Component 2: Lifelong Learning/Continuing Medical Education
Overview
Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, to achieve Osteopathic Continuous Certification in the primary specialty of Surgery, a physician must fulfill 60 hours of CME over each three-year period coinciding with the AOA CME cycle. Physicians entering the program mid-cycle will have their credit requirements prorated as outlined below.
In cases where the prorated amount does not equal a whole number or number ending in .5, the amount will be rounded down to the nearest half point. All prorations apply to each CME requirement (total, category-specific, etc.).
Initial Certifications
When physicians first become certified, their CME requirement will be prorated for the current AOA CME cycle only. Prorations will be based on the date of certification, as follows:
| Initial Certification Proration Chart | |
|---|---|
| Entry Date | Prorated Requirement |
| Jan. 1–June 30, 2019 | 83% |
| July 1– Dec. 31, 2019 | 67% |
| Jan. 1–June 30, 2020 | 50% |
| July 1– Dec. 31, 2020 | 33% |
| Jan. 1–June 30, 2021 | 17% |
| July 1– Dec. 31, 2021 | No requirement until 2022-2024 CME cycle |
Reactivated Certifications
When physicians reactivate an expired/inactive certification, their CME requirement will be prorated based on the amount of time the certification was inactive, as follows:
| Reactivated Certification Proration Chart | |
|---|---|
| Length of Inactivity | Prorated Requirement |
| 1–180 days | 83% |
| 181–360 days | 67% |
| 361–540 days | 50% |
| 541–720 days | 33% |
| 721–900 days | 17% |
| 901–1,096 days | No requirement until 2022-2024 CME cycle. |
See the entire CME Guide.