Scheduled maintenance is planned for Dec. 13–14. You may experience brief interruptions during this time.
Credentialing and Privileging CME for Family Physicians
FREE ON-DEMAND CME
Credentialing and privileging are more than just bureaucratic hurdles—they’re the gatekeepers of your ability to deliver care. Many family physicians find themselves navigating these complex processes with limited understanding of the institutional structures, documentation and regulatory requirements that shape their practice. This lack of clarity can lead to real-world consequences: delayed onboarding, restricted clinical privileges (especially in obstetrics) and reduced access to care for patients.
This on-demand CME product demystifies credentialing and privileging, giving you the tools to take charge of your professional standing and ensure your skills are fully recognized. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how these systems work—and how to work within them—to secure your place as a comprehensive, patient-centered physician.
Through practical insights and expert guidance, you’ll learn to identify key documentation requirements, anticipate timelines and navigate the institutional hierarchies that influence your clinical scope. You'll also explore how to apply strategies for obtaining credentials and privileges that align with your practice environment and career goals.
After completing this course, you’ll be equipped to advocate for yourself, your patients and your profession. You’ll not only meet credentialing and privileging standards, you will ensure that comprehensive family medicine, including obstetrics, remains accessible to communities everywhere.
This on-demand activity is free.
Credentialing Essentials: What Every Physician Needs to Know
- Describe how the credentialing process influences a physician’s ability to practice and deliver patient care within various healthcare settings.
- Identify the essential documentation and information required for successful credentialing to streamline practice onboarding and reduce administrative delays.
Privileging and Practice: Defining Your Clinical Boundaries
- Explain how the privileging process defines and limits a physician’s scope of practice, directly impacting patient care delivery.
- Differentiate between credentialing and privileging, and describe how they work together to shape clinical responsibilities.
- Identify common challenges physicians may face when applying for privileges or maintaining their scope, and discuss strategies to navigate them effectively.
Credentials, Privileges, and Dispute Resolution: Tools for Every Practice Setting
- Identify the core documentation required for credentialing and privileging, and locate key resources to support the process throughout a physician’s career.
- Explain the role of medical staff organizations and hospital bylaws in shaping clinical authority, and summarize available strategies for resolving credentialing or privileging disputes.
- Compare and contrast how credentialing and privileging processes vary between rural and urban practice settings, and analyze implications for family physicians’ scope of practice.
Securing OB Privileges in Family Medicine: Strategies for All Practice Settings
- Identify the steps, documentation, and institutional tools required to obtain privileges for obstetric care, including vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections.
- Evaluate how strategies for securing and maintaining OB privileges differ across rural, urban, and suburban practice settings.
- Recognize key institutional allies and common barriers that affect a family physician’s ability to provide obstetric care within their scope of practice.
Upon completion of this CME activity, you should be able to:
- Understand how credentialing and privileging processes impact a physician’s ability to deliver patient care and shape their clinical scope across various practice settings.
- Understand essential documentation, timelines, and organizational structures involved in obtaining and maintaining credentials and privileges throughout a physician’s career.
- Determine how the processes of credentialing and privileging vary across rural, suburban, and urban environments, and implement tailored approaches to sustain comprehensive family medicine practice, including obstetrics.
- High-speed broadband connection required for online access.
- Latest version of Firefox, Safari or Chrome on Windows or Macintosh computers or tablets.
- Latest version of Adobe Reader.
The AAFP has reviewed Credentialing & Privileging CME for Family Physicians and deemed it acceptable for up to 2.25 Enduring Materials, Self-Study AAFP Prescribed credit(s). Term of Approval is from 11/18/2025 to 11/17/2028. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The AAFP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Academy of Family Physicians designates this Enduring Materials for a maximum of 2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
CME activities approved for AAFP credit are recognized by the AOA as equivalent to AOA Category 2 credit.
Supported by an educational collaboration with the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Foundation. This partnership reflects the shared commitment to supporting family physicians with practical tools for credentialing and privileging.
You May Also Like:
