The outpatient management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requires the targeted application of clinical criteria and an appropriate risk stratification strategy. Symptoms and physical examination findings alone are not sufficiently reliable for diagnosing CAP in the absence of vital sign abnormalities. The CRB-65 score offers an objective risk assessment tool to help distinguish between patients who require inpatient care and those suitable for outpatient management. Antibiotic selection for outpatient treatment varies and is typically guided by the likely causative organisms, disease severity, and local patterns of antibiotic resistance.