In-Service Exam (ISE) Support

First and second-year residents will have two Osteopathic In-Service Exams (ISE) fully paid for through a partnership between the ACOFP Foundation and ACOFP over a two-year period. Completing these two prerequisites will qualify Family Medicine residents for the AOBFP Early Entry Initial Certification (EEIC) exam.

• The  AOBFP In-Service Exam (ISE), produced and administered by ACOFP, is a formative exam that will fulfill ACGME standard requirements. Additionally, the osteopathic component will fulfill ACGME’s OPP/OMM formative assessment requirement for programs that have Osteopathic Recognition (OR). 

• Residents interested in pursuing the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians’ (AOBFP) Early Entry Initial Certification (EEIC) pathway are required to take two In-Service Exams.

WHY PURSUE THIS OPPORTUNITY?

• There is no cost to residents or your residency program. The In-Service Exam is free.

• Choosing the osteopathic assessment and board certification pathway will support a holistic approach to the betterment of patient care, valuing how the mind, body, and spirit provide an important connection point between physicians and their patients.

• A study on the predictive value of the AOBFP In-Service Exam showed that for residents performing above the tenth percentile on the In-Service Exam, there was a 99% correlation with subsequent first-time passage of the AOBFP certifying exam.

• Residents who take two In-Service Exams are eligible to pursue the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP) Early Entry Initial Certification (EEIC) pathway, which is a shortened initial certification written exam and offered at a lower cost.

• Qualified Residents are eligible to apply for the  ACOFP Foundation’s Initial Certification Grant of up to $1,400 which covers the cost of AOBFP Board Certification which includes both cognitive and practical exam fees and travel. Practical examination is a lifetime one-and-done process.

• Residents are eligible for free Resident Resident Membership in ACOFP Membership in ACOFP which offers numerous helpful opportunities during rotations and aides in preparing residents for their future role as residency-complete physicians.

• Other offerings, for example, include professional development, leadership and grant opportunities, access to webinars and the ACOFP Career Center, etc.

The exam window takes place October 1 – 15, 2024 via smartphone, tablet, or computer/laptop on the CATALYST platform and consists of 265 questions, 75 of which are OPP/OMM related. Assessments delivered on the CATALYST platform provide both immediate performance feedback and educational resources for the concept being assessed. This is an un-proctored test, taken anywhere/anytime within the exam window. The exam is self-paced. Residents may answer test items immediately, or on their own schedule, but must complete within the two weeks allotted time. Items time out after 2 minutes.

The ACOFP Foundation has generously agreed to support both the ISE and the Early Entry Initial Certification Grant Fund for Family Medicine residents. ACOFP is providing matching support up to $25 per resident for the ISE program.