Physician's Guide to Medicine - Continuing Medical Education

What are the minimum continuing medical education (CME) requirements in Missouri?
Are retired physicians required to obtain CME?
What if a physician cannot complete the minimum CME requirements by the end of the year?

What are the minimum continuing medical education (CME) requirements in Missouri?

Each licensee, on a yearly basis, must demonstrate completion of twenty-five hours of CME accredited by the American Medical Association (AMA) as Category 1 or 2, American Osteopathic Association (AOA) as Category 1-A or 2-A, or by the American Academy of Family Physicians´ Prescribed Credit. A maximum of ten hours of AMA Category 2 credit for which documented credit is given may be counted towards the twenty-five hour requirement.

The licensee´s renewal form, which must be submitted to the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts prior to January 31, will include an affidavit to be signed attesting that the above CME requirements have been completed. The reporting period begins January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year.

Physicians are required by law to keep a copy of their CME certificates for a period of three years in the event they are chosen to be audited by the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.

Are retired physicians required to obtain CME?

Retired physicians are not required to obtain CME. A retired physician is one who is neither engaged in the active practice of medicine nor holding himself or herself out as an active practicing physician, and has filed with the Board a retirement affidavit.

However, a retired physician wanting to maintain a limited license (a practice that consists solely of the provision of gratuitous medical services) is required to obtain five hours of AMA Category 1 or AOA Category 1-A or 2-A continuing medical education each calendar year.

What if a physician cannot complete the minimum CME requirements by the end of the year?

If the requirements cannot be completed because of personal illness, military service or an "insurmountable hardship" beyond the physician´s control, he or she can apply to the Board for an extension of time. Such application must be in writing and filed prior to the December 31 deadline.