Understanding the Requirements of Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Continuing Medical Education (CME) is essential for healthcare professionals to maintain clinical competence, keep up with evolving medical knowledge, and meet professional and regulatory requirements. Whether you are a physician, pharmacist, or allied health professional, engaging in CME is not only a regulatory obligation but a commitment to patient safety and professional excellence.

In this post, we outline the core requirements of CME — what it is, how it is structured, and what healthcare professionals need to consider when selecting and completing accredited educational activities.

What Is CME?

CME refers to structured educational activities that serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance of healthcare providers. These activities are typically evidence-based, unbiased, and designed to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.

CME may be delivered through a range of formats:

• Live conferences or workshops

• Online courses or webinars

• Enduring materials (e.g., articles, podcasts, recorded lectures)

• Case-based learning or simulation

Core CME Requirements

1. Accreditation by a Recognised Body

For CME activities to count toward professional requirements, they must be accredited by an official accrediting body. Examples include:

• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) – U.S.

• European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) – Europe

• Royal College of Physicians – UK

• State or national medical boards – for country-specific compliance

Accredited CME providers must ensure their content is independent of commercial influence and aligned with educational needs.

2. Targeted Learning Objectives

CME activities should have clearly defined learning objectives that meet the specific educational needs of the target audience. Objectives should be measurable, relevant to clinical practice, and based on current guidelines or unmet needs.

For example, a CME module on antimicrobial stewardship might aim to improve prescribing practices, reduce resistance, and support diagnostic decision-making.

3. Needs Assessment

CME planning must be informed by a formal needs assessment, which identifies the gaps between current and ideal practice. These assessments may be drawn from:

• Literature reviews

• Clinical audits

• Practice guidelines

• Participant surveys or outcome data

This ensures the CME is relevant, evidence-based, and likely to result in measurable change.

4. Educational Format and Interactivity

While lectures and reading materials still have a place, many accrediting bodies now encourage the inclusion of interactive elements to enhance learning:

• Case studies and real-world scenarios

• Quizzes or self-assessments

• Live Q&A sessions or group discussions

CME must also be accessible and inclusive — designed to accommodate learners with different needs, locations, and time constraints.

5. Assessment and Evaluation

To ensure educational effectiveness, CME activities often require:

• Post-activity assessments to confirm knowledge acquisition

• Feedback forms to evaluate the relevance and quality of the content

• Outcomes measurement, particularly for higher-level CME aiming to change practice patterns

Some accrediting systems now support levels of outcomes, from participation to behaviour change and patient-level impact (e.g., Moore’s Levels of CME Outcomes).

6. Documentation and Certification

Upon completion of a CME activity, learners receive a certificate of participation that documents:

• Title and description of the activity

• Accrediting body and provider

• Number of CME credits/hours awarded

• Date(s) of participation

Healthcare professionals are responsible for tracking and submitting their CME credits to licensing or certification boards.

Regulatory Requirements by Region

CME credit requirements vary by country and specialty. For example:

• United States: Most state medical boards require 20–50 CME credits per year; certain specialties (e.g., radiology, emergency medicine) may have additional requirements.

• United Kingdom: CME is part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD); physicians must provide evidence of CPD as part of annual appraisal and five-year revalidation.

• Europe: Credits through EACCME can often be transferred between countries.

• Canada: Physicians participate in the Royal College’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program or the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Mainpro+ system.

The Role of Medical Writers in CME

Professional medical writers play a crucial role in developing accredited CME content. They work with faculty and scientific advisers to:

• Translate complex clinical data into digestible formats

• Ensure educational alignment with learning objectives

• Maintain editorial independence and compliance with accreditation standards

• Support the development of slide decks, enduring materials, assessments, and needs assessments

Conclusion

CME is not just a tick-box exercise; it is a foundation for safe, informed, and up-to-date clinical care. Understanding the requirements of accredited CME helps ensure that both learners and providers maximise the value of every educational opportunity.

If you are a CME provider, educator, or organisation seeking support with accredited content development, our team of experienced medical writers is here to help.

Contact us today to discuss your next project.