ABPMR Part II oral exam 2027: dates, fees, application and format

By The MockOral.ai team. Updated October 2026. Last reviewed October 22, 2026.

Everything a 2027 PM&R Part II candidate needs on one page: the exam dates, the application windows and fees, how the virtual exam runs, what equipment you need, and when results arrive. Every number is from the ABPMR’s own pages.

The short version

Who takes Part II

Part II is the second and final examination for ABPMR initial certification. The ABPMR explains that the Part II application window opens around the time Part I results are released (September to October), and candidates who pass Part I can then apply for the oral exam given in the spring. Before certification is issued you must also report a current, valid, unrestricted medical license.

Dates and the application windows

The ABPMR calendar lists the 2027 Part II Examination for May 4 to 8, 2027, virtual.

The calendar lists Nov. 25, 2026 as the admissibility date. The ABPMR prep tips describe the sequence after you apply: an admissibility email, then a schedule notice email with the date and time of your exam, then the virtual exam.

If you are reading this before Oct. 31, 2026: applying on time saves $500.

How the exam is structured

From the ABPMR Part II page:

• Two 50-minute sessions with a 10-minute break between them, 100 minutes of active testing.
• Two examiners per session, who take turns leading you through vignettes. Both examiners score all four vignettes in their session, independently.
• Four patient vignettes per session, eight in total, with four different examiners overall.
• Five domains per vignette, A to E, each scored independently: data acquisition, problem solving, patient management, systems-based practice, and interpersonal and communication skills. See the five domains explained.
• The examiners keep time and move you along; the ABPMR tells candidates not to worry about the clock.
• Sessions are scheduled about three hours apart across the administration; from check-in to the end, plan on 2.5 to 3 hours.
• All sessions are recorded. Examiners do not give feedback during or after the exam.

Setting up for a virtual exam

The ABPMR lists what you need:

• A laptop or desktop computer (tablets and smartphones are not allowed)
• A webcam, internal or external
• Headphones or earbuds with a built-in microphone
• A fast, reliable internet connection
• A quiet, distraction-free room with a door

On exam day, sign in 30 minutes early as instructed; the ABPMR says candidates not available at the start of check-in will not be permitted to test. A proctor will ask you to scan the room with your webcam. The only items allowed on the desk are the computer, keyboard, mouse, two sheets of blank scratch paper (one per session) and something to write with. You may take notes during the exam; you may not use notes prepared in advance, including during the break. If your connection drops, the ABPMR's advice is to reconnect and continue.

The ABPMR sends instructions for a full system and software check before the exam. Do it early.

Results

The ABPMR says results are typically released six to eight weeks after the administration, by email notice that your result and score report are viewable in your abpmr.org account. It asks candidates not to contact the office about results until eight weeks after the exam.

How many people pass

From ABPMR figures:

The 2026 figure is for first-time candidates only; the 2025 and 2024 figures include all candidates, so the years are not directly comparable.

What to do now

1. Apply in the on-time window if you can.
2. Read the five domains and take one case through all of them out loud.
3. Try the spinal cord injury sample vignette.
4. Line up practice: the ABPMR itself recommends practising cases with a mentor or study partner. If that is hard to arrange, see practising Part II without a partner.