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Preparing for the FMCLA or One-Day
Board Exam
As a board-certified family physician, your maintenance of certification (MOC) journey continues throughout your career. AAFP has tools to help you satisfy your ABFM requirements, including passing the Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment (FMCLA) or the one-day board exam.
Jump to a section: ABFM 5-Year Cycle | FMCLA | One-Day Board Exam | Preparing for the Exam | Board Exam and Longitudinal Assessment Resources | Frequently Asked Questions
- Start early. Register with the ABFM as soon as you can to ensure you stay on top of all communication and details about the exam.
- Be aware of dates and deadlines. The one-day exam and the longitudinal assessment have different deadlines. Make sure you’re following the right one for you.
- Complete other pending requirements. Certification goes beyond tests of your knowledge. It’s important to complete your other requirements, like CME reporting, as well.
Whether you’re taking the longitudinal assessment or the one-day exam, the AAFP has the best board review resources to help you get your best score. Simply select the learning style that works for you.
Maximize Every Study Minute
For dedicated, focused study time:
- Board Review Express CME conference — Best for those who want a dedicated, in-person immersive conference guided by experts
- Board Review Express Livestream — Best for those who need dedicated and immersive study guided by experts with a flexible location
For flexible, on-demand and online study:
- Guided Online Board Review — Best for those who learn through expert-guided, interactive lectures and curated exam-style questions
- FP Comprehensive Online — Best for those who learn independently through reading and practice questions
- Longitudinal Assessment Bundle — Best for those who want access to all the flexible, online AAFP board review resources for continuous success
Practice ABFM Board-Style Questions
Best for those who want to simply practice ABFM exam-style questions, free for all AAFP members.
How does the longitudinal assessment work?
The FMCLA consists of 300 questions that must be answered within the 5-year cycle. There are 25 timed questions available per quarter, with five minutes available per question. You may answer the entire set of 25 questions at one time or space them out over the quarter. It is an open-book exam, and resources may be used while answering each question. You must answer a minimum of 275 total questions and meet the minimum passing standard by the end of year four.
Visit the ABFM website for timing and eligibility details.
How does the one-day exam work?
The one-day exam is an all-day exam where 300 multiple-choice questions must be answered in four 95-minute sections. The ABFM provides testing dates in April and November, and the exam is proctored at one of approximately 350 Prometric test centers across the United States and in various international locations.
I just finished family medicine residency. Can I take the longitudinal assessment?
No. Residents must pass the one-day exam to be initially certified by the ABFM.
I’m already a board-certified family physician. Do I have to take the longitudinal assessment?
No. While every ABFM Diplomate will transition to the longitudinal assessment, you may voluntarily withdraw if you prefer completing this requirement within one day. The one-day exam also remains an option for those unable to successfully complete the longitudinal assessment.
What is the ABFM blueprint?
The ABFM blueprint is the outline of the content areas and the targeted percentage of questions within each for the one-day exam and the longitudinal assessment. For 2025, the ABFM blueprint has been revised to align better with clinical activities of the practicing physician. The exams will continue to include a broad-based assessment of family medicine topics.