Continuing Medical Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What content may be certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™?

The content of all activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ must meet the AMA's definition of CME, be non-promotional and be appropriate in depth and scope for the intended physician audience.

What is CME?

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 the 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. (AMA HOD policy #300.988)

CME activities may describe or explain complementary and alternative health care practices. As with any CME activity, these need to include discussion of the existing level of scientific evidence that supports the practices. However, education that advocates specific alternative therapies or teaches how to perform associated procedures, without scientific evidence or general acceptance among the profession that supports their efficacy and safety, cannot be certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

In addition to ensuring that the content meets the AMA's definition of CME, activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ must also comply with all AMA PRA core and format-specific requirements.

What is considered Medical Ethics and/or Professional Responsibility?

Those activities that recognize responsibility to patients, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to thy self.

Professional responsibility includes but is not limited to courses in: risk management; domestic abuse; or child abuse.

Code of Medical Ethics

What are some examples of AMA PRA Category 2 Credit^TM?

Examples of learning activities that might meet the requirements for AMA PRA Category 2 Credit™ include, but are not limited to:

• Participation in activities that have not been certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
• Unstructured online searching and learning (i.e., not internet PoC)
• Reading authoritative medical literature
• Consultation with peers and medical experts
• Small group discussions
• Self-assessment activities
• Medical writing
• Preceptorship participation
• Research
• Peer review and quality assurance participation

May committee work be certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™?

No. Participation in the work of a committee does not qualify for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. However, CME providers may structure a live learning activity that occurs during a committee meeting and certify that portion for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

As an example, a CME committee may need to be educated about the revised AMA requirements in order to perform the task of certifying activities for AMA PRA credit. An educational session to meet this need can be developed following all the requirements for any live activity certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. This educational portion of the meeting may be certified for credit, but the work of the committee involved in certifying activities using the updated requirements would not be not eligible for credit. When certifying committee education for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, a provider must comply with all of the requirements for certifying a live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

What is the difference between journal-based CME and journal clubs

A journal-based CME activity is a certified CME activity in which an article, within a peer -reviewed, professional journal is certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ prior to the publication of the journal. Each article is designated for one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. A journal club is an activity structured around the discussion of a journal article(s) that does not have to be certified as journal-based CME. Generally physicians will read the article(s) prior to the activity and discuss the article(s) during the journal club meeting.

If the journal club meets all AMA core requirements, as well as live format specific requirements, the activity may be certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for the discussion and learning that occurs at the live activity, not for reading the article(s). The accredited CME provider must comply with all core and live activity format-specific requirements in order to certify the activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

May non-physicians be awarded AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™?

No. Non-physician health professionals and other participants may not be awarded AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. However, accredited CME providers may issue documentation of participation to non-physicians that states that the activity was certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Who must complete a disclosure form?

All faculty, even those on staff, who present/moderate/or author at any CME Activity must submit a completed disclosure form to the CME Office prior to their participation.

• All faculty and planning committee member disclosures will be included in the educational material given to each participant. You may use scrolling announcements to also inform the participants that the disclosures can be found in the syllabus material. The speakers will verbally disclose at the beginning of their presentation.
• If the speaker has nothing to disclose, this information must also be communicated to the audience
• Any individual who refuses to disclose will be not be able to present or participate on a planning committee
• For journal clubs, all participants must sign a disclosure form annually.

Are commercial supporters joint providers?

No, commercial supporters are not considered joint sponsors and therefore may not enter into a joint providership agreement with an accredited provider.

Can you advertise that CME is pending or applied for?

No, you must have received approval before announcing CME credit.

What must be included on brochures, email and other registration materials?

