FAQ's
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General FAQ's | CME FAQ's
CME FAQ's
Why Are CME Providers Accredited? CME providers are accredited by the ACCME to assure physicians and the public that CME activities meet accepted standards of education. Who Accredits CME Providers? The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education(ACCME) is an independent accreditation body for institutions and organizations, which sponsor CME for physicians. For more information on the ACCME, visit their website at http://www.accme.org Who Receives Accreditation? Accreditation is granted on the basis of the sponsor's demonstrated ability to plan and implement CME activities with the ACCME Essential Areas. TOP OF PAGE What Is Continuing Medical Education (CME) Continuing Medical Education (CME) consists of educational activities that serve 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. The content of CME is that body of knowledge and skills generally recognized and accepted by the profession as within the basic medical sciences, the discipline of clinical medicine, and the provision of health care to the public. This broad definition of CME recognizes that all continuing educational activities which assist physicians in carrying out their professional responsibilities more effectively and efficiently are CME. A course in practice management, for example, would be appropriate for practitioners interested in providing better service to patients. Most states now require physicians to earn CME for licensure, and many hospitals require CME for hospital privileges. Malpractice insurance companies may require physicians to earn CME as well. Physicians may participate in worthwhile continuing educational activities which are not related directly to their professional work, and these activities are not CME. TOP OF PAGE Why Are CME Providers Accredited? CME providers are accredited by the ACCME to assure physicians and the public that CME activities meet accepted standards of education. TOP OF PAGE How do I know if a CME activity is given by an accredited sponsor? The ACCME requires accredited sponsors to state, in very specific terms, the source of their accreditation (either from the ACCME itself, or, for regional activities, the local medical society). This statement is usually included in the promotional materials and on the certificate of completion. Look for the designation "AMA PRA Category 1" credit on the certificate. This designation refers to the American Medical Association's (AMA) Physician's Recognition Award (PRA), and is the standard type of CME credit you should receive from formally planned activities. For more information, see the CME Awards section below. TOP OF PAGE What is the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Accreditation Status? The Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is not accredited by the ACCME. All CME activities found on www.azpedialearning.org are planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the ACCME through the joint sponsorship of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Arizona Chapter. The American Academy of Pediatrics is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The American Academy of Pediatrics has been surveyed by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and awarded accreditation for 6 years as a sponsor of continuing medical education for physicians. TOP OF PAGE What is the American Academy of Pediatrics' Accreditation Status? The American Academy of Pediatrics has been surveyed by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and awarded accreditation for 6 years as a sponsor of continuing medical education for physicians. TOP OF PAGE How Can I Find My State's CME Requirements? CME requirements for medical licensure vary greatly from state to state. While some states do not require CME for licensure, other states require as many of 50 hours of CME credit per year. For more information on your state's CME requirements, contact your state medical licensing board. TOP OF PAGE How Are CME Credits Calculated? CME credit is designated on an hour-for-hour basis, ie, for every hour you spend in a CME activity, you receive 1 CME credit. Calculating your CME credits, however, is not always simple. Many CME conferences include scheduled breaks, business meetings, and other activities that do not qualify as CME. These hours are not included when determining the total CME credits for a program. Also, if you attend a conference, but need to leave early to catch a plane or meet another obligation, don't forget to deduct that time. Note: When you attend a CME activity jointly sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Arizona Chapter, your CME certificate is incomplete until you fill in the number of credits you actually earned. It is your obligation to fill-in this portion of the certificate. For information about how CME credits are calculated for enduring materials, such as the web-based CME found on the Arizona PediaLearning Resource Center, please see the question below. TOP OF PAGE How Are CME Credits Calculated for Enduring Materials? Since people complete self-study activities (i.e., journal-based CME, self-assessment exercises, computer-based activities, video or audio tapes, etc) at their own pace, calculating CME credits can create a dilemma for the activity's sponsor. According to the ACCME, the sponsor of an enduring material should estimate the amount of time the average physician would take to complete the activity. This estimate becomes the designated maximum amount of CME credit for the activity. The individual physician is required to keep track of the time spent on the activity, and claim the number of credits he or she actually spent on the activity (not to exceed the maximum number of designated credits). TOP OF PAGE How Is My CME Credit Documented? THE BURDEN OF PROOF FALLS ON THE INDIVIDUAL PHYSICIAN. Some states require physicians to list each of the CME activities in which they participate. Other states require physicians to sign a statement attesting to the completion of CME. Many states enforce their reporting procedures by randomly auditing physicians. In any case, the burden of proof of CME falls on the individual physician to keep track of the CME activities he or she completes. The best way to do this is to keep a detailed file of all CME activities, including the certificates of completion provided upon the conclusion of any CME activity by the sponsoring organization. These certificates indicate the type of CME credit given and the number of credits for which the activity was designated. TOP OF PAGE What does the AZAAP provide regarding credit? The AzAAP does not maintain members or others CME summary transcript. For AAP members, this information can be accessed at the on-line educational home for pediatricians – www.pedialink.org. AzAAP will keep a detailed database of CME sessions that physicians complete on the Arizona PediaLearning Resource Center. TOP OF PAGE What is AAP Credit? In addition to the AAP-sponsored CME activities listed on the transcript, members may submit copies of the certificates of completion from other activities, which have been approved for AAP credit. Any organization may apply to have their activity approved for AAP credit (application can be found on CME Finder). If AAP credit is approved for an activity, the sponsor of the activity may state this on the