AOBFP
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION
APPLICATION
– April 9, 2011 Exam
POSTMARK DEADLINES & FEES –
Sept. 1 $1,000
Oct. 1 $1,200
Nov. 1 $1,300
Fee includes both the cognitive assessment exam and the OMT practical exam
QUESTIONS?
-
Examination Dates
- Eligibility Requirements
- Certification Process
CONTACT AOBFP – (847) 640-8477
Recorded information - (800) 390-5801
Website - www.aobfp.org
NOTE -
All candidates must qualify for examination by completing an AOA-approved residency training program.
TIME DATED CERTIFICATES
Certification
awarded in 1997 and thereafter is time limited and requires recertification
every eight years.
Included is an application and information pertaining to the Family Practice certification examination. The cognitive assessment portion of the examination (full day) will be a computer-based examination given on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at regional test sites made available by Pearson VUE, our testing vendor. You will be provided with detailed information from Pearson VUE for the selection of your test site only after your completed application and supporting documents have been received by the AOBFP, fully processed/verified, and your eligibility is confirmed in writing. We require at least three weeks after receipt for the processing of your materials. Once you have received your verification from the AOBFP that you are approved for examination, it is to your benefit to contact Pearson VUE in a timely manner to select your preferred test sites, as confirmations will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.
The practical performance evaluation portion of the certification exam requires your travel to one of the convention sites for completion. The Spring ACOFP convention or the Fall AOA convention will both be sites. The Spring 2011 ACOFP convention dates are March 16-20th in San Antonio, TX. The practical exam will be offered on Thursday and Friday, March 17-18th. You may indicate your preference for one of those two days at the top of the application form; however, there is no guarantee you will be scheduled for that selection. Dates for the practical will be assigned as the AOBFP processes completed applications in their order of receipt.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXAMINATION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
· Graduate of an approved osteopathic college
·
Current full, unrestricted license (it is understood that residents may be practicing with a temporary
license or under a hospital license)
·
Member in good standing of the AOA for at least two
consecutive years immediately prior to application, examination and presentation
for certification AND . . .
·
Completion within the immediate past six years of a one-year
AOA-approved internship and a two-year AOA-approved family practice residency program OR currently in a
three-year
AOA-approved family practice residency program to be completed no later than
August 1, 2011.
IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE REVIEWED FOR APPROVAL FOR EXAMINATION, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THIS OFFICE BY ONE OF THE POSTMARK DEADLINES WITH THE APPLICABLE FEE:
·
Application signed by applicant
·
One
recent, original passport-size photos (no
smaller than 2” square)
· Applicable examination fee, based on postmark deadline, made payable to the AOBFP (check or money order; credit cards not accepted)
·
Copy of internship certificate if applicable; also include AOA letter of
internship approval if an allopathic program has been completed
·
Copy of medical license with expiration date
·
'Verification
of Residency Training' form verifying residency is AOA-approved,
listing start and completion dates
· Written verification from the AOA confirming membership in good standing for two consecutive years; contact the AOA Membership Services Department (800)621-1773 and they will forward directly to the AOBFP
All
materials must be in the AOBFP office with one of the applicable postmark deadline dates
but no later
than a postmark of November 1, 2010.
Early
submission of your materials will allow for a more timely response.
Application materials should be sent to the following address:
American
Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians
330
E. Algonquin Rd., Suite 6
Arlington Heights, IL
60005
ALLOW
AT LEAST THREE WEEKS FOR AOBFP PROCESSING OF YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS.
CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT AND ELIGIBILITY MAY BE AVAILABLE AFTER THAT TIME.
MATERIALS MAY BE SENT VIA PRIORITY MAIL WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION FOR IMMEDIATE
CONFIRMATION BY POSTAL SERVICE OF RECEIPT IN AOBFP OFFICE.
Applicants qualifying under the residency pathway either in a current osteopathic training program or having had completed an osteopathic program may sit for examination prior to the completion of their residency paperwork. However, scores other than a pass/fail designation as well as recommendation for certification by the American Osteopathic Association will be withheld until the paperwork is approved by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). Residents whose paperwork is approved in the Fall following completion of training will be presented to the AOA by December. Files for residents with incomplete or unapproved paperwork will be deferred to a later meeting. The ACOFP meets twice a year to review paperwork. The AOA Department of Certification's processing of candidate recommendations for certification takes about 6-8 weeks.
