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The ABPS Is One of the Leading Certifying Bodies in Family Medicine Through its Board of Certification in Family Medicine

Family PracticeThe American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) is one of the nation’s largest multi-specialty physician certification organizations in North America, and we are pleased to provide qualified physicians with the opportunity to earn board certification in family practice. We have Diplomates in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada, and our board certified family medicine physicians are recognized for their mastery of this invaluable medical specialty.

Above all else, the ABPS wants to help physicians deliver the best possible treatment to their patients. We view board certification as an essential designation that indicates to the public that our Diplomates have demonstrated their mastery of family medicine and have the knowledge and experience needed to deliver unmatched care.

Eligibility Requirements for Family Medicine Certification With the ABPS

The ABPS offers certification in family medicine through its Member Board, the Board of Certification in Family Medicine (BCFM). To be eligible for board certification in family medicine through the ABPS, each applicant must be a graduate of a recognized college of medicine, hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine, submit three letters of recommendation from board-certified physicians, and provide a documented report of several family medicine cases in which he or she has had a lead management role. Furthermore, the applicant must have completed either an accredited residency in family practice or an AOA-approved internship and general practice residency. You can find detailed information about the eligibility requirements of the BCFM here.

To earn BCFM certification, candidates must pass a computer-based written exam that consists of 200 multiple-choice questions administered over a four-hour session.

You can find information about dates and fees for the application and the written exam here.

Once granted, all ABPS certificates are good for eight years, expiring on December 31st of the eighth year.

Benefits of ABPS Board Certification for Physicians

While the requirements for board certification are stringent, the benefits are clear. Increasingly, healthcare organizations are prioritizing hiring board certified physicians, while patients consider board certifications when searching for a new physician, making board certification all the more vital. ABPS Diplomates also have access to numerous leadership opportunities and are given the tools needed to continue to advance in their field. In this way, board certification is consistently evolving to better serve the physician, his or her patients, and the employing organization.

Benefits of ABPS Board Certification for Patients

Simply put, board certification reassures patients. For many, seeing a doctor can be stressful, but certification from a nationally recognized entity like the ABPS signifies that their physician is exceptionally qualified to provide safe and effective medical care. Certification gives patients confidence in their doctors and the treatment they receive. Because a patient’s health and well-being are a good physician’s top priority, the assurance that certification gives patients cannot be overstated.

Benefits of ABPS Board Certification for Employers

Healthcare organizations recognize that ABPS board certification demands a substantial dedication of time and effort, and only the most skilled and dedicated physicians earn the distinction. Healthcare organizations value hiring certified doctors on staff because they have proven through the certification process that they are experts in their field. Employing ABPS-certified physicians enhances the prestige of healthcare organizations, enabling them to legitimately promote themselves as premier medical facilities.

Get More Information About BCFM Certification

If you are a physician who has extensive experience in family medicine and are interested in pursuing board certification in family medicine through the BCFM, contact the ABPS today. We’ll be happy to explain our eligibility requirements and walk you through the benefits of being board certified by one of the largest multi-specialty physician certifying bodies in North America.

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Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
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