Top ABFM FAQs: What to Know Before Certification

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The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) certification exam is a rigorous assessment that plays a pivotal role in certifying physicians in the field of family medicine. This comprehensive examination evaluates the knowledge, skills, and competence of aspiring family medicine practitioners, ensuring they meet the required standards set by the ABFM. The exam is designed to cover various content areas, from ambulatory care and emergency care to pediatrics and OB/GYN.

While specific details such as passing scores and exam format vary year to year, the ABFM board exam remains a significant milestone for physicians seeking board certification in family medicine. In this post, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about it, including who is eligible to take it, what the format of the exam is, and what counts as a passing score.

Some Commonly Asked Questions About the ABFM Board Exam

Q: Who is eligible to take the ABFM exam?

A: Candidates are able to register and take the exam once they have successfully completed (or are nearing completion of) an ACGME-accredited family medicine residency and are board eligible.

The ABFM board eligibility policy defines “board eligible” as having completed residency training but not yet attained initial certification.

From the ABFM website:

Your board eligibility period begins the day after successful completion of ACGME-accredited residency training, and it expires exactly seven years from that date, unless you achieve initial certification before that time.

In order to obtain and maintain board-eligible status during the seven-year window, you must be engaged in the certification entry or resident entry process and meet the licensure requirements of the ABFM guidelines.

There are no extensions of the seven-year board eligibility period. If your seven-year period of board eligibility has expired, there is one pathway to regain an additional period of seven-year board eligibility and qualify for the Family Medicine Certification Examination. This requires that you complete one year of additional training in an ACGME-accredited family medicine residency alternative training program, or an ABFM-approved alternative training program.

You can begin the process to obtain your certification by logging into your MyABFM Portfolio to verify that you have started the resident certification entry process or certification entry process. If you completed residency training more than three years ago, you will be required to start the certification entry process.

Preparing for the ABFM board exam in 2024? Download the FREE ABFM Quickstart Guide for all the exam info, topics, and more!

Q: What is the format of the ABFM Family Medicine board exam?

A: The ABFM exam has a multiple-choice question format, and there is a single best answer to each question. The exam consists of several sections, each containing a set of questions related to various topics within the field of family medicine, with a pooled break time.

The ABFM website provides an exam blueprint that contains a list of categories from which questions will be drawn, as well as the targeted percentage of questions in each category. These categories include:

Cardiovascular
Endocrine
Hematologic/immune
Integumentary
Musculoskeletal
Nephrologic
Neurologic
Psychogenic
Reproductive — female
Reproductive — male
Respiratory
Special Sensory
Population-Based Care
Patient-Based Systems

Please be sure to check the ABFM website to get the most accurate and up-to-date information about the format and content.

Q: How long is the ABFM exam?

A: The Family Medicine Certification Examination is a one-day exam divided into four sections of 75 multiple-choice questions. You will have 95 minutes to complete each section, with 100 minutes of total break time you can allot to take between sections.

The exam is a computer-based test proctored by Prometric testing centers, which allows you to mark questions for further review and highlight question content as you take the exam.

From the ABFM website:

A listing of completed questions, incomplete questions, and marked items may be accessed at any time during the examination for the currently active section. You must review or change items prior to the time expiration for each section. Once you end an exam section, or the exam has timed out, you cannot return to the questions in that section. The computer-based examination contains a clock showing the time remaining in the top center of the exam screen.

Q: What is the pass rate for the ABFM exam?

A: The pass rate in 2022 for physicians who completed residency in the U.S. was slightly over 90%, while for international graduates, it was around 84%. You can find more data about the ABFM pass rate here.

Q: What is the passing score for the ABFM Family Medicine Board Exam?

A: According to the 2022 score report, the ABFM board exam passing score is 380. In the report, you can see how many people pass, the region and education of those test takers, etc. From the bottom footnote, you can see that the minimum passing standard is 380. This has been the minimum passing score since 2020-2022, though that may change in the future.

The ABFM sets the passing standard by conducting rigorous statistical analyses and expert judgments to determine the minimum level of knowledge and competence required to pass the exam.

Q: When can I take the ABFM exam?

A: The ABFM exam is administered twice a year, typically over several weeks in the fall and spring. The exam may be taken upon completion of a family medicine residency, or within the last few months of a family medicine residency for residents who are in good standing. The exam should be taken within 3 years of completing residency to avoid additional requirements.

