CCFP priority topicsAll 105, and what each one tests
Every written case is built on one of the CFPC's 105 priority topics. Each topic has a few key features: the skills a case can test. Open a topic to learn its key features, the traps, and the Canadian guidelines behind the answers.
Numbered as in CFPC, Assessment Objectives for Certification in Family Medicine, 2nd edition (2020)
See the new exam format: what changed and how it's scored.
How each written exam is balanced
Cases are sampled across the 105 topics, then weighted by where the visit happens and what you are asked to do. Each share is give or take 5%.
Where
- Office and clinic 55%
- Hospital 15%
- Emergency and urgent care 15%
- Home and long-term care 15%
What you do
- History and exam 20%
- Diagnosis and tests 35%
- Management and follow-up 30%
- Prevention 15%
Source: CFPC, SAMP Examination Blueprint and Content Specifications, 2026
105 topics, A to Z
No topic matches that.
Try a shorter word, a body part, or a test name. The CFPC names some topics by task, like Bad News or Difficult Patient.
A
- 1Abdominal PainAcute and chronic pain, the surgical belly, pregnancy, life threats, ulcers, irritable bowel and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- 2Advanced Cardiac Life SupportShocks, serious rhythms, reversible causes, airway, stopping a code, code status, families and child doses.
- 3AllergyDrug allergy labels, anaphylaxis, auto-injectors, school plans, referral, and allergy in recurring breathing symptoms.
- 4AnemiaWhen to transfuse, sizing red cells, iron and B12 deficiency, toddlers at risk, and heavy periods.
- 5AntibioticsChoosing a drug, viral illness, allergy labels, when to culture, and urgent infections.
- 6AnxietySpotting anxiety, panic versus emergencies, the work-up, naming the type, treatment and alcohol.
- 7AsthmaProving the diagnosis, noisy breathing in children, grading control, flares, stepwise treatment and triggers.
- 8Atrial FibrillationFinding the cause, instability, stroke prevention, blood thinner (DOAC) dosing and follow-up, rate control and rhythm control.
B
- 9Bad NewsSetting and privacy, how to tell it, interpreters, family consent, and follow-up after the news.
- 10Behavioural ProblemsWork-up before any label, the teen interview, impact and shame, follow-up, risk, non-drug care and strained relationships.
- 11Breast LumpBreast cancer risk, screening, working up a lump, and care after a diagnosis.
C
- 12CancerPrevention advice, screening, shared care, coping, side effects, recurrence and prognosis.
- 13Chest PainThe history, emergencies to treat first, ruling out the heart, gut and skin causes, and pulmonary embolism.
- 14Chronic DiseaseNew symptoms in long-term illness, missed doses, pain, mood and coping, and why plans fail.
- 15Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseSpotting COPD, spirometry, quitting, vaccines, inhalers, rehab, flare-ups and planning for the end of life.
- 16Chronic PainFinding the cause, new causes of worse pain, inherited patients, team care, records, opioid agreements and opioid use disorder.
- 17ContraceptionCounselling, picking a method, what weakens it, bleeding on the shot, and emergency contraception.
- 18CoughDangerous causes of a new cough, viral cough, lasting cough in children and adults, drug cough, lung disease in smokers.
- 19CounsellingGoals, time, your limits and biases, advice or options, and referral for therapy.
- 20CrisisCalming a patient in crisis, safety checks, support, sedatives, coping habits, clinic emergencies and past trauma.
- 21CroupAirway danger signs, mimics of croup, upper versus lower airway noise, testing, steroids and night flares.
D
- 22Deep Venous ThrombosisClot likelihood, D-dimer and ultrasound, prevention, anticoagulants, clotting disorders and compression stockings.
- 23DehydrationSpotting fluid loss, grading it, fluid volume and route, labs, the cause, and pregnancy.
- 24DementiaEarly diagnosis, delirium and depression, types of dementia, capacity, behaviour, caregivers, driving and genes.
- 25DepressionSuicide risk, risk groups, mimics, look-alikes, bipolar, drug choice, talk therapy and back to work.
- 26DiabetesScreening, starting and changing treatment, sick days, teaching, complications, and ketoacidosis in adults and children.
- 27DiarrheaDehydration, finding the cause, C. difficile, return to school or work, older adults, irritable bowel syndrome.
