CME Rule

CME Rule

TITLE 21 Chapter 32 North Carolina Medical Board
Subchapter 32R - Continuing Medical Education (CME) Requirements

.0101 Continuing Medical Education (CME) Required

(a) CME is defined as 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 healthcare to the public. CME should maintain, develop, or improve the physician's knowledge, skills, professional performance and relationships which physicians use to provide services for their patients, their practice, the public, or the profession.

b) Each person licensed to practice medicine in the State of North Carolina shall complete no less than 150 hours of practice relevant CME every three years in order to enhance current medical competence, performance or patient care outcome. At least 60 hours shall be in the educational provider-initiated category as defined in Rule .0102 of this Subchapter. The remaining hours, if any, shall be in the physician-initiated category as defined in Rule .0102 of this Subchapter.

(c) The three year period described in paragraph (b) above shall run from the physician's birthday beginning in the year 2001 or the first birthday following initial licensure.

.0102 Approved Categories of CME

The following are the approved categories of CME:

(1) Educational Provider-Initiated CME: All education offered by institutions or organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and reciprocating organizations or American Osteopathic Association (AOA)

(a) Formal courses
(b) Scientific/clinical presentations, or publications
(c) Enduring Material (printed or electronic materials)
(d) Skill development

(2) Physician-Initiated CME:

(a) Practice based self-study
(b) Colleague Consultations
(c) Office based outcomes research
(d) Study initiated by patient inquiries
(e) Study of community health problems
(f) Successful Specialty Board Exam for certification or recertification
(g) Teaching (professional, patient/public health)
(h) Mentoring
(i) Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conference
(j) Journal clubs
(k) Creation of generic patient care pathways and guidelines
(l) Competency Assessment

.0103 Exceptions
A licensee currently enrolled in an AOA or Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited graduate medical education program is exempt from the requirements of Rule .0101 of this Section.

.0104 Reporting
At the time of annual registration immediately following the CME reporting period, each Licensee shall report on the Board's annual registration form the number of hours of practice-relevant CME obtained in compliance with section .0101 of this Subchapter. Records documenting CME hours must be documented by categories for six consecutive years and may be inspected by the Board or its agents.

Have a CME question? Contact Joe LaBella at jlabella@ncmedsoc.org or 1-800-722-1350, ext. 123.