• Title
• Date
• Location
• Objectives
• Faculty
• Planning Committee
• Correct Accreditation State
• Correct Designation Statement
• Disclosure statements

Eligible CME Activities

The AMA PRA Award and Credit System (PDF) explains the requirements for:

• Certification of activities for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by accredited CME providers
• Activities for which AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is awarded directly by the AMA
• International activities for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
• AMA PRA Category 2 Credit™
• The AMA Physician's Recognition Award

Activities (PDF) eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM :

• Live Courses and Conferences
• Regular Scheduled Series, including Grand Rounds
• Online and Enduring Materials
• Learning from Teaching 
  • FAQ’s for Learning from Teaching
• PI CME

6 Easy Steps to Certification of CME Activities

Step 1: Contact the CME Coordinator prior to planning

The Activity Director or their designee contacts Office of CME to plan an educational activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM; if desired, meet with CME coordinator to discuss.

Step 2: Submit a completed CME Application

An online application will be sent to you after initial discussion with the CME Coordinator. It may take up 4 to 6 weeks for approval. For programs submitted with less than 6 weeks, please contact the Office of CME by phone at 512.341.4939 or by email.

Step 3: Upon approval the following information is sent via email to the Activity Director or Designee

• Required Elements for Brochures, Flyer, Agenda, Syllabi, and/or enduring materials, Grant Letter of Agreement (LOA)(if applicable)*.
• A link to the course so that learners can complete their evaluation via the learning management system
• Disclosure to learner slide to either be shown or read before the start of the activity.

*Note:  Please submit grant letter(s) of agreement for review and Office of Professional Development (OPD) signature as soon as possible. Both the ineligible company and the OPD must sign the LOA prior to acknowledgement of support in any printed collateral or promotion.

Step 4: Prepare and submit to CME Coordinator any draft marketing materials (save-the-date card, brochure, email announcement, website, etc).

Step 5: Activity Director and CME Coordinatory work together to ensure all CME disclosures have been completed by planning committee members/speakers/authors.

OPD will review the disclosure information for each individual and take necessary steps to mitigate any potential conflicts of interest prior to the activity using the following options:

• Option 1: Divest the financial relationship
• Option 2: Peer Review of content by persons without relevant financial relationships
• Option 3: Attest that the clinical recommendations are evidence-based and free of commercial bias

*Note: if the activity is Internet-based or an enduring material, OPD will review and approve all content prior to the release of the activity.

Step 6: Following the CME activity, submit the following to the CME Coordinator within 14 days. 

• Copy of participant list, sign in sheet, etc.
• Final budget report, listing all income and expenses (if applicable)
• Copies of commercial support grant checks and/or check numbers and date paid (if applicable)

CME Resources

IHI Open School

Welcome to the Texas A&M School of Medicine Chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) Open School for Health Professions.

Join us in the IHI Open School and gain the knowledge and skills needed to change health care in the 21 ^st century. Faculty and students have free access to the Open School. Follow the instructions below to register and begin your journey.

If you would like to gain access to the IHI Open School, email cme@tamu.edu.

Leadership Development Initiative

Building Physician Leaders among Practicing Physicians

Physicians in the United States are experiencing major change as a result of several change drivers - health reform, financial pressures and changing public attitudes. Restructuring of the clinical practice has also put pressure on any aspect of oversight, and every aspect of quality. Whereas medicine changed slowly in the 60s and 70s, like the rest of the world it now changes every six months. Physicians need leaders and physician administrators who can help move to the next level and help other physicians manage this transition to the next system of care.

This program brings together physicians to move forward, to forge ahead and to be a resource to structure the future for physicians. Combining communication, advocacy and finance, with leadership as a common thread, this course is designed to learn materials to benefit the physician, to use the learning goals immediately and to enjoy the experience. Advocacy is an important feature and part of the class is intended to be at the Texas Capitol in the spring. This course will be interactive and personal - like "see one, do one, teach one" was in residency. The teaching methods center on minimizing lecture or didactic class, and emphasize interactive, scenario training and case-based learning. This course will move and challenge the learner. The faculty members were selected based on their methods and their teaching style as well as being subject matter experts. With an outstanding business and medical school faculty making the attendee/faculty ratio low, it will be close and non-traditional.

Objectives

An overall objective of the course is to develop leadership abilities and to develop an understanding of concepts, and an aspiration to know more. An objective of the course is to stimulate lifelong learning. An objective of the course is for the attendee to "see one, do one, and teach one."