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What Is BCFM?

What Is BCFM? The Board of Certification in Family Medicine (BCFM) offers qualified and experienced allopathic and osteopathic physicians a chance to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in family medicine through board certification. The BCFM is a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), one of three nationally distinguished physician board certifying bodies.

To be eligible for certification with the BCFM, a physician must satisfy the prerequisites common to all ABPS Member Boards. These include an unrestricted and current medical license for every state in which the physician is licensed, adherence to the ABPS Code of Ethics, and a prescribed amount of experience in the physician’s chosen specialty.

The BCFM has its own eligibility requirements, which include successful completion of a family medicine residency approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Applicants who have completed a family medicine residency accepted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada are also eligible to apply. All applicants must also submit at least 10 documented reports for family medicine cases in which they assumed the lead role during the 12 months prior to applying with the BCFM.

To earn BCFM certification, candidates must pass a clinically-based, written exam that covers 33 family medicine subject areas. Diplomates of the BCFM develop and validate the exam questions under the direction of psychometric consultants and the ABPS. The areas most represented on the exam are cardiovascular diseases, dermatology, geriatrics, pediatrics, and signs and symptoms of diseases.

Why Family Medicine Physicians Value Board Certification

Family medicine physicians pursue board certification in their specialty because it comes with significant benefits, despite the demanding requirements. As healthcare organizations increasingly prioritize hiring board-certified physicians and patients often look for board-certified doctors when choosing a new provider, BCFM certification becomes increasingly important. ABPS Diplomates benefit from ample leadership opportunities and obtain essential resources for ongoing professional growth. This evolving certification not only supports the physician’s career but also improves the quality of patient care and benefits the healthcare organization.

Why BCFM Certification Matters

Achieving BCFM certification, while highly competitive, provides family physicians with a credible affirmation of their expertise and ability to deliver outstanding emergency care across various settings.

Moreover, BCFM certification emphasizes ethical medical practice, with all Diplomates committed to the ABPS Medical Code of Ethics. Ultimately, BCFM certification recognizes family physicians as exceptionally qualified in emergency medicine, boosts their leadership profile in the medical community, and opens up broader career advancement opportunities.

To learn more about the certification in family medicine through the BCFM, contact the ABPS. We would be happy to give you more information about the BCFM’s eligibility requirements as well as helpful details on how to prepare for the certification exam.

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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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