.10 Continuing Medical Education.

A. Definitions.

(1) In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(2) Terms Defined.

(a) “2-year period” means:

(i) For license renewal, the 2 years preceding the expiration of the physician license; or

(ii) For license reinstatement, the 2 years preceding the date of the submission of the application for reinstatement of the physician license.

(b) “Applicant” means:

(i) A licensed physician applying for renewal of the physician license; or

(ii) A physician applying for reinstatement of the physician license.

B. The Board recognizes and accepts CME activities which serve to maintain, develop, or increase knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession, and are within the basic medical sciences, the disciplines of clinical medicine, and the provision of health care to the public.

C. Requirements.

(1) In accordance with the requirements specified in §C(2) of this regulation, in a 2-year period, an applicant shall earn at least 50 credit hours of Category I or II CME, with at least 25 of those CME credit hours being Category 1.

(2) The Board shall recognize for Category I or II CME credit those activities which meet at least one of the following additional requirements for the activity:

(a) Be accredited as Category I or II by the ACCME;

(b) Be sponsored by an international, national, or state medical society, and meet the standards adopted by the ACCME;

(c) Be an accredited training program and have been attended by the applicant within a 2-year period, on the basis of either of the following:

(i) 1 year of full-time service earns 50 CME credit hours; and

(ii) Full-time service for a portion of a year earns 1 credit hour per week; and

(d) Is a service performed by a Board designee and involves medical record review for the Board and the service is performed without compensation and is credited up to a maximum of 10 credit hours for a 2-year period.

D. On the application form for renewal or reinstatement, the applicant shall attest to the fact that the applicant has completed the CME requirement.

E. Documentation of CME Credits.

(1) The applicant has the affirmative obligation to obtain the requisite documentation of CME attendance and retain this documentation for the succeeding 6 years for possible inspection by the Board.

(2) The applicant shall be considered to have met the requirements of §C(1) of this regulation if the applicant:

(a) Currently holds an active time-limited certification issued by:

(i) A member of the American Board of Medical Specialties;

(ii) An American Osteopathic Association Certifying Board;

(iii) The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; or

(iv) The College of Family Physicians of Canada; and

(b) Provides proof of maintenance of a time-limited Board certification that is dated no longer than 5 years prior to the renewal date.

(3) The required documentation of attendance at a CME program as described in §C(2)(a) and (b) of this regulation shall be a certificate or other documentation of attendance which shall:

(a) Contain at a minimum the:

(i) Program title;

(ii) Sponsor's name;

(iii) Physician's name;

(iv) Inclusive date or dates and location of the CME event;

(v) CME category designation and the number of designated or prescribed CME credit hours; and

(vi) Documented verification of successful completion by stamp, signature, hospital printout, or other official proof; and

(b) Demonstrate that the CME activity fell within a 2-year period.

(4) The required documentation of attendance at an accredited residency or fellowship as described in §C(2)(c) of this regulation shall be a certificate or other form of documentation which shall contain at the minimum the:

(a) Program title;

(b) ACGME accredited sponsor's name and location;

(c) Physician's name;

(d) Inclusive dates of the residency or fellowship;

(e) Specialty area of residency or fellowship; and

(f) Documented verification of completion by the sponsor.

F. The Board shall apply the CME requirement to all renewal and reinstatement applications after the first renewal, or, in the case of an applicant who has never renewed, after initial licensure.