- 28Difficult PatientPersonality disorder, what has changed, long-term illness, missed disease, your own part, limits, ending care and threats.
- 29DisabilityJudging function, risk in older adults, the whole-life history, plans beyond leave, and prevention.
- 30DizzinessTypes of dizziness, blood pressure lying and standing, the neuro exam, dangerous causes, drug causes and imaging.
- 31Domestic ViolenceWhen to ask about abuse, judging danger, safety plans, the abuse cycle, and harm to children.
- 32DyspepsiaHeart causes, reflux, ulcer, gastritis, cancer, Helicobacter pylori, alarm features and when to scope.
- 33DysuriaSimple cystitis, treating without delay, other causes of burning, high-risk patients, repeat infections.
E
- 34EaracheSeeing the drum, referred and serious causes, waiting, antibiotics, pain relief, fever and hearing.
- 35Eating DisordersWho to ask, the history, safety checks, admission, family-led care, and puzzling symptoms.
- 36ElderlyMedicine reviews, store-bought drugs, sight and hearing, daily function, and illness that hides its usual signs.
- 37EpistaxisStability, calming the family, causes, pressure and cautery, posterior bleeds, tests and aftercare.
F
- 38Family IssuesHow home and illness affect each other, when to ask, and treatment that fails at home.
- 39FatigueDepression, the whole-body screen, drug side effects, when to test, and chronic fatigue.
- 40FeverFebrile young infants, antibiotics yes or no, picking the drug, long fevers, sepsis, meningitis, heat and drug causes, and older adults.
- 41FracturesTrauma first, the limb exam, X-ray rules, hidden fractures, urgent reduction, pain relief and complications.
G
- 42Gastro-intestinal BleedUpper or lower source, stool mimics, bleeding risk and gut protection, early danger signs, rectal bleeding and varices.
- 43Gender Specific IssuesAngina in women, depression in men, abuse at home, role strain, intimate exams and sex bias in research.
- 44GriefWhat to expect after a loss, depression and drinking, age and culture, and hidden losses.
H
- 45HeadacheRed flags, dangerous causes, CT and LP for a sudden headache, painkiller overuse, and migraine attacks.
- 46Heart FailureFinding the cause, normal ejection fraction, triggers, the four drugs, self-care and palliative care.
- 47HepatitisLiver tests, blocked bile flow, hepatitis B and C, vaccines, care after exposure, liver cancer checks.
- 48HyperlipidemiaScreening, risk scores, secondary causes, diet and exercise, statin decisions, and statin side effects.
- 49HypertensionScreening, measuring blood pressure, the diagnosis, heart risk, secondary causes, lifestyle, drugs, severe hypertension and follow-up.
I
- 50ImmigrantsCatch-up vaccines, interpreters, culture, mood and trauma, infections from abroad, and other remedies.
- 51ImmunizationTiming doses, hesitant parents, high-risk and travel vaccines, records, and vaccines that fail.
- 52In ChildrenHow illness looks by age, the teen interview, risky behaviour, privacy and consent, talking with children, and tests that hurt.
- 53InfectionsCultures, when to treat, treating before proof, hidden infection, failed treatment, and drainage and wounds.
- 54InfertilityThe history, when to test by age, testing both partners, irregular cycles and adoption.
- 55InsomniaSorting sleep complaints, the history, sleep habits and CBT, sleeping pills, and tapering long-term use.
- 56Ischemic Heart DiseaseClassic and hidden angina, risk-factor plans, misleading tests, nitroglycerin, follow-up visits, and acute coronary syndrome.
J
L
- 58LacerationsComplex cuts, tendon and nerve checks, cleaning, wounds left open, child pain control, repair technique and tetanus.
- 59Learning (Patients/Self)School problems, learning disorders, family support, pitching information to patients, and your own learning.
- 60LifestyleAsking about habits, how ready a patient is, money and means, checking again, and follow-up.
- 61Loss of ConsciousnessFirst steps, history and exam, head CT, quick fixes, faints, seizures, heart rhythm, concussion and driving.
- 62Loss of WeightFinding the cause of weight loss, keeping true weights, and follow-up when no cause is found.
- 63Low-back PainRed flags, a firm diagnosis, when to image, pain relief, return advice, and exercise to prevent flares.
M
- 64MeningitisSpotting meningitis, the lumbar puncture, fluid after antibiotics, first antibiotics, and protecting contacts.
