What is FAAP designation

The FAAP (also written with dots as F.A.A.P.) stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. I previously thought once you are a member of the academy (paying your dues and maintain ongoing commitment to children well-being advocacy) you can use it. I was wrong, FAAP designation can only be used when an AAP member has successfully passed the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) initial certification exam and thereafter maintained active board certified status through the ABP’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.

So you can see above the American Academy of Pediatrics have sent me a congratulations card saying that I can now use the FAAP designation along with (FAAPs care for kids) badge holder. They sent me that because I met two criteria; first I am an active AAP member and second because I just passed the ABP board exam. So now I can designate my name is Firas Salim, MD FAAP.

This is different from the ABP designation. The ABP (which is a different from the AAP) wants us to say Firas Salim, MD, ABP Board Certified in General Pediatrics. They specified that in a recent memorandum to all ABP certified pediatricians here is the link. However, in real practice, I did not see a pediatrician using that long designation after his/her name. Most folks just use the FAAP designation which implies that they are board certified.