What is a CME activity? A Continuing Medical Education (CME) activity serves to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession.
Why do physicians need continuing medical education (CME) credit? Physicians use CME credit to demonstrate that they have participated in educational activities and obtained CME credit to document meeting the requirements of state medical boards, medical specialty societies, specialty boards, hospital medical staffs, the Joint Commission, insurance groups, and others
How are CME credits tracked for physicians? There is no centralized tracking of AMA PRA credits. Each accredited CME provider is required to keep records of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ claimed by physicians who participate in their activities for six years from the date of completion of the activity. Because credits may be obtained from a variety of accredited CME providers, physicians should maintain a record of their CME credits from all sources.
What documentation does a physician receive for participating in a certified CME activity provided by an accredited CME provider? Accredited CME providers are required to make available documentation of credits claimed by physicians at their request, but there is no requirement for a specific type of documentation to be used. Many accredited CME providers will issue a credit certificate at the completion and evaluation of an activity.
Nurse Practitioners credit? The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accept CME from organizations accredited by the ACCME.