The Road After Failing Boards: Reflections of a Retester
Taking a certification exam is daunting but retaking it after previous failed attempts is another emotional battle. We work so hard preparing for the application cycle for graduate school, for our program itself and then for our board exam. Two years of coursework and rotations are all summed up into one defining moment: the ABGC CGC Certification Exam. It feels like we put our worth as a genetic counselor into being successful at one test, despite the hard work it took to get into that exam room.
When the word “Fail” comes across the screen, you can’t help but feel a pit in your stomach and the world crashing around you. It’s a feeling I would not wish upon anybody. It’s more than just a score. That score can impact your confidence as a genetic counselor, your livelihood and everything you worked so hard for wrapped into one. That score can change your life, whether it’s good or bad.
It can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As someone who took the board exam more times than I originally thought I would, I am so glad I decided not to give up after my failed attempts. Those initial moments after you press “submit” aren’t easy and neither are the weeks after. You begin to question yourself and all the hard work you put into being a genetic counselor. You think to yourself, “Do I want to go through all this again?”
Studying for the boards is a different level of grit and motivation. It can be stressful and overwhelming. For some of us, we study for boards while starting our very first jobs. Each day is filled with genetics, from morning to night. It can be tolling, physically and emotionally. It’s a task unique in itself. When retaking the exam, you really have to sit there and be honest with yourself. It’s a process of not only relearning the material but seeing what works best for you in new ways.
Retaking the board exam taught me so much about myself. It also introduced me to wonderful support and resources. It taught me perseverance, tenacity and resilience. We work so hard to get into the position to even take boards, why let it deter our dream of being a certified genetic counselor? With that being said, it can be hard to see the light, but I am here to promise you it is there.
There’s no better feeling in this world than seeing the words “Pass” after failing the board exam. I remember feeling hopeless and lost but soon realized I truly could not see a future where I wasn’t a genetic counselor. Personally, I think working so hard to pass made me a better genetic counselor. It showed me that I am capable of things — even the hard things that I didn’t think I could surpass. It showed me things about myself that I will gladly bring into practice to best support my patients. I hope this shows others in our community that we are more than our test scores and to not feel alone. It’s okay to be open about our struggles and how we got to where we are now. Being open about our failures as much as we are open about our celebrations can make the world a difference for at least one person. One thing I hope this article does is show individuals who didn’t pass the first time that you are not alone. Your score does not define your capabilities as a genetic counselor. I believe in you.