The state requires all practicing physicians to maintain their licensure. Maintaining licensure means meeting various requirements, one of which is involvement in continuing medical education (CME) activities. CME credits are also essential for certification from other authorities in the medical field and membership in professional organizations. Maintaining certification is complicated, considering there are various CME requirements to meet. Getting CME credits can be overwhelming, especially when you are unclear about the requirements. It is, therefore, crucial to understand the various CME categories to determine the steps you need to take.
Category 1
Category 1 free CME for physician assistants focuses on education for a special content area. The specialty board and the respective state set the requirements that must be fulfilled. These requirements can be completed through lectures, online programs, and conferences. There are various avenues where physician assistants can earn free category 1 CME hours.
The AAMA PRA category 1 credit is the recognized metric for verifying participation among physicians in continuing medical education (CME) activities. Various crediting bodies accept these credits for CME requirements. These bodies comprise licensing boards in 46 states, the specialty boards and the joint commission, and other credentialing entities.
Category 2
Category 2 CME credits are necessary for qualifying for the AMA physician recognition award. This certificate highlights commitment to continuous education by a physician. The credit hours in category 2 are not mandatory, and no external sources are needed for verification. However, physician assistants who wish to qualify will have to document these hours.
According to the AMA, there are other valuable educational experiences for physicians that an accredited CME provider may not develop. These activities include;
- Unstructured online searching and learning
- Teaching medical students, residents, and health professionals
- Reading authoritative medical literature
- Consultation with medical experts and peers
- Group discussions
- Medical writing
- Self-assessment activities
- Research
- Preceptorships
Category 3
Category 3 CME is required every 3-5 years for the maintenance of certification and is earned through teaching physician-related activities. The institutions and hospitals must approve these hours within the accredited residency programs. Physician assistants should check in with their hospitals to see the required hours.
Category 4
Category 4 free CME for physician assistants may also be needed depending on specialty. In this category, physicians are encouraged to contribute to the future of medical education. Physician assistants must conduct research and present scientific exhibits to earn credit hours. Other ways to earn credits include publishing scientific articles and books. In addition, an official letter from a professional organization must be presented to show completion.
Even though these CMEs are categorized, the fulfillment criteria remain the same. Your license renewal is likely futile if you fail to submit evidence of successful CME courses as required. Therefore, take time to read through state CME requirements to understand the requirement.