Most graduating physicians typically sit for the exam in April/May of their PGY-3 year, prior to graduation. Most fellowships require it but not all, some will allow you to take it during fellowship. Keep in mind that the ABFM exam encompasses the entirety of family medicine, while fellowship training will be narrower in scope. I recommend taking the exam sooner rather than later in order to preserve your knowledge and do well on the exam.

Exact dates and registration details can be found on the ABFM website.

Q: Can I use reference materials during the ABFM board exam?

A: No, reference materials or electronic devices are not permitted during the exam. Candidates are expected to rely solely on their knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

It’s important to note that specific policies and procedures may change over time, so it’s advisable to refer to the official ABFM website or contact the ABFM directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the exam.

Q: What happens if I don’t pass the ABFM Board Exam?

A: If you don’t pass the exam, you will have the opportunity to retake it. The ABFM provides feedback on areas of weakness to help you focus your study efforts for subsequent attempts. Remember, that you will have to pay the hefty registration and exam fees for each retake, as well as deal with the stress of exam prep, so it’s best to pass it the first time around.

Q: How should I prepare for the ABFM Board Exam?

A: As with most of the important exams you’ve taken to get to this point, from your SATs to your MCATs to your USMLE Step exams, there is not a silver bullet cure-all.

Effective preparation for the ABFM board exam typically involves a combination of ABFM review resources, including textbooks, review courses, question banks, and mock exams. Check out this “How to Select the Best Family Medicine Board Review” post for assistance choosing your ABFM review materials.

Additionally, many candidates find it helpful to create a study schedule and allocate dedicated time for each content area. Check out this video from Dr. Adam Rosh from his 28-lesson Peak Performance course on how to effectively prepare for high-stakes exams:

Q: How long is ABFM board certification valid?

A: ABFM certification is valid for 10 years. After this period, physicians are required to go through the recertification process to maintain their certification status, though now ABFM offers CME credits and yearly recertification.

Q: How soon will I get my ABFM exam results?

A: You will typically receive your preliminary results 3-7 business days following completion of the examination. A preliminary pass (or fail) is given to candidates whose exam attempt is clearly above (or below) the minimum passing score. However, a pending result is given when the exam attempt is close to it. Final and official examination results are typically received 6-8 weeks after the test date.

Q: Do I need the exam for fellowship?

A; This is a great question and tough to answer. The requirement for the ABFM board exam varies depending on the specific fellowship program. While completion of an ABFM residency program is a common prerequisite for fellowships in family medicine, the need for ABFM board certification may differ.

In some cases, fellowship programs may require applicants to have completed their ABFM certification exam and be board-certified or board eligible in family medicine. This requirement ensures that candidates have obtained a comprehensive understanding of core family medicine principles before pursuing specialized training.

However, there are also fellowship programs that do not explicitly require ABFM certification. These programs may consider applicants who have completed other residency programs, possess relevant experience, or demonstrate expertise in a particular subspecialty within family medicine.

It’s essential to review the specific requirements of the fellowship program you are interested in to determine whether ABFM board certification is necessary. The program’s website or contacting the program directly will provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their prerequisites.

Keep in mind that the ABFM exam encompasses the entirety of family medicine, while fellowship training will be narrower in scope. I recommend taking the exam sooner rather than later in order to preserve your knowledge and do well on the test.

Q: What else should I know before I take the ABFM board exam?

Looking for more information about ABFM boards? Download the FREE ABFM Quickstart Guide to learn all about the exam format, topics, and more!

Learn all about the ABFM Certification Exam with the ABFM Quickstart Guide.

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By Mike Ren, MD

Mike is a driven tutor and supportive advisor. He received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine and then stayed for residency. He has recently taken a faculty position at Baylor because of his love for teaching. Mike’s philosophy is to elevate his students to their full potential with excellent exam scores and successful interviews at top-tier programs. He holds the belief that you learn best from those close to you in training. Dr. Ren is passionate about his role as a mentor and has taught for much of his life–as an SAT tutor in high school, then as an MCAT instructor for the Princeton Review. At Baylor, he has held review courses for the FM shelf and board exams as Chief Resident. For years, Dr. Ren has worked closely with the Office of Student Affairs and has experience as an admissions advisor. He has mentored numerous students entering medical and residency and keeps in touch with many of them today as they embark on their road to aspiring physicians. His supportiveness and approachability put his students at ease and provide a safe learning environment where questions and conversation flow. For exam prep, Mike will help you develop critical reasoning skills, and as an advisor, he will hone your interview skills with insider knowledge to commonly asked admissions questions.

Top Family Medicine Board FAQs: Everything You Need to Know Before ABFM Certification