Enhance your pregnancy care knowledge with a course made for new physicians.
Learn business fundamentals and care team management skills to help build your confidence.
Get extra training in areas you will be focusing on more in practice.
6. Fill in the gaps
Ensure state laws allow you to practice to your desired spectrum of care.
Identify state(s) in which you would like to practice and research their licensing requirements and how long the licensure process takes.
Apply for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state-specific Department of Public Safety (DPS) licenses.
Apply for appropriate state licensure and registration, and state-required exams, if needed.
5. Get your credentials in order
Access free board review questions to complement your study plan.
Use the AAFP Family Medicine Board Review Self-Study package for everything you need to prepare.
Apply for and take the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) or American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP) board certification exam. Complete requirements needed before registering for board.
4. Prepare for your board exam
Review your contract carefully, identify any vague language, and ask specific questions to clarify contract details.
After you’ve received a contract, verify a point of contact with the employer.
Watch free negotiation training videos or take a class on negotiation skills to prepare to conduct your own job negotiations.
Learn common contract terminology, benefits to look for, and provisions to avoid (e.g., restrictive covenants and lack of payment for supervision in collaborative practice arrangements).
Before opening contract discussions, make a list of points to cover and categorize them as must haves, nice to haves, items to use in negotiation but willing to give away, etc.
Identify a lawyer who has experience reviewing physician contracts and who aligns with your values and personal style.
3. Negotiate your contract
Rehearse answers to anticipated questions from potential employers and interviewers.
Prepare questions to ask potential employers before your in-person interview.
Identify resources to find and apply for positions, including your personal and professional networks, health system recruiters, job listing websites, and direct connections with employers.
Post your CV and set up job alerts on the AAFP’s CareerLink website, and take advantage of career placement services offered to AAFP members.
Identify potential employers and research relevant information about them.
Know the AAFP’s five signs of a good physician employer.
Update your curriculum vitae (CV), personal statement, and cover letter; identify and confirm your references; and ask a faculty member or recent residency graduate to review the documents.
2. Look for a job
Consider seeking out career coaching.
Think about your desired work-life balance in relation to your practice setting options and personal life, including your ideal work week and breakdown of percentages of FTE spent in patient care, administrative duties, teaching, research, etc.
Speak with faculty mentors and recent residency graduates to determine good job fits and pitfalls to avoid in your job search.
Use the AAFP’s Career Benchmark Dashboard to compare compensation, benefits, and more for family physicians across locations and practice types.
1. Set salary and career expectations
Set salary and career expectations
1
Look for a job
2
Negotiate your contract
3
Prepare for your board exam
4
Get your credentials in order
5
Fill in the gaps
6
Set yourself up to soar after residency with member-exclusive resources and education designed around career and practice needs in six of the areas that matter most right now. Want to track your progress? Members can download a checklist version all of these steps and resources.
Six Key Steps for Transitioning to Practice
DOWNLOAD THE checklist