ABFM Credential Process 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A family medicine physician who holds ABFM certification and also seeks certification in a focused area such as Hospice and Palliative Medicine would pursue which type of credential?
- A secondary board certification through a separate board
- An ABFM Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) (Correct answer)
- An ABFM Fellowship designation
- A Subspecialty Certificate issued by the ABMS
Correct answer: An ABFM Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ)
ABFM offers Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) in focused areas like Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Geriatric Medicine for diplomates seeking additional credentials.
Question 2: How many times may a candidate retake the ABFM certification examination if they fail on their first attempt?
- Only once with no restrictions
- Up to 6 times total, with required waiting periods between attempts (Correct answer)
- Unlimited times with no waiting period
- Three times before being permanently disqualified
Correct answer: Up to 6 times total, with required waiting periods between attempts
ABFM allows candidates to retake the exam up to 6 times total, with mandatory waiting periods between attempts after multiple failures.
Question 3: Which of the following physicians is NOT eligible to apply for ABFM certification?
- A graduate of a Canadian family medicine residency accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada
- A physician who completed an internal medicine residency but practices as a generalist (Correct answer)
- A physician who completed a 3-year ACGME-accredited family medicine residency
- A physician who completed an AOA-accredited family practice residency
Correct answer: A physician who completed an internal medicine residency but practices as a generalist
ABFM requires completion of a family medicine-specific residency; training in internal medicine or another specialty does not fulfill the family medicine residency requirement.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of the ABFM's 'Cognitive Expertise' assessment component in Continuous Certification?
- To evaluate communication skills with patients
- To verify that diplomates maintain current medical knowledge in family medicine (Correct answer)
- To assess procedural competency in clinical settings
- To measure electronic health record proficiency
Correct answer: To verify that diplomates maintain current medical knowledge in family medicine
The Cognitive Expertise component uses knowledge assessments to ensure diplomates keep their medical knowledge current throughout their careers.
Question 5: An ABFM diplomate whose certification has lapsed due to non-compliance may restore their credential through which pathway?
- A simple reinstatement fee with no further requirements
- Completion of 50 CME credits within 6 months
- Passing the ABFM certification examination again (Correct answer)
- Submission of a letter of good standing from their hospital
Correct answer: Passing the ABFM certification examination again
When ABFM certification lapses due to non-compliance with Continuous Certification requirements, the physician must retake and pass the certification examination to become recertified.
Question 6: The ABFM's Continuous Certification program replaced which older model of maintenance?
- The annual CME attestation model
- The 7-year recertification model with a single high-stakes exam
- The 10-year recertification model (Maintenance of Certification) (Correct answer)
- The portfolio-based assessment model
Correct answer: The 10-year recertification model (Maintenance of Certification)
ABFM's Continuous Certification replaced the traditional 10-year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) cycle with a more frequent, ongoing set of annual requirements.
Question 7: For ABFM certification purposes, what is the minimum length of an accredited family medicine residency that satisfies the training requirement?
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 4 years
- 5 years
Correct answer: 3 years
ABFM requires completion of a 3-year accredited family medicine residency program as the minimum training requirement for certification eligibility.
ABFM Credential Process 3
A family medicine physician who holds ABFM certification and also seeks certification in a focused area such as Hospice and Palliative Medicine would pursue which type of credential?