Location:
Verification of Board Eligibility

Verification of Board Eligibility

Board eligibility is valid for a period of six years from the date of completion of an AOA-approved residency training program in family medicine or from the date of AOA program approval of an allopathic training program.  The examination must be successfully completed, the residency training approved by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) and certification awarded by the AOA within that six year period. 

The period of board eligibility for non-residency trained physicians expired December 31, 2001 with the termination of the clinical practice pathway to eligibility.  Those physicians unsuccessful in the completion of the examination (receiving a failing score) within that six-year period were able to apply for an extension of board eligibility only thru December 31, 2003. 

Board eligibility may only be confirmed for those family physicians who have submitted the appropriate application materials to this office for review and approval.  Candidates fulfilling the eligibility requirements are sent a letter confirming scheduling which would also verify eligibility.   

Termination of Board Eligible Status for Residency Trained Physicians

If a candidate does not initiate examination within the period of board eligibility, then board eligibility status will be automatically lost and so recorded by the AOA and this Board.  In such cases, candidates cannot re-register for board eligibility status, but may be eligible to petition the Board for reentry into the certification process.

Mechanism for Reentry into the Certification Process (Applicable to candidates with two years approved family practice residency training)

 A. Reentry into the certification process allows a candidate with approved residency training to pursue certification in family practice for an extended period of up to three years 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.

 B. The applicant’s petition must contain evidence of meeting the following requirements in addition to submitting the required application and supporting documents.

 1) Valid and unrestricted licensure in all states in which applicant holds a license;

 3) Documentation per AOA Activity Reports of 150 applicable CME hours for the previous three years;

 4) Submit the required examination fee at the time of application.

Mechanism for Reestablishing Board Eligibility with Reentry into the Certification Process (Applicable to unsuccessful candidates initially qualifying with approved residency training)

 A. A candidate who qualified under the residency pathway and has sat for examination at least once within their six(6) year board eligibility period and whose board eligibility status has been terminated may be eligible to petition this Board for reentry into the certification process with reestablishment of  board eligibility status. If such petition is approved by the Board, the individual shall become board eligible for a period of three years from the effective date of approval and be eligible for a maximum of three examination attempts within that period.  Each applicant's petition must contain evidence of meeting the following requirements in order to reestablish board eligible status.

 1) Valid and unrestricted licensure in all states in which an applicant holds a license;

 2) Continuous AOA membership in good standing during the two year period of time prior to reestablishing board eligibility and continuous membership in good standing during the term of board eligibility;

 3)  Must be able to meet AOA CME requirement of 150 hrs. for the previous three years;

 4) Completion of at least 60 hrs. of family practice review continuing medical education accredited by the AOA and approved by the Education Committee of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and completed within the year immediately preceding the applicant's petition and approval for examination;

 5) Submit the required examination fee at the time of application.

 B. Candidates qualifying for examination under the residency pathway may petition for reentry each time their period of eligibility expires, as long as they sit for examination at least once in each new eligibility period.

Phone Numbers

Office:
(847) 640-8477

Recorded Information:
(800) 390-5801

E-mail:
aobfp@aobfp.org

Other Important Numbers:

AOA:
(800) 621-1773

ACOFP:
(800) 323-0794