ABP Exam Content Outline/Blueprint

You can’t predict which specific questions will appear on the General Pediatrics Certifying Examination, but the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) provides a content outline, or blueprint, of information you can expect to be covered on the exam.

AMBOSS Knowledge+ Pediatrics Board Review content is designed to reflect the ABP exam blueprint. Because our system adapts to you, our Knowledge+ will help you focus on the blueprint areas where you need the most review, providing efficient, effective preparation for the ABP exam.

The Knowledge+ Pediatric Board Review content areas are as follows:

The items in the Knowledge+ Pediatrics question bank reflect pediatrics practice across the following key dimensions:

  • Prevention, screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment
  • Ambulatory clinic and hospital-based care
  • Chronic, subacute, acute, and emergency cases
  • Various patient characteristics, including age and gender
  • ACGME core competencies

Knowledge+ represents a comprehensive survey of pediatric medicine. And like the board exam, Knowledge+ focuses on the clinical scenarios most relevant to general pediatrics, allowing you to approach the exam with confidence.

ABP Certification/Recertification Examination Blueprint

The ABP blueprint lists the categories of pediatric medicine that will appear on all three ABP general pediatrics exams (initial certification, MOC, and in-training) and shows you approximately how much of the exam content is devoted to each topic. The current blueprint is effective as of October 15, 2024, and determines exam content until further notice.

Need a study plan? See our Study Plans for creating your personalized roadmap for passing the ABP Board Exam.

ABP Blueprint (effective from August 31, 2017) for GP examinations*

Deadline Description Date
Registration Begins (Online Application Available) October 17, 2025
First Deadline to Submit Online Application (No Late Fee Assessed) January 20, 2026
Priority Seating Ends (For Best Seating Options, Select a Testing Center by This Date) February 9, 2026
Final Deadline to Submit Online Application (Requires a $100 Non-Refundable Late Fee) February 26, 2026
Deadline to Submit Special Testing Accommodations Documentation February 26, 2026
Last Day to Complete All Certification Activity Requirements for Examination February 26, 2026
Deadline to Clear Pending Requirements March 9, 2026
Deadline to Make Official Name Change with ABFM for Examination March 9, 2026
Deadline to Select Testing Date/Location March 16, 2026
All Family Medicine Residency Training Must be Completed June 30, 2026
Deadline to Withdraw from Examination without Cancellation Fee 30 days prior to scheduled exam
Deadline to Withdraw from Examination without Seat Fee 5 days prior to scheduled exam
Deadline to Change Testing Date/Location 48 hours prior to scheduled exam
Spring Examination Dates April 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, 2026
Examination Results (Tentative) June 12, 2026

*Please note that the weights reflect the content of a typical exam and are approximate; actual content may vary.

Universal Task Categories

The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) General Pediatrics exam includes four Universal Task categories, ensuring the clinical relevance of its questions and the comprehensive assessment of pediatric knowledge.

1. Physiology & Pathophysiology

Understand both normal and abnormal pediatric functions, covering key aspects of physiology and pathophysiology in an age-specific developmental context.

2. Epidemiology & Risk Assessment

Identify health and disease patterns in children, and assess the risk factors impacting those patterns.

3. Diagnosis

Use patient history, physical examination findings, and diagnostic tests to develop differential diagnoses and determine the best course for diagnosis.

4. Management & Treatment

Create effective management plans, considering best practices, long-term follow-up, and adherence to clinical guidelines.

Note: Not all exam questions fall into these Universal Task categories, as some topics lie outside this classification.

For more information, visit the ABP website.