The successful completion of the
examination, the review and approval of the residency paperwork and the awarding
of certification must be accomplished within six years from the date of
completion of the training program.
Advanced
Standing
Residents who have received advanced
standing or credit from the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
(ACOFP) for time spent in another program must include a copy of the
ACOFP approval letter. Advanced
standing must be approved by ACOFP prior to the application postmark deadline
date.
Residents -
Allopathic Programs
Residents who have completed an allopathic training program must apply for and obtain ‘complete and approved’ status thru the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) prior to the final application postmark deadline date in order to qualify for examination. Effective July 1, 2009, program approval will no longer be given prior to completion of the training. Therefore, scheduling for examination will not be considered during the training period.
The successful completion of the examination, the review and approval of the residency paperwork and the awarding of certification must be accomplished within six years from the date of approval of the training program.
Application
should include a copy of the residency certificate, as well as a copy of the AOA
letter confirming training complete approval of the allopathic training.
ABMS
Certified Family Physicians
Resolution
No. 56, passed by the AOA Board of Trustees, allows for examination eligibility
for those holding ABMS primary certification in good standing.
This resolution originally passed in July 2004 and has since been
modified to remove the five-year post-residency requirement and to include
ABMS-certified osteopathic physicians who participated in a clinical pathway to
achieve ABMS certification.
The AOA Certification Office must be contacted to obtain an application for eligibility and further requirements. They may be reached at (800)202-8000. AOA will contact this office when eligibility has been approved. The AOBFP will then contact the applicant with further instructions.
Lapse in AOA
Membership
Physicians reinstating their membership with the American Osteopathic Association must do so in ample time to meet the two-year consecutive AOA membership requirement prior to application.
Mechanism for
Reentry Into the Certification Process After Expiration of Six Year Period of
Board Eligibility (Applicable to Candidates with Two Years Approved Family
Practice Residency Training)
Reentry into the certification process allows a candidate with 'TRAINING COMPLETE' approval as awarded by the ACOFP to pursue certification in family practice for an extended period of up to one year, limited to two exam attempts, from the date of acceptance of the candidate's petition; however, the candidate is not considered board eligible during that time and verification of such status will not be provided to the candidate. Contact the AOBFP directory for specific qualifying information; petition must be made immediately upon expiration of board eligibility.
Special Accommodations – ADA and
Religious Observances
Candidates
seeking special ADA accommodations must submit the required documentation as
specified within the AOBFP ‘Criteria Policy for Documentation of a Disability
– Request for Accommodation Candidate Handbook’ along with the AOBFP
‘Request for Accommodation Application’.
The AOBFP must be contacted to obtain the handbook and application.
The request for accommodation application and supporting documentation must
be submitted with the completed application for examination and postmarked by
the initial deadline date.
Candidates
finding conflict with scheduled examination dates due to religious observances
must provide a written explanation of the conflict to accompany the completed
application and supporting documents, which are due by the initial postmark
deadline date.
CERTIFICATION
EXAMINATION FORMAT
Cognitive Assessment Examination
The candidate must have a minimal working knowledge of a computer mouse, have the ability to "point and click", and have a basic understanding of Microsoft Windows operating system. The testing vendor's website at www.pearsonvue.com/aobfp/ may be visited at any time for viewing a computer-based exam tutorial.
The complete examination consists of approximately
400 multiple-choice questions in the following content areas:
General Medicine
Surgery
Pediatrics
Allergy/Immunology &
Rheumatology
EENT
inc. Adoles. Med.
Cardiology
General Surgery
Dermatology
Orthopedics
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Behavioral Sciences
Sports Medicine
Geriatrics
Medical Jurisprudence
Neurology
Psychiatry
Women's
Issues
Osteopathic Principles
Preventive
Medicine
Pulmonology
Addiction Medicine
Urology & Nephrology
Hematology
Performance Evaluation (Oral/Practical)
Candidates are assigned a time at which to appear for
examination. The performance evaluation
time schedule is sent to scheduled candidates four weeks prior to the exam.
