Family Medicine Obstetrics Eligibility

Updated January 2023

To begin the initial process of board certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics through the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics® (BCFMO®), the applicant must:

ABPS General Requirements:

1. Be in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS); be known in his/her community as an ethical member of the profession, and be active in Family Medicine Obstetrics.
2. Be a graduate of a recognized U.S., Canadian, or international allopathic or osteopathic college of medicine. International graduates must also hold a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certificate.
3. Hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, U.S. territories, or in Canada.

Application Requirements:

1. All U.S. physicians must perform a self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and submit the report. Get your self-query report at www.npdb-hipdb.hrsa.gov. All Canadian physicians must request a Testament Statement from each province in which a license is held verifying that there have been no disciplinary actions against the applicant.
2. Submit a current curriculum vitae, which includes medical school, degrees earned, and work experience, in chronological order.

Family Medicine Obstetrics Requirements:

1. Have completed residency training in a program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), College of Family Practice of Canada (CFPC), or the Royal College of Physicians and surgeons (RCPSC) and deemed acceptable to the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics. Such training must include identifiable training and experience in Family Medicine Obstetrics as determined by the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics and approved by the ABPS. The ABPS also accepts all residencies approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), including approved residencies outside Canada.
   • • Residents in their final year of training may be eligible to apply for the May examination window, must provide a letter attesting to your satisfactory progress from the program director.
2. Have completed certification in the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) and Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP) programs or equivalent.
3. Be board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), ABPS, or AOA or be eligible to be certified by the CFPC. Other Board Certifications may be considered on an individual basis.
4. Submit a case log along with a letter summarizing the information on the log. The letter must indicate the number of deliveries the physician performed as “primary” by year and must be signed by one of the following: Medical Records, Medical Office Staff, Medical Director, Department Chair, or Program Director.
   1. Demonstrate evidence of ongoing obstetrical practice by having completed 60 vaginal deliveries, 15 of which must have been in the last 2 years (including those performed in residency and/or fellowship training).
5. Submit the contact information of an active Diplomate of an ABPS, ABMS, or AOA-recognized board of certification who has observed and can attest to the applicant’s competency to provide obstetrical care (ABPS Certification staff will forward the appropriate form to the attesting physician for completion).
6. Applicants in the process of meeting the above requirements may submit their application for the Family Medicine Obstetrics Certification.

Requirements for Family Medicine Obstetrics with Surgical Qualification:

1. Meet all requirements listed above.
2. Meet requirements for one of the following training/experience tracks:
   1. Fellowship Track
      1. Applicants must complete a 12-month, full-time fellowship, or extended residency program with substantial and identifiable obstetrics training, that is recognized by the BCFMO. For a list of fellowships that are recognized by the BCFMO, click here.
         1. Applicants should have completed their fellowship training within the last five years.
         2. Applicants who are currently in good standing in a 12-month, full time fellowship that is recognized by the BCFMO may apply to sit for the written examination prior to completion of the fellowship.
         3. All applicants must submit an original signed letter of verification by the fellowship director attesting the applicant’s satisfactory completion of the program, or satisfactory progress in the program if not yet completed.
      2. Applicants who have completed a fellowship program, or extended residency program with substantial and identifiable obstetrics training, that has NOT been recognized by the BCFMO may ask their program to submit materials for consideration.
   2. Clinical Practice Track 
      1. Applicants must have at least five years of ongoing clinical practice delivering obstetrical care.
3. Verify experience:
   1. Submit a case log along with a letter summarizing the information on the log. The letter must indicate the number of deliveries the physician performed as “primary” by year and must be signed by one of the following: Medical Records, Medical Office Staff, Medical Director, Department Chair, or Program Director.
      1. Demonstrate a minimum of 70 cesarean deliveries as primary surgeon, at least 10 of which must have been in the past 2 years (in addition to the vaginal deliveries as required for Family Medicine Obstetrics Requirements above).
      2. Submit the contact information of two active Diplomates of an ABPS, ABMS, or AOA-recognized board of certification who have observed and can attest to the applicant’s competency to provide surgical obstetrical care (ABPS Certification staff will forward the appropriate form to the attesting physician for completion).
4. Applicants in the process of meeting the above requirements may submit their application for the Family Medicine Obstetrics with Surgical Qualification Certification.
5. Successfully pass the written examination and any remaining requirements, after which time the applicant will be invited to sit for the oral examination.

Successful completion of the written examination and any remaining requirements satisfies all the requirements for initial board certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics. Additional successful completion of the oral examination satisfies all the requirements for initial board certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics with Surgical Qualification.