Home: Boards of Certification: Family Practice: Eligibility

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Please click here for application and eligibility changes, effective January 1, 2007.

To be eligible for certification in Family Practice through the Board of Certification in Family Practice (BCFP), the applicant must:

1. Submit a completed Family Practice application with required processing fee, two (2) passport-size photographs taken within the last 90 days, and a notarized signature.



2. Be in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the American Board of Physician Specialties, be known in his/her community as an ethical member of the profession, and be an active specialist in Family Practice.



3. Be a graduate of a recognized college of medicine confirmed by a copy of an allopathic/osteopathic degree or a letter of verification from the institution where the degree was earned. In the case of foreign medical schools, an English transcription of the document is also required. Graduates of foreign medical schools must also include a copy of the ECFMG Certificate.



4. Hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States or its territories and submit copies. License(s) must include date of expiration.



5. Submit current curriculum vitae which includes medical school experiences and degrees earned in chronological order.



6. Be qualified under one of the following:
   1. Have completed an ACGME accredited or AOA approved residency in Family Practice.
   
   
   

   The ABPS now accepts all residencies accepted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). ABPS therefore now accepts all residencies approved by ACGME, AOA, or RCPSC. It should be noted that the ABPS accepts ALL medical residencies approved by the RCPSC, including approved residencies outside Canada.

   2. Osteopathic physicians who have successfully completed an AOA-approved internship, plus an AOA-approved General Practice residency and have a minimum of two (2) years full-time experience in Family Practice and 300 hours of CME acceptable to the BCFP. AAPS CME form must be used, to view click here. (Form is included with the application materials.)
   
   
   
7. Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from Diplomates of an ABPS, ABMS, or AOA-recognized board of certification. Letters of recommendation must be current and on letterhead stationery. Letters submitted on plain paper, without an address or telephone number of the signatory, are not acceptable. The BCFP requires original letters; copies are not acceptable.



8. Submit a documented report of a minimum of ten (10) Family Practice cases for which the physician had the lead management role. Click Here to download Sample Case reports.



9. Payment of appropriate fees. To view the fee schedule, click here.

To have an application considered by the BCFP Credentials Committee, all application documents must be compiled in a notebook. The BCFP recommends that the applicant keep a copy of all application documents submitted to the AAPS.

Case Report Requirements

The applicant must submit four (4) separately compiled copies of ten (10) case reports in the following format:

1. Case reports must be typewritten. Photocopies of typewritten case reports are acceptable.



2. Case reports must be double-spaced on standard 8.5" x 11" white paper.



3. Case reports must be compiled in a hard, report style binder, or a three-ringed notebook.



4. The applicant must sign each case report.



5. An index shall be placed at the front of the reports indicating the type of case (diagnosis) and the page number on which the case can be found. To view sample index and verification form, click here.



6. Confirmation of the validity of the reports by hospital administrator, medical records director, or whoever performs such duties at the facility. This must be on official letterhead verifying that you were the physician treating the patient in each case on the date stated. If the applicant's cases reflect work at more than one institution, then separate letters must be submitted verifying the cases from each institution. This validation must be notarized and signed. (Refer to sample index/verification form.)



7. Case reports shall contain the following information:
   



1. For patient #, list the same number as the case number (Refer to sample index and verification form.)



2. Date of admission and date of discharge



3. Admitting diagnosis



4. Final diagnosis



5. Complaint



6. History



7. Physical and laboratory findings



8. Summarization of the important facts regarding the case acts as the most essential part of the case report and must describe the case in such a manner as to convey to the BCFP Credentials Committee the vital facts regarding the diagnosis, care, end results obtained, etc.

Case reports must be carefully prepared as they are subjected to detailed scrutiny. Reports should be accurate, well written, diversified, and properly descriptive. The BCFP Credentials Committee reserves the right to seek additional details for any case it deems necessary. If they are not submitted in the format above they will be returned resulting in an incomplete file.