certificate of completion. AAP members may submit a copy of this certificate to the AAP, and the CME credits will be added to the annual CME summary transcript. The member should keep the original certificate as proof of AMA PRA Category 1 credit " earned for the activity. AAP credit approval is given to organizations only. Individual requests for AAP credit following a course cannot be approved. AAP members may apply AAP credits toward the AAP CME/CPD Award (see below). TOP OF PAGE What does the AAP provide regarding credit? Members of the American Academy of Pediatrics have complimentary access to their annual CME summary transcript, which lists each of the AAP-sponsored CME activities in which the member participated for that year. This transcript does not replace the certificates of completion you receive for each activity; it is meant only to assist members in keeping track of the various activities completed each year. Should you request that we send you a copy of your transcript; there is a $25 charge per year. This can be ordered either over the phone at 800/433-9016 ext 7387 or via fax at 847/434-8387. Please include your name, ID#, the year requested and your credit card #. The transcript is issued for one calendar year. In order to have an activity listed on the transcript, the activity must have been completed in that calendar year. TOP OF PAGE What is the American Medical Association's Physician's Recognition Award (AMA-PRA)? The American Medical Association (AMA) awards the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA) to physicians who earn 150 hours of Category 1 CME credit over a 3-year period (1-year and 2-year certificates are also given.) If you believe you have qualified to receive the PRA, please contact the AMA's Office of Physician Credentials and Qualifications at 312/464-4665 or visit the AMA Web site at http://www.ama-assn.org. TOP OF PAGE What is the AAP CME/CPD Award? The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes the efforts of its members to keep current through continuing medical education (CME) and continuing professional development (CPD) activities. If you regularly participate in AAP sponsored or approved continuing medical education activities, you may qualify to receive the prestigious AAP CME/CPD Award. To qualify for the AAP CME/CPD Award, you must meet the following requirements: * You must be an active member of the Academy * You must have earned at least 150 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ over a 3 year period through AAP sponsored or approved continuing medical education activities TOP OF PAGE How do I apply to receive the AAP CME/CPD Award? There are no applications to complete, no forms to fill out. The AAP CME/CPD Award is mailed automatically every fall to those who qualify. Members can only receive the award once every 3 years. The Academy automatically tracks your attendance at AAP sponsored and jointly sponsored activities. If you participate in an AAP approved CME activity, please mail or fax a copy of your certificate of attendance or completion (please include your AAP ID#) to: American Academy of Pediatrics Attn: Transcript Coordinator, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007-1098, fax number: 847/434-8387. TOP OF PAGE How do I know if an activity is AAP approved? AAP approved activities should state so, either in their promotional materials or on the certificate of attendance. The statement should indicate the number of AAP credits for which the activity was approved. If you are not sure if an activity is AAP approved, contact the sponsor of the activity or visit the Other CME area of the PediaLink CME Finder. Please write your AAP ID# on your certificate. For more information on the AAP CME/CPD Award, email PREP@aap.org. To obtain your AAP ID#, please contact the Customer Service Center at 866/THEAAP1 (843-2271). All CME courses found on the Arizona PediaLearning Resource Center are approved by AAP. TOP OF PAGE Can the Arizona PediaLearning Resource Center or the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics answer questions I have related to my transcript? No. If you have questions related to your transcript, refer to www.pedialink.org – the on-line educational home of pediatricians sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics TOP OF PAGE Do I Receive CME Credit For Passing the Program for Renewal of Certification in Pediatrics (PRCP)? The recertification examination, like the initial Board Certification examination, is administered by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). For more information, visit the ABP's Web site at http://www.abp.org, or call the ABP directly at 919/929-0461. TOP OF PAGE How do I claim credits for an activity? For AAP members, credits can be claimed as follows: 1. Go To www.pedialink.org 2. Enter your AAP ID and password. 3. Click Login 4. Find the heading My Transcript 5. Click Claim CME Credit 6. Select the appropriate activity and enter the number of credit hours you are claiming. 7. Click Claim Hours 8. To print, select Print a copy of my Transcript from the next screen. 9. Follow instructions. TOP OF PAGE Can I turn in prior years materials for CME in the current year and still get credit for the prior year? No, credit is posted to the year in which it is received. TOP OF PAGE How do I activate my Arizona PediaLearning Resource Center account? Users will be asked for detailed log in information during their first CME “experience” on the Arizona PediaLearning Resource Center. In order to access any educational materials on the Arizona PediaLearning Resource Center users will subsequently enter this same log in information. All information is kept on file with AzAAP staff. TOP OF PAGE I have forgotten my password and cannot log in. How can I retrieve my password? 1. Go to www.AzPediaLearning.org 2. Select the educational material or course you want to view 3. Click Forgot your password? Beneath the Login button 3. Enter your email address 4. Click submit 5. After completing the process, retrieve your password from your email. 6. Return to www.AzPediaLearning.org to proceed TOP OF PAGE How many CME credits am I required to complete each year? These requirements vary from state to state, even from institution to institution. The Academy does not have a requirement that members complete a certain number of CME credits to maintain membership status. Callers should contact their state board of medical licensure, state medical societies, employers/hospitals/managed care organizations, etc. to inquire about their specific requirements. Callers may also want to refer to the American Medical Association's (AMA) Information Booklet on The Physician's Recognition Award (PRA) for more information about qualifying for the AMA PRA certificate or visit www.ama-assn.org TOP OF PAGE How do I find out more information about taking the board examination in pediatrics (or any of the pediatric subboard examinations)? The American Academy of Pediatrics does not administer any of the certification or Maintenance of Certification examinations in pediatrics or the pediatric subspecialty areas. These exams are administered by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and all questions regarding test dates, content outlines, eligibility for CME credit, recertification issues, etc must be referred directly to the ABP. They may be reached at 919/929-0461. TOP OF PAGE General FAQ's | CME FAQ's |