Healthcare professionals face mounting pressure to maintain licensure and certifications while managing demanding clinical schedules. Understanding what qualifies as continuing medical education is about ensuring your professional development activities actually count toward your requirements. Let's break down exactly what qualifies and what you need to know to stay compliant.
What Is the Definition of Continuing Medical Education (CME)?
Continuing medical education (CME) refers to approved educational activities that help physicians and other healthcare professionals maintain and advance the knowledge and skills needed for effective patient care. CME credit is earned through structured CME activities and CME courses that reflect current standards in the basic medical sciences and clinical practice, as recognized by organizations such as the American Medical Association.
Accredited CME programs are designed to address professional practice gaps, support certification programs, and improve patient outcomes. Approved CME activities must follow established accreditation standards, include qualified faculty, clear educational objectives, and appropriate assessment methods, and be supported by proper documentation in the event of a CME audit.
Why Does CME Matter for Medical Professionals?
State medical boards require physicians to complete CME as a condition of license renewal, with requirements varying from 20 to 50 hours annually. Beyond licensure, specialty boards mandate CME for maintaining board certification such asthe American Board of Internal Medicine requires physicians to earn 100 MOC points every five years.
Regular engagement with accredited educational activities helps you integrate evidence-based practices, understand new treatment modalities, and adapt to evolving standards of care.
What Qualifies as Continuing Education?
Activities that count toward medical licensure and certification must meet specific criteria established by accrediting bodies. Accredited CME providers include medical schools, teaching hospitals, medical specialty societies, and state medical associations approved by organizations like the ACCME or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Continuing education must be formally structured with defined learning objectives, qualified instructors, and mechanisms for assessing learning outcomes. Self-directed reading typically doesn't qualify unless it's part of a structured program with assessment components.
What Activities Are Approved by Accredited CME Providers?
Accredited CME providers approve educational activities that help clinicians maintain competence and stay current with medical advancements. Approved CME activities must be accredited, documented, and aligned with recognized professional standards.
- Live courses and conferences, including in-person events and webinars
- Enduring materials such as recorded presentations and online CME modules
- Performance Improvement CME focused on practice changes and measured outcomes
- National medical specialty society meetings relevant to a clinician’s practice area
- Journal-based CME with post-tests on peer-reviewed articles
- Manuscript review when formally recognized and documented
- Teaching medical students or residents when approved by an accredited provider
- Developing advanced medical curricula with proper accreditation and documentation
What Is the Difference Between AMA PRA Category 1 and Category 2 Credits?
AMA PRA Category 1 credits represent formal educational activities certified by organizations accredited by the ACCME or recognized state medical societies. Most state medical boards accept Category 1 credits to satisfy license renewal requirements, and specialty boards typically require the majority of your CME to come from Category 1 sources.
Category 2 credits cover educational activities that you self-designate as contributing to your professional development but that aren't certified by an accredited provider. While some states accept limited Category 2 credits toward licensure requirements, others don't recognize them at all.
What Are Self-Assessment Educational Activities?
Self-assessment educational activities let you evaluate your clinical knowledge against current standards and identify areas for improvement. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognizes self-assessment as a core component of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) programs.
These activities must include a formalized testing component where you answer questions about clinical cases, receive scoring and performance feedback, and access educational resources to address identified gaps.
Is 1 CME Equal to 1 Hour?
Yes—one CME credit equals one hour (60 minutes) of educational activity across most accrediting systems, including ACCME, AAFP, and AOA. A 90-minute session earns 1.5 credits, while a six-hour conference awards 6.0 credits.
For self-paced activities, CME providers estimate the time a typical learner needs to complete the activity. You receive credit based on this estimated completion time rather than your actual time spent.
How Do Different CME Credit Systems Work?
Understanding different credit systems matters because your license and certifications may require credits from specific accrediting bodies. A conference that awards AMA PRA credits might not provide the AAFP Prescribed credits that family physicians need, or the AOA Category 1-A credits required for osteopathic physicians.
What Is AAFP Prescribed Credit?
AAFP Prescribed Credit represents a more stringent standard than general AMA Category 1 credit. The American Academy of Family Physicians reviews and approves activities specifically for their relevance to family medicine practice. Family physicians need Prescribed credits to satisfy both board certification requirements and many state licensing requirements.
What Credits Does the American Osteopathic Association Offer?
AOA Category 1-A credits come from programs accredited by the AOA's Council on Continuing Medical Education and emphasize osteopathic principles. AOA Category 1-B credits come from ACCME-accredited providers, meaning traditional allopathic CME activities can count toward osteopathic requirements.
Activities Ineligible for CME
Activities ineligible for CME include educational or professional activities that are not accredited or do not meet established CME standards. These activities typically lack formal oversight, defined learning objectives, qualified faculty, or proper documentation required for CME credit.
Examples of ineligible activities may include informal peer discussions, unaccredited promotional or marketing events, routine clinical work, and self-directed learning without accreditation. Any activity that does not align with approved CME requirements or cannot be verified during a CME audit is generally not eligible for CME credit.
How Can EthosCE Help You Manage CME Requirements?
EthosCE, Cadmium's learning management system built for healthcare professionals, streamlines healthcare continuing education by supporting ACCME PARS, JA PARS, MOC, CPE Monitor, and CE Broker reporting in one system. The platform accommodates flexible learning formats, and integrated accreditation management features help you maintain compliance with evolving standards.
Healthcare organizations using EthosCE benefit from streamlined workflows that reduce administrative burden while ensuring accuracy in credit reporting and audit preparation. Learn more about Cadmium and how our products can benefit your organization today.
