Dec. 31 deadline for MC-FP 10-year plan approaches

Family physicians who certified or recertified with the American Board of Family Medicine in 2004 have less than one month to complete the Stage 1 requirements to maintain eligibility for the three-year extension of their certificates.

As part of the MC-FP updates that went into effect January 2007, ABFM diplomates can choose to maintain their board certification over seven years or 10 years. Besides having an additional three years to complete the four sections of the certification process, the 10-year plan differs from the 7-year plan because it uses benchmarks to keep physicians on track. After passing Part I, providing proof of a valid and unrestricted license, physicians continue through three three-year windows to complete Parts II and IV. During each window, physicians complete two Part II modules—Self-Assessment Modules or another approved external provider module—and one Part IV Performance in Practice module. The final part of the process, Part III, is the cognitive examination.

Though diplomates must complete two additional Performance in Practice modules, the 10-year plan spreads out the requirements and ensures certification stages are met every three years. Family physicians who do not complete Stage 1 requirements by Dec. 31, 2007 will automatically surrender their 10-year option and continue on the seven-year path. On the seven-year plan, diplomates complete Parts I, II and IV at any time over six years, ending with the cognitive examination in the seventh year.

For more information about the MC-FP process, call the ABFM support center at (877) 223-7437, or visit the TAFP Resources page, www.tafp.org/resources, and select Maintenance of Certification.