CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

"On or before January, 1985, and on or before the first day of January of every odd- numbered year thereafter, every person licensed to practice medicine or surgery, every doctor of osteopathic medicine licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery, and every doctor of podiatric medicine licensed to practice podiatric medicine or surgery within this state, shall certify to the State Medical Board that in the preceding two years the practitioner has completed one hundred hours of continuing medical education. Such certification shall be made upon the application for registration furnished by the Board. For purposes of meeting this requirement, all continuing medical education taken by persons licensed to practice medicine and surgery shall be certified by the Ohio State Medical Association and approved by the Board; all continuing medical education taken by doctors of osteopathic medicine shall be certified by the Ohio Osteopathic Association and approved by the Board; and all continuing medical education taken by doctors of podiatric medicine shall be certified by the Ohio Podiatric Medical Association and approved by the Board." ORC § 4731.281

"Applicants shall keep detailed records of CME hours taken. Records of all CME undertaken shall be retained by the applicant for one year after the end of the registration period. At a minimum, the following information must be retained;

  • Description of the CME activity;
  • The category of CME, if applicable;
  • The location of the CME activity;
  • The dates of attendance;
  • The hours of each CME activity; and
  • Any available documentation of the completion of the CME activity." OAC § 4731-10-08

"The State Medical Board may require a random sample of practitioners to submit materials documenting completion of the continuing medical education requirement during the preceding registration period." ORC § 4731.281 "All records of CME activity shall be kept available for agents of the Board for review." OAC § 4731-10-08
"The physician shall be given sufficient choice of continuing education programs to assure that he has had a reasonable opportunity to participate in continuing education programs that are relevant to his medical practice in terms of subject matter and level." ORC § 4731.281

"The State Medical Board shall adopt rules providing for pro-rata reductions by month of the hours of continuing education required for persons...who have been disabled due to illness or accident, or who have been absent from the country." ORC § 4731.281 For further information on reduction of hours contact: The Ohio State Medical Board, 77 South High Street, 17th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215, (614) 466-3934.

Licensees whose licenses are granted or restored after the start of a registration period are subject to the following CME requirements:

  1. License issued or restored from January 1 - December 31 of first year of registration period - 50 total CME hours required for the registration period.
  2. License issued or restored from January 1 - April 30 of second year of registration period - 25 total CME hours required for the registration period.
  3. License issued or restored from May 1 - December 31 of second year of registration period - 0 CME hours required for registration period. OAC § 4731-10-10, 4731-10-11

Licensees who are retired or who reside out of state must fulfill all CME requirements in order to maintain a medical license, osteopathic license, or podiatric license in the State of Ohio. OAC § 4731-10-05, 4731-10-06

(See also: LICENSURE OF PHYSICIANS)

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

 
Back to top of this page