Continuing Medical Education for MDs/DOs

As a prerequisite for physician registration, practitioners are required to complete continuing medical education.

Physicians need to complete at least 48 credits of continuing medical education every 24 months (24 month timeline is in relation to the biennial registration period, not the calendar year). At least half of these hours must be in formal, category I or 1A courses. A physician must report during registration if she or he has completed the required CME.  However, newly licensed physicians are exempt from the CME requirement the first time they register.

Documentation of CME courses shall be made available to the Board upon request (Spring 97 Newsletter "Board Initiates CME Audits"), but should not be mailed with the registration payment. Random audits will be made to assure compliance.

Physician CME Requirements (per biennium)

24 Formal Category 1 or 1A hours:

• courses designated for AMA/PRA Category 1 credit by a CME sponsor accredited by ACCME (Accreditation Council for CME) or state medical society recognized by ACCME;
• approved for credit by American Academy of Family Physicians;
• designated for AOA Category 1-A credit; or
• approved by TMA based on standards established by AMA for its Physician's Recognition Award.

Note: At least 2 of the formal hours must involve the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility. Professional responsibility includes but is not limited to courses in: Risk management, Domestic Abuse; or Child Abuse.  In addition, formal courses must be approved for ethics or professional responsibility credit by the accrediting agency.

24 Informal Hours:

• Composed of informal self study, attendance at hospital lectures
• or grand rounds not approved for formal CME or case conferences and shall be recorded in a manner easily transmitted to the board.

Board Certification

A licensee shall be presumed to have complied with this section if in the preceding 36 months the licensee becomes board certified or recertified in a medical specialty and the medical specialty program meets the standards of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, the Advisory Board for Osteopathic Specialists and Boards of Certification, or the American Osteopathic Association. This provision exempts the physician from all CME requirements, including the requirement involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility. This exemption is valid for a maximum of one registration.

Residency/Fellowship Training

Physicians in residency/fellowship training or who have completed such training within 6 months prior to their renewal application will satisfy the CME requirements by their residency or fellowship program.

Exemptions

A physician may request in writing an exemption* for the following reasons:

• catastrophic illness;
• military service of longer than one year's duration outside the state;
• medical practice and residence of longer than one year's duration outside the United States; or
• good cause shown on written application of the licensee that gives satisfactory evidence to the board that the licensee is unable to comply with the requirement for continuing medical education.

* Exemptions are subject to the approval of the executive director/medical director and must be requested in writing at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the license.

Retired Physician Status

Physicians eligible for “retired” status and designated as such by the Board are exempt from CME requirements. “Voluntary charity care” status reduces informal CME requirements. For more information, visit the “Physician License Retirement Options” page at

http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/professionals/physicians/licensed/retirementOptions.php

List of CME Approved for Ethics Credit - Note: Courses listed fulfill Medical Ethics/Professional Responsibility requirements for registration but are not automatically acceptable for fulfillment of CME Ethics requirements for disciplinary orders.

For Providers - Application for TMB Designation of CME as Medical Ethics or Professional Responsibility

For CME course listings contact:

Texas Medical Association: (512) 370-1300, (800) 880-1300

Texas Osteopathic Medical Association: (512) 708-8662, (800) 444-8662