ABPS Family Medicine Certification
We all know that obtaining Board Certification is an important step in the transition from medical school to medical practice. For qualified family medicine physicians, certification with the Board of Certification in Family Medicine (BCFM) – a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) – represents a high level of excellence in the specialty. Physicians certified through the BCFM have demonstrated that they are uniquely qualified to deliver exceptional primary care as family medicine specialists.
The BCFM offers a clinically-based exam that gives physicians the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the specialty’s core competencies. The exam is designed as a practical evaluation of memory, knowledge, and skills acquired during medical training as well as the ability to process medical information provided in our case studies and questions while applying concepts, comprehension, and reasoning to patient care. Through focused questions covering subjects such as pediatrics, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and geriatrics, among many others, BCFM subject matter experts (SMEs) like Maria Fawcett, MD, and Carola Fleener, MD, (left to right, in the photo above) of Texas and Florida respectively, help make this exam relevant to the reality of current medical care.
“We know these exams assess the newly-graduated medical resident,” Dr. Fleener says, “but we really want to make sure that we can also evaluate competence and maintenance of knowledge and skills in the experienced physicians who are recertifying.”
Drs. Fawcett and Fleener and other Diplomates of the BCFM develop and validate the family medicine exam questions under the direction of psychometric consultants and the ABPS. Each question undergoes multiple revisions, and only questions pertinent to the way that medicine is practiced today are included. The end result is a fair, practical and relevant exam.
If you are a family medicine physician seeking board certification, consider the BCFM. In addition to the eligibility requirements for certification shared by all Member Boards of the ABPS, the BCFM has its own requirements. These include a minimum of 10 documented reports for family medicine cases in which the physician had the lead management role during the 12-month period prior to applying for certification. Applicants must also have completed an ACGME- or AOA-approved residency in family medicine. Additionally, current Diplomates of ABMS and AOA are eligible to recertify with ABPS in family medicine.
“Our eligibility requirements assure that only very qualified physicians earn family medicine board certification,” Dr. Fleener says. “Our Diplomates are widely respected.”
Drs. Fawcett and Fleener truly enjoy the professional interaction during exam development workshops and look forward to participating in ABPS functions and welcoming new members to our dynamic organization. They find sharing knowledge and experiences in medicine very exciting!
For more information about the BCFM’s eligibility requirements, or to learn more about the clinically-based certification exam, contact the ABPS today. The ABPS is the official multi-specialty board certification body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.®