Family physicians provide health care to patients of all ages and in all stages of life. They provide the only specialty in modern medicine that provides primary care across the lifespan.
Family physicians need to have a comprehensive knowledge base to diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of conditions. To keep their knowledge up-to-date, they undergo a rigorous training program that requires three years of medical residency. After completion, they must pass a certification exam by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM).
Family medicine is a primary care specialty offering ongoing and all-encompassing healthcare to people and their families across all ages, genders, diseases, and body regions. The term “family physician” refers to the specialist, typically a primary care physician. Try our NCLEX practice test.
Internal medicine only treats adults, whereas family medicine often treats adults, children, and other family members.
A family practice provides care for adults and children by combining internist and pediatrician services. A primary care practice generally treats adults and has an internal medicine focus.
The care provided to adults appears to be similar to that provided by internists because family physicians do not involve obstetrics, neonatology, or major surgery as part of their practices.
A medical speciality or practice known as “family practice” offers ongoing general medical treatment to both individuals and families.
Some general practitioners don’t perform routine gynecological procedures like pelvic and breast exams. Everything relies on the physician. If they believe it is necessary, primary care physicians who do offer gynecological treatment may nevertheless refer patients to gynecologists for more specialized care.
A physician with a specialty in family practice has received training in treating patients of all family members.
As of January 26, 2026, the average Physician – Family Practice pay in the United States is $220,359, with the normal range being between $194,093 and $252,886.
It will take 11 to 14 years to become a doctor in the United States.
Legally speaking, you can. In the eyes of the law, a doctor is a doctor; formal education and certification are relevant for malpractice insurance, reimbursement, and hospital credentialing. In general, the law only really recognizes medical licensing.
Some internists and family medicine experts can practice general gynecology. They perform STD testing and pap smears. They also perform breast exams.
While family practitioners often offer more ‘well-patient’ services in the office environment and serve fewer hospitalized patients than internists, internists typically diagnose and treat medical disorders of greater complexity than family practitioners in both the office and hospital settings.
Patients are seen in private practice settings by appointment, and some offer Saturday and evening hours.
Adults can select a family physician or an internal medicine specialist as their primary care provider.
Family doctors, internists, and pediatricians are just a few medical professionals who provide excellent care for individuals with dermatological conditions.
For patients with depression, a family nurse practitioner may recommend psychotherapy and medical care. An FNP may recommend a psychiatric specialist if a patient needs more psychiatric care.
Any other ADHD drugs, including Adderall, may be prescribed by primary care physicians.
Primary care physicians have access to various antidepressants that they can safely give to their patients; follow-up appointments with a general care physician typically last far less time than a session of therapy with a psychiatrist.
Typically, your PCP, an OBGYN, or mail-order birth control providers like Nurx or Favor can write you a prescription for birth control (formerly The Pill Club).
No, family medicine doctors don’t conduct operations. Physicians must complete residency training before performing surgery.
Family practice doctors can diagnose mental health disorders and prescribe medicine.
Family physicians are primary care physicians who also deal with pediatrics.
The majority of family practice physicians may do screenings, including STD tests.
Three years of training are necessary for family medicine residency programs to be certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
The average Private Practice wage is $249,042 per year.
The average pay for FNPs, according to Salary.com, was $114,71 in February 2026, while the range is normally between $106,450 and $124,620.
While family medicine physicians specialize in treating patients of all ages, pediatricians only handle children.
In contrast to family doctors, who frequently choose extra specializations in pediatrics, obstetrics, and geriatrics so they may handle more of your care personally, general practitioners are more likely to refer you to other doctors for specialized care.
Generally speaking, internists see and treat more complex medical issues in both the office and hospital settings, whereas family practitioners focus more on preventative care and wellness visits in the clinic.
Personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle is offered in addition to routine examinations, health risk assessments, immunizations, and treatment of illnesses. They also diagnose and treat illnesses.
The main and specialized treatment of patients of all ages is the focus of a family nurse practitioner (FNP). FNPs generally concentrate on preventative care, long-term health monitoring, and supporting physicians with any potential problems.
Family medicine is a very broad field, so the Specialty Certified Medical Assistant in this field would have a variety of tasks to perform, such as administrative tasks like prescription renewals and referrals, insurance and chart preparation, taking vital signs and initial patient information, figuring out the purpose of the visit, and communicating patient needs and concerns to the doctor.
According to the MGMA survey, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics all had national median RVUs of 4,928; 4,698; and 4,902, respectively.
Doctors who practice family medicine can additionally specialize in fields including public health, emergency and urgent care, and sports medicine.
They see infants, toddlers, parents, and grandparents.
The necessary score to pass is 380.
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Prepare for the Family Practice Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Family medicine physicians are primary care doctors who specialize in the prevention and treatment of common health problems. They are trained in one of the many family medicine residency programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Like other physicians, family doctors must complete four years of medical school and pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before they can practice in the U.S. These are national multi-part examinations that assess the knowledge, clinical skills and communication ability of physicians.
During their training, family doctors may choose to become board certified with the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). Once they have completed their residency and all requirements are met, they can sit for the ABFM certification exam.
The ABFM is a criterion-referenced board, which means that a certain score must be achieved in order to pass the examination. As a result, it is important to take the time to study for the ABFM board exam. Luckily, there are many resources available to help you prepare for the family practice exam. Med-Challenger is a great resource for family medicine board exam prep. It features an adaptive learning program that adapts to your strengths and weaknesses, fits into your schedule, and reflects the ABFM blueprint.