Credentials and privileges for family physicians

Group of physicians sitting around a table together.

Credentialing and privileging are key steps in ensuring your ability to deliver full-spectrum care.

As a family physician, you’ve been trained to care for patients across all settings, including hospitals, specialized units and emergency departments. But gaining and maintaining the credentials and privileges to provide that care can be complex. Here you will find tools and policies to help you advocate for your scope of practice, navigate disputes and strengthen your access to patients.

Articles


Obstetrics privileges resources

Examining pregnant woman

Obstetrics privileges self-advocacy guide

This guide from the AAFP and ABFM provides a detailed review of the evidence, the business case and more for family physicians providing obstetrical care.
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Presentation: Education on family medicine and obstetrics

Use this educational presentation in meetings with committees and health system leaders to advocate for obstetrics privileges for family physicians.
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Member stories

What we believe

AAFP policies affirm that privileges should be based on your training, experience and demonstrated competence, not restricted by specialty bias.

AAFP policies to support your privileges

You can use these official AAFP policy statements and protocols to strengthen your case for full-spectrum privileges:

Scope of care and privileges

Privileging, family medicine

Scope of care and privileges

Privileges, emergency care services

Scope of care and privileges

Cesarean delivery in family medicine

Position paper
Scope of care and privileges

EGD, training and credentialing of family physicians

Position paper
Hospital staff structure and roles

Departments of family medicine

Hospital staff structure and roles

Family medicine departments

Evaluation and governance protocols

Professional competence evaluation

Evaluation and governance protocols

Privilege support protocol

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