The average pass rate for candidates taking the board exam for pulmonary disease has seen a slight decline over the last five years. For candidates seeking initial certification, the pass rate dropped from 95% in 2010 to 84% in 2014. The same can be said for candidates seeking recertification; the pass rate dropped from 90% in 2010 to 79% in 2014. This coincides with a similar drop in pass rates for candidates across all internal medicine disciplines.