- 65MenopauseSymptoms, diagnosis without tests, red flags, hormone safety, non-hormonal options, natural products and prevention.
- 66Mental CompetencyCapacity for one decision, early decline, refusals, substitute decision-makers, involuntary care and driving.
- 67Multiple Medical ProblemsToday's main reason, a shared agenda, hidden mood or abuse, medicine review, and limits on visits.
N
O
P
- 72PainRelief first, pain patterns, red flags, opioid dosing, drug-seeking worries, doubled drugs, non-drug care and chronic pain.
- 73Palliative CareNon-cancer illness, the care team, what matters most, opioid pain control, and end-of-life wishes.
- 74ParkinsonismDrug-induced parkinsonism, the tremor exam, decline in older adults, drug side effects, and follow-up.
- 75Periodic Health Assessment/ScreeningPrevention at any visit, matching tests to the patient, requests for PSA or mammograms, and changing guidance.
- 76Personality DisorderLasting pattern or new change, drug and medical causes, how you talk, your feelings, limits, new symptoms and old labels.
- 77PneumoniaHidden pneumonia, clear films, TB and other germs, admission, antibiotics, vaccines and contact tracing.
- 78PoisoningPoison prevention, overdose history, toxidromes, poison centre advice, acetylcysteine, and airway and breathing care.
- 79PregnancyPlanning, fertility, the first visit, high-risk care, bleeding and Rh, labour, postpartum bleeding, mood and breastfeeding.
- 80ProstateScreening, reading a PSA, BPH, prostatitis, and care after a prostate cancer diagnosis.
R
- 81Rape/Sexual AssaultCare after assault, emergency contraception, infection and HIV prevention, charting, counselling, and assault not yet disclosed.
- 82RashHistory and exam, patterns, terms, dangerous rashes, rashes that persist, impact, triggers and contagion.
- 83Red EyeChecking vision, serious causes, foreign bodies, newborn eye infection, conjunctivitis, contact lenses, steroid drops and iritis.
- 84Renal FailureContrast and metformin, drug doses, fluids, sick-day rules, acute-on-chronic injury, follow-up and referral.
S
- 85SchizophreniaFirst psychosis in youth, stable reviews, drugs, relapse, involuntary care, privacy, drug harms and supports.
- 86SeizuresStopping a seizure, faint or fit, the work-up, a change in known epilepsy, and long-term drug care.
- 87SexAsking about sex, consent and safety, confidentiality, sexual problems, gender and orientation, and an exam that upsets.
- 88Sexually Transmitted InfectionsPrevention talks, screening, risk, samples by site, treating early, partners and negative tests.
- 89Shortness of BreathCauses beyond the heart and lungs, life threats, failed treatment, and breathlessness in anxious patients.
- 90Skin DisorderFailed treatment, acne, melanoma and biopsy, drug rashes, skin emergencies, high-risk feet, and life impact.
- 91Smoking CessationAsking about tobacco, building interest in quitting, and pairing medicine with behavioural support.
- 92SomatizationWork-up of unexplained symptoms, diagnosis, careful testing, talking with the patient, therapy and follow-up.
- 93StressStress behind symptoms, coping or distress, hidden illness, planning, and unhealthy coping.
- 94StrokeStroke mimics, bleed versus clot, thrombolysis, rehab, hard choices, thinking changes, complications and prevention.
- 95Substance use and addictionScreening, harm reduction, teens, safe prescribing, and treating opioid and alcohol use disorder.
- 96SuicideAsking about suicide, judging risk, cutting, safety plans, reports from others, overdose and injuries.
T
- 97ThyroidWho to test, timing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) checks on treatment, and examining the gland.
- 98TraumaThe primary survey, chest threats, triage, airway, shock, cold, imaging, transfer, prevention and child abuse.
- 99Travel MedicineTrip advice, injury, fever after travel, diarrhea, chronic illness, vaccines, insurance and medicines.
U
V
- 102Vaginal BleedingPregnancy testing, ectopic pregnancy, Rh care, heavy periods, bleeding disorders, and bleeding after menopause.
- 103VaginitisItch that is not yeast, normal discharge, yeast or bacterial vaginosis on a swab, and discharge in children.
- 104Violent/Aggressive PatientSpotting risk, finding the medical cause, safety before you assess, and an office plan.