CME Requirements for License Renewal
Vermont’s CME Licensing Requirements
- The license renewal process for physicians for the next biennium (Dec. 1, 2018 to Nov. 30, 2020) will begin August, 2020 and will close at the end of November, 2020.
- As an acknowledgement of the cancellation of many CME programs and conferences and the many hours of professional development performed by licensees to learn about COVID-19, the Board has reduced the CME requirement from 30 hours to 15 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, including 1 hour addressing palliative care, hospice care, OR pain management, and 2 hours addressing prescribing-controlled substances for physicians with DEA registrations. These three subject-specific activities count towards the 15-hour requirement (and cannot be waived by the Board as they are required by Vermont State statute).
- Licensees who have not completed the 15-hour CME requirement may file ‘make-up plans’ along with their license renewal application.
Opportunities to Meet CME Requirements
VMS Third Thursday Webinar Series
Online – Free
In an effort to keep Vermont’s physicians up to date on legal, regulatory, and practice management issues of importance to their practices, the Vermont Medical Society hosts a monthly series of free webinars. Taking place the third Thursday of each month from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the webinars are open to VMS members, practice staff, and others interested in the practice of medicine. For each session you will receive 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.
Prescribing Controlled Substance Offerings - Online – Free
- 2 CME credits per training. Boston University School of Medicine. S.C.O.P.E of Pain Trainings.
- 1-6 CME credits per course, please refer to MMS partnership information. Massachusetts Medical Society. Pain Management/Prescribing Opioids.
- Some topics meet prescribing controlled substances requirements. The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. Vermont Academic Detailing Program.
- A range of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Providers Clinical Support System. Substance use, pain management, medication adherence etc.
Palliative Care Offerings Online – Free or Low Cost
- Range of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Massachusetts Medical Society. Palliative care, pain management, and communication with patients.
- Ariadne Labs materials. Communication in Serious Illness.
- 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Alzheimer’s Association. Challenging Conversations About Dementia.
- Free if you belong to a member-organization. Center to Advance Palliative Care. Pain Management, Symptom Management and Communication Skills at the End of Life.
- Free, but membership required. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
- Starting at $20, range of CME credits. American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Evidence-based AAHPM sessions, hosted by Relias.
General CME Offerings
Online – Free
- Account required. For more info on claiming CME. Medscape Education. Multi-Specialty Courses.
- Membership required. American Medical Association Ed Hub. Comprehensive portfolio of more than 2,000 online CME activities, including free CME for AMA STEPS Forward™.
The VMS & MMS Partnership
Online - Special Member Discount
The Vermont Medical Society has formed a partnership with the Massachusetts Medical Society which provides VMS Members a 25% discount on all of MMS’ online CME courses. To take advantage of this opportunity, please view this tutorial. It covers topics, such as searching course offerings, using the discount code, creating a user account, and course payment.
To view MMS’ course offerings, click here. If you have any questions about the registration or login process, please contact the MMS Continuing Education Department at (800) 322-2303, ext #7306, or via email at continuingeducation@mms.org.