Exam

Requirement: Take and pass the one-day exam or the longitudinal assessment every 10 years.

To fulfill this requirement, you may choose to participate in the Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment (longitudinal assessment) or take the Family Medicine Certification Examination (one-day exam).  Whether you prefer to complete your requirement in one day or incrementally over three to four years, the choice is yours.

Longitudinal Assessment

The longitudinal assessment is a flexible alternative to the traditional in person, one-day exam. Instead of answering all 300 questions in one day, you have the option to answer 25 online questions every quarter over three to four years. You can choose whatever day, time, and location to answer these timed questions within each quarter. You can use references just as you would in your own practice and will receive immediate feedback on what you got right or wrong.

When given the option, more than 80% of eligible ABFM board-certified physicians have selected this exam alternative. Participants say “I’m learning as I go” and it is “very convenient to do this at my own pace and in the comfort of my own home.” They also have reported that by taking the longitudinal assessment, they have reduced their stress, eliminated travel, and minimized their preparation time as compared to the one-day exam. Designed to promote learning while testing, the longitudinal assessment is a convenient option for busy family physicians to meet their exam requirement. Visit the longitudinal assessment page to learn more.

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One-Day Exam

The one-day exam consists of 300 multiple-choice questions that are to be completed within four 95-minute sessions of 75 questions each, with pooled break times provided. This exam is administered each April and November at proctored test centers across the US and various international locations, and scores are sent to you within 6-8 weeks of the testing window. Visit the one-day exam page to learn more.

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Exam Pass Rates

The pass rate information for the one-day exam and the Added Qualification exams are available by year. The results for the Added Qualification exams are not limited to ABFM candidates. The Added Qualification exams, while administered by a single board, are recognized as subspecialty certifications by several boards.

2023 Exam Pass Rates

Want to see more? Exam pass rates for 2019 through 2022 can be found here.