Frequently Asked Questions - Continuing Medical Education
What is Category 1?
Courses or programs designated by the American Medical Association (AMA) or the
California Medical Association as Category 1 credits related to one of the following:
patient care, community health or public health, preventive medicine, quality assurance
or improvement, risk management, health facility standards, the legal aspects of
clinical medicine, bioethics, professional ethics, or improvement of the physician-patient
relationship.
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How many hours are granted for passing a specialty board examination?
Any physician who takes and passes a certifying or recertifying examination administered
by a recognized specialty board is granted credit for 100 Category 1 hours for four
consecutive years.
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Does the American Medical Association's Physician Recognition Award
(PRA) meet the CME requirement?
To obtain a PRA, a physician must participate in 150 hours of CMEs, of which 60
hours are approved Category 1. If more than 60 hours of Category 1 CME are obtained
to receive a PRA, a copy of the PRA application should be submitted to receive the
appropriate amount of credit.
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How can I claim hours for which I have no documentation?
The organization sponsoring the program must provide documentation that includes
the participant's name, course title, dates of attendance and duration, the sponsoring
organization and accrediting agency name, and hours received.
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What if I cannot afford the cost involved in taking CME courses?
Hospitals have lunch meetings that are approved for Category 1 credit and offered
to all physicians. Physicians having trouble finding Category 1 courses may call
the CMA for assistance at (415) 882-5183. (An article with suggested CME opportunities
is available upon request.)
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I have a California license, but I am currently in the military.
Can I be exempt from CME?
Perhaps. The law requires that every military physician comply with the CME requirement.
However, reasons of war or being aboard a ship for extended periods of time (several
years) which preclude a physician from participating in any CME may be considered.
Requests to waive the CME requirement may be submitted to the Licensing Operations
Section of the Medical Board. Call the Consumer Information Unit at (916) 263-2382
for a request form.
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I received a waiver for my last renewal period. How many hours do
I need to complete by my next renewal?
If a waiver is granted for a renewal period, 100 approved hours must be completed
by the renewal period following the waived period.
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Should I send CME documentation with my license renewal notice?
No. If a physician is not being audited for CME completion, it is only necessary
to sign the self-certification statement on the renewal application form and return
it with the renewal payment. If the physician did not receive a renewal notice,
he/she should contact the Board's Consumer Information Unit at 1-800-633-2322 to
request a new notice.
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If I am audited, do I have to show proof of attendance at CME courses
or programs?
Yes. Documents that are acceptable include: Certificates of completion of CME events
that name the physician as the participant, the name and date(s) of the course or
program, the number of approved Category 1 hours or prescribed credit hours granted
for attendance, or a copy of the medical specialty board certificate (good for 100
hours of credit).
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What happens if I am audited and cannot show proof or evidence
of attendance of CME programs?
The Licensing Program will allow a physician to renew his or her license one time
following the audit to permit him or her to make up any deficient CME hours. However,
the Board will not renew the license a second time until all the required hours
have been documented to the Program. Furthermore, a physician may be charged with
"unprofessional conduct" for misrepresenting compliance with the CME requirements
during the license renewal process. (Title 16, California Code of Regulations, Section
1338.)
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