Updated Aug. 11, 2011
Q. What are the CME requirements of the AOA?
A. AOA members are required to obtain 120 credit hours in a three-year cycle, with at least 30 credits in Category 1-A. The remaining 90 credits may be obtained in CME designated as Category 1-A, 1-B, 2-A, or 2-B. Osteopathic board-certified physicians must earn at least 50 of their total 120 credit hours in their primary specialty.
Q. I recently completed my residency or fellowship. How does this affect my AOA CME requirement?
A. AOA members are exempt from the CME requirement while in a postdoctoral training program. Upon completion of the training program, the CME requirement will be prorated based on the end date of the program.
Q. How can I obtain AOA Category 1-A credit?
A. Category 1-A credit may be earned by attending formal, face-to-face osteopathic programs sponsored by AOA-Accredited Category 1 CME Sponsors. For a listing of upcoming programs that are eligible for Category 1-A credit, please refer to the AOA's online calendar of events.
Q. May I earn credit for osteopathic preceptoring?
A. Physicians serving as preceptors in any AOA approved osteopathic medical education program may earn AOA Category 1-B credit. A maximum of 60 hours of Category 1-B for preceptoring may be applied to the 120-hour AOA CME requirement. No credit is available for preceptoring physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or allopathic medical students.
Q. How can I check my CME status or obtain a copy of my CME report?
A. AOA members may view their CME reports by logging into this website with their AOA ID number or Username and password, or they may contact the CME department at (800) 621-1773 ext. 8262. CME reports are available to AOA members only, and there is no fee. Those members who have not created an account to view their CAR information may contact the AOA Department of Membership at (800) 621-1773, extension 8284 or by clicking the Login button above to receive a password.
Q. How should CME credit be reported to the AOA?
A. For CME activities sponsored by an AOA-Accredited Category 1 CME Sponsor, it is the responsibility of the CME sponsor to report all CME credit. For non-osteopathic sponsored CME activities, it is the responsibility of the physician to provide documentation to the AOA. A certificate of attendance or a letter of verification from the CME sponsor must be provided. Please include your AOA number with any CME submission.
Q. What is my CME requirement for state licensure?
A. CME requirements for state licensure differ between states. Please contact the appropriate state licensing board for more information.
Q. Where can I obtain CME forms for reporting CME credit to the AOA?
A. You can download CME forms for reporting credit from this website.
Q. Where can I obtain a copy of the CME Guide for Osteopathic Physicians?
A. You can download the CME Guide form this website.
Q. Does the AOA grant CME credit for allopathic sponsored programs?
A. CME programs sponsored through organizations that are AMA/PRA Category 1 CME Credit -accredited or AAFP-approved are eligible for AOA Category 2 CME credit.
Q. Does the AOA grant AOA Category 1-A CME credit for Standardized Life Support Courses and Bioterrorism Courses?
A. Standardized life support courses and Bioterrorism courses are only eligible for AOA Category 1-A up to a maximum of 8 credits and the remaining credits are recorded as AOA Category 1-B credit. Also, Bioterrorism courses are eligible for a maximum of eight credits.
Q. Does the AOA grant CME credit for volunteer work?
A. The AOA applauds volunteer work, but such work does not qualify for CME credit.
Q. Does the AOA grant CME credit for post graduate studies?
A. Studies completed in the quest for advanced degrees, whether Master of Science, Master of Public Health, Master of Business Administration, or Doctorate, do not qualify for CME credit.
Q. Does the AOA grant CME credit for touring medical facilities?
A. Such tours do not qualify for CME credit.
Q. How is CME credit awarded?
A. CME is generally awarded on a credit per hour basis. However, physicians may earn 1/2 credit hour per issue for studying medical periodicals or tapes, and may earn 5 credits per book for reading medical textbooks.
Q. What is the CME requirement for certified physicians?
A. Physicians who are board certified or board eligible are required to earn a minimum of 50 CME credits in their primary specialty in each three-year CME cycle. These credits may be earned in Category 1 or Category 2.
CME sponsored by osteopathic specialty affiliates in the individuals declared specialty will be applied to this requirement on an unlimited hour-by-hour basis.
CME sponsored by AOA CME Sponsors other than the individual's declared specialty affiliate may be awarded by the certifying board with jurisdiction up to a maximum of 25 credits per cycle.
Please contact your certifying board for information regarding the use of preceptoring or other credit towards this requirement.
Note: Under current AOA policy, failure to meet the AOA specialty CME requirement is interpreted as a failure to meet the individual physician's CME requirement. This could result in the loss of AOA membership and in turn result in the possible loss of certification. More info.
Q. What is the policy for granting AOA Category 1-A CME credit for AMA/PRA Category 1 Credit or AAFP credit for members who hold specialty or subspecialty certificates?
A. In recognition that members of the AOA who hold specialty or subspecialty certificates in those specialties with less than 300 certificate holders may have difficulty accruing the necessary AOA 1-A credit required for membership, and to allow adequate time for the development of such programs, such members may apply AMA/PRA Category 1 Credit or AAFP category 1 credit to their AOA 1-A credit requirement up to the maximum of 15 credits per cycle. The Council on Continuing Medical Education (CCME) has indicated that the policy is for members only who are AOA or ABMS certified.
Q. Are Life Members required to fulfill the AOA CME requirements?
A. AOA Life members in active practice have a CME requirement.
Q. What is the mailing address, fax number, and email address for reporting CME activities?
A. Send correspondence to:
American Osteopathic Association
Division of CME
142 E Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60611-2864
Fax: (312)202-8202, ATTN: CME
Toll Free: (800)621-1773 ext. 8262
cme@osteopathic.org
For additional information, you may contact the following CME staff at (800) 621-1773:
ext. 8054: Delores Rodgers, Director of CME
ext. 8053: Kathy Moreno, Administrator for Accreditation of CME
ext. 8055: Scott Richmond, Senior CME Service Representative
ext. 8056 Scott Thompson, CME Service Representative
ext. 8057: Greg Milton, CME Service Representative