Are you up on your radiology CME?

Continuing medical education (CME) consists of educational activities required by state medical boards for physicians to maintain their medical licenses.

The idea behind CME is that physicians who complete regular CME activities will be better informed of new medical technologies and practices and, therefore, will deliver better care to their patients.

Radiology CME specifically refers to CME courses targeted to radiologists, who are medical doctors who interpret mammography, x-ray, CT, and MRI scans, along with other types of medical images.

How can radiologists get CME?

A variety of educational activities are available to help doctors meet CME requirements. These include conferences, videos, written activities, and online courses.

Online materials are becoming an increasingly popular way for radiologists to meet CME requirements conveniently and cost-effectively, without having to travel to other locations.

Online radiology CME allows radiologists to participate in CME activities from the convenience of their home or office. Courses can also be completed at any time, an important consideration for many busy professionals.

How many CME credits do radiologists have to complete each year?

The number of CME requirements that radiologists must complete each year can vary based on the state in which they practice and their hospital's requirements. Check the website of your state medical board to find out.

The American Board of Radiology (ABR) also has its own CME requirements under its Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, which is designed to make sure that radiologists are staying current with new technology and research.

The ABR requires that radiologists complete 75 CME credits every three years. Of these credits, 25 must be from Self-Assessment CME activities, which are podium presentations typically delivered in a live atmosphere.

The rest of a radiologist's required CME activity can consist of enduring materials certified as Category 1 by the American Medical Association (AMA). Enduring materials are valid over a specified time period and can consist of web-based activities, webinars, etc.

Check the ABR's website for more information.

How much does radiology CME cost?

The cost of radiology CME varies by the CME provider. But, typically, radiology CME can cost around $15 per credit hour.

How do I make sure that my radiology CME provider is legitimate?

All CME delivered in the U.S. must come from an educational provider that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Be sure to check for ACCME accreditation before completing any radiology CME.

Who else can receive CME?

Radiologists, sonographers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses in radiology offices are all eligible to receive AMA Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA) Category 1 CME.

Where can I keep track of my radiology CME?

Some CME providers offer the ability to keep track of all the radiology CME you have received, even if it came from multiple providers. For example, AuntMinnieCME enables you to see all your CME certificates, giving you a single location to monitor your progress toward meeting CME requirements.

Do radiologic technologists have to get CME?

No. Radiologic technologists (RTs) are not required to obtain CME, but some states do require them to complete continuing education (CE) activities that are specifically targeted toward their professional roles in order to maintain their licenses.