AAFP Prescribed credit explained for family physicians

What it is

AAFP Prescribed credit is the credit the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) awards to CME activities that its Credit System has reviewed and approved. To qualify, an activity must be relevant to the scope of family medicine, be primarily designed for physicians, and have an AAFP Active or Life member directly involved: that member reviews the titles and learning objectives of every topic to confirm they fit family medicine and are pitched at physician level.

AAFP Elective credit is the other AAFP category. An Elective activity may be designed primarily for health professionals other than physicians, and it does not need an AAFP member's involvement.

How it relates to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

The AMA and the AAFP have an equivalency agreement. In the AAFP's published wording: "AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award." The AMA's own PRA booklet likewise lets physicians count "American Academy of Family Physicians' prescribed credit" on a one-to-one basis when applying for the AMA PRA.

Two details matter:

• When you apply for the AMA PRA, report AAFP Prescribed credit as Prescribed credit, not as AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
• The agreement is about the AMA PRA. In the AAFP's words, it "is not intended to bypass ACCME accreditation, which is required to designate AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™."

It also works in one direction only for AAFP members: the AAFP counts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as AAFP Elective credit, not as Prescribed credit.

Does it count for your state license?

Each state licensing board decides which credit types it accepts; the AMA–AAFP equivalency does not bind them.

For Florida medical doctors (MDs), the Board of Medicine's rule on continuing education for renewal (Rule 64B8-13.005, F.A.C., version effective June 15, 2026) lists "American Academy of Family Physicians prescribed credit" among the courses the Board approves for the 40 hours required every two years. The same rule sets separate conditions for some mandatory topics. For example, the first-renewal HIV/AIDS hour accepts "only Category I hours" of AMA credit, and the controlled-substance prescribing course must come from a provider the rule names. If you rely on AAFP Prescribed credit for a mandatory topic, confirm with the Board. Osteopathic physicians and physicians in other states should check their own board's rule.

AAFP membership

AAFP Active members must report at least 150 credits of approved CME every three calendar years (the reelection cycle), including at least 75 AAFP Prescribed credits. Some state chapters add their own requirements. The AAFP counts activities approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or AOA credit as Elective credit.

ABFM board certification

The American Board of Family Medicine accepts AAFP Prescribed and AAFP Elective credit, as well as AMA Category I and certain AOA credit, toward its CME requirement, which averages 50 credits a year. You can verify your CME through AAFP membership or by entering your credits yourself in your MyABFM Portfolio. Your portfolio shows the exact number of credits your current cycle requires.

In short

• AAFP Prescribed credit = AAFP-reviewed CME, designed for physicians, with an AAFP Active or Life member confirming relevance to family medicine.
• The AMA accepts it as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ toward the Physician's Recognition Award only. It must be reported as Prescribed credit.
• Florida's rule for MDs lists AAFP Prescribed credit among Board-approved courses. Mandatory topics have their own conditions, so for those, confirm with the Board.

Requirements change. This guide was checked against the sources below on October 6, 2026; confirm with the Board or the AAFP before you rely on it.