American Board of Family Medicine

The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) is a non-profit, independent medical association of American physicians who practice in family medicine and its sub-specialties. Founded in February 1969 as the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP), the group was the 20th medical specialty to be recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and was formed out of a need to encourage medical school graduates to enter general practice. It adopted its current name in 2005.

The American Board of Family Medicine is the second-largest medical specialty board in the United States. Its purposes include:

The mission of the ABFM is to promote excellence in medical care through educational and scientific initiatives. Through certification and maintenance of certification programs the ABFM pursues its mission by establishing, maintaining, and measuring high standards of excellence in the specialty of Family Medicine. The ABFM seeks to provide assurance to the public that certified family physicians possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to provide quality care to the individual, family and community through commitment to professional standing, continued competency in the specialty of Family Medicine, and lifelong learning.

Candidates seeking certification or recertification must meet the eligibility criteria specified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Candidates must complete all requirements, culminating in the successful completion of the cognitive examination.

Certification candidates must have satisfactorily completed three years of training in a Family Medicine residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) subsequent to receipt of the M.D. or D.O. degree from an accredited institution. Additional policies apply to candidates who have completed their medical or residency training outside the United States.

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