Each candidate will have a partner (another candidate) who
will act the role of the patient during the examination.
Upon admittance to the exam room, the candidate is given a
questionnaire to complete and assigned at random a case history or histories on which he/she
is examined. Time is provided for
the review of that case prior to examination.
The candidate will be asked by a team of examiners to
diagnose that case(s) and demonstrate osteopathic manipulative treatment. A
time limit may be applied.
Construction of Multiple-Choice Questions
Candidates will be required to prepare four (4)
multiple-choice referenced questions in specific content
areas as assigned by the Board. The
forms and detailed instructions are forwarded to approved candidates no later
than 6 weeks prior to the examination. These
questions are to be submitted prior to the written examination. Further
instructions are detailed when the question forms are released.
Questions constructed by the candidate are a required
portion of the examination and must be completed per the provided
specifications. Questions will be
reviewed taking into consideration the following criteria:
- Adherence to specifications (format/structure)
- Quality of questions
- Coverage of high frequency/high impact material
Poorly constructed questions or those not following
prescribed specifications may be returned to the candidates for modification.
Scoring
A final pass/fail status will be determined by
satisfactory performance on the three individual portions of the examination;
the written, performance evaluation and questions. A numeric score will be given on the written examination, a
pass/fail designation on the performance evaluation, with the questions
considered a requirement.
Individual scores on the written examination are not
reported by subject or content area. The
unsuccessful completion of the examination requires a retake of the one-day
written examination at another exam administration; a total of two retake
examinations are allowed prior to further approval.
Another opportunity is offered that same day to retake the performance
evaluation.
Within ten weeks post examination, each candidate will
receive written communication of the final results of that examination.
A graphic illustration by major discipline area depicting your standing
in relation to the mean performance will be included for those with ACOFP
training approved status.
Past or current residents whose training has not yet been
approved by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) by
approval of residency paperwork, will not receive a final score nor be presented
for certification until that approval is granted.
Pass/fail information, however, will be provided.
Candidates fulfilling all requirements as well as passing the examination will be presented to the American Osteopathic Association's Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS) for recommendation for certification by the AOA. Certificates will be time dated for eight years. Membership in good standing in the American Osteopathic Association is required to maintain certification.
SUBMIT APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IN ONE MAILING BY ONE OF THE APPLICABLE POSTMARK DEADLINE DATES, BUT NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 1, 2010, TO:
American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians
330 E. Algonquin Rd., Suite 6
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(847)640-8477
AOBFP EXAM TABLE OF TEST SPECIFICATIONS
Preventive Medicine 5%
Psychiatry 4%
Medical Jurisprudence
3%
General
Medicine
Allergy/Immunology inc.
Rheumatology
5%
Cardiology
5%
Dermatology 5%
Endocrinology
5%
Gastroenterology 5%
Hematology 4%
Nephrology/Urology 4%
Neurology
5%
OPP 5%
Pulmonology 5%
Geriatrics 5%
EENT
5%
General Surgery 3%
Orthopedics 5%
Obstetrics/Gynecology
4%
Pediatrics
4%
Sports
Medicine 3%
Women’s
Issues
4%
The approximate total number of test items in the
certification exam is 400 with 200 items in the recertification exam.
The above percentages are offered as a guideline only and may change with
each exam administration. These
breakdowns are approximations and may vary plus or minus by 4 items.
Processing Fees
The following fees are in effect with the Spring 2010 exam.
All refund requests must be submitted in writing.
$1,000
Examination fee which must be submitted no later than the initial postmark deadline
date with complete application materials; applies
toward
first
exam taken within three years; fee is forfeited thereafter.
$600
Retake exam fee submitted with initial postmark deadline date
$
50
Processing fee for returned checks
$
100
Handgrading fee (requests
must be postmarked within six weeks from date of notification
of
exam results)
$
150
Application processing fee withheld from refund request
$
100
Cancellation/rescheduling fee for first withdrawal
$
200
Cancellation/rescheduling fee for second withdrawal
$
300
Cancellation/rescheduling fee for third withdrawal
Cancellation
fees will be withheld from any refund requests
Fees
are subject to change without notice.
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or
Click here to download the requirements and application
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