The CCFP (Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada) exam is the Canadian family medicine board certification — required for independent FM practice.
Format
The exam includes SAMPs (Short Answer Management Problems) — clinical scenarios requiring written management plans. Unlike MCQs where you select from options, SAMPs require you to generate the management approach from scratch. This tests applied clinical reasoning and management knowledge in the Canadian family medicine context.
The 99 Priority Topics
The CFPC publishes 99 priority topics that represent the core of Canadian family medicine practice and the exam's content foundation. These should be your revision framework — ensure systematic coverage of all 99 topics, with particular attention to the topics you have encountered least during training.
12-Week Study Plan
Weeks 1-4 (Systematic Coverage). Work through the 99 priority topics at approximately 25 per week. For each topic: review the management approach, write a practice SAMP (management plan), check against Canadian guidelines. Focus on management — SAMPs test what you would do, not just what you know. Daily iatroX adaptive mode (15 min) targeting weak FM clinical topics.
Weeks 5-8 (SAMPs Practice). Daily SAMPs practice — write management plans for clinical scenarios under timed conditions. Review against current Canadian clinical practice guidelines. Increase Q-bank practice to 40-50 questions daily for knowledge maintenance. Practice exam at week 8 to calibrate progress.
Weeks 9-12 (Performance). Timed SAMPs practice under exam conditions. Final review of persistent weak priority topics. High-yield areas for final push: paediatrics (well-child visits, common childhood conditions), mental health (depression, anxiety, substance use), chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, COPD), preventive care (screening schedules), and Indigenous health.
Resource Stack
CFPC 99 priority topics framework (your revision map). Toronto Notes (clinical reference). iatroX Canada Q-bank (adaptive engine for clinical knowledge maintenance). Canadian family medicine practice guidelines.