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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.

 

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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.

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Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
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Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
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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.

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Internal Medicine
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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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