dates
| Day of the Week | Date |
| Wednesday | Oct. 14, 2026 |
| Thursday | Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Friday | Oct. 16, 2026 |
| Monday | Oct. 19, 2026 |
| Tuesday | Oct. 20, 2026 |
| Wednesday | Oct. 21, 2026 |
| Thursday | Oct. 22, 2026 |
Registration Deadline:
11:59 PM ET, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026
(Late Registration Fee Applies)
Key Benefits
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National Benchmarking Compare fellow performance against peer institutions nationwide to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.
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Actionable Performance Insights Leverage detailed reporting and performance data to inform curriculum planning, training assessment, and program improvement.
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Fellow Development Support Provide fellows with a structured assessment experience aligned with cardiovascular board exams, with detailed reporting to identify knowledge gaps.
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Simplified Competency Assessment Assess the ACGME medical knowledge competency with a standardized exam, eliminating the need to develop and administer a separate evaluation tool.
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Streamlined Experience Manage registration, exam administration, and reporting with intuitive online tools.
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Trusted ACC Experience Administer a nationally recognized assessment developed by the American College of Cardiology.
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Exam Registration $490 / Examinee
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Late Registration Fee $250 / Examinee
ACC-ITE Process Overview
- Before You Begin
Ensure your ACC.org account is active and connected to your verified Training Program. - Register Fellows
Use the registration process to enroll fellows, manage participation, and review important registration deadlines. - Prepare and Administer the Exam
Access exam administration resources to prepare for and proctor the exam. - Access Score Reports
Learn about score reports, benchmark performance, and how to support fellow development through results and scoring.
Exam Details
Target Audience
Designed for first-, second-, and third-year cardiovascular fellows, the ACC In-Training Exam provides a valuable assessment at every stage of training.
- Track performance over time through annual participation
- Measure progress across training levels
- Identify opportunities for continued growth and learning
Participation is determined by individual Training Program Directors, and the exam is open to all training programs.
Format
- Six-hour assessment
- 150 multiple-choice question exam designed to assess core cardiovascular knowledge
- Delivered through a secure, web-based platform
- Administered annually
- Delivered in a proctored setting
- Flexible scheduling across available exam dates
Development
- Written by a committee of cardiovascular physician experts, including program directors and Fellows of the ACC
- Committee defines the exam blueprint and develops all questions using established testing standards
- Each of the 150 questions undergoes multiple rounds of review and refinement to ensure quality, accuracy, and fairness
Blueprint
The blueprint for the ACC-ITE is modeled after the blueprint for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification examination in cardiovascular medicine. The topics covered include:
| Medical Content Category | % of Exam |
| Arrhythmias | 15 |
| Congenital Heart Disease | 5 |
| Coronary Artery Disease | 21.5 |
| Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy | 17 |
| Normal Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology | 2 |
| Pericardial Disease | 4 |
| Pulmonary Circulation Disorders | 3 |
| Systemic Disorders Affecting the Circulatory System | 4 |
| Systemic Hypertension and Hypotension | 7.5 |
| Valvular Disease | 15 |
| Vascular Diseases | 6 |
Preparation
- The ACC-ITE is intended to assess progress during fellowship, not to achieve a specific score.
- Studying is not recommended, as it may distort results and limit the ability to identify true knowledge gaps.
Accommodations
- Testing accommodations for increased time are available for eligible participants.
- Requests must be made during exam registration.
- Requests submitted after registration closes cannot be accommodated.
Policies
Exam Use Policy
- ACC-ITE is intended for self-assessment, knowledge-gap identification, and program evaluation.
- Results should be used to support learning, curriculum development, and program improvement.
- Exam results should not be used as the sole measure of whether a fellow has satisfactorily completed a year of training.
Refund Policy
- Refunds are not administered after registration.
- Programs may remove registered fellows until the registration deadline.
- If a registered fellow is not removed before the registration deadline and does not take the exam, the program remains responsible for the registration fee.
- Programs experiencing extenuating circumstances should contact the ACC-ITE team for assistance.
Need Help?
If you are a new Program Coordinator or need support, contact the ACC-ITE support team for registration or administration assistance.
