​Guidelines for Minimally Acceptable Continuing Medical Education in Anesthesiology

Developed By: Committee on Professional Education Oversight
Last Amended: October 13, 2021 (original approval: October 04, 1972)

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1. To support the goal of life-long learning, a physician’s continuing medical education program should address gaps in knowledge, reinforce up-to-date and existing knowledge and allow the physician to remain current in the standards of practice. To support the continuing education needs for members, the Society will continue to provide continuing medical education in its many forms as well as coordinate and promote the availability of accredited continuing medical education programs and materials from other organizations.
   
   
2. Approved postgraduate educational experience may include both AMA PRA Category 1 and 2 credits™ and it is suggested that the credits be obtained as outlined below. Or one-year ACGME residency/fellowship training
   2.1 The AMA offers one-, two- and three-year AMA PRAs. The requirements for each are as follows: 
   2.1.1 One-year award
   2.1.1.1 Twenty (20) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and thirty (30) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™ (50 credits total)
   2.1.1.2 Or one-year ACGME residency/fellowship training
   2.1.2 Two-year award
   2.1.2.1 Forty (40) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and sixty (60) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™ (100 credits total)
   2.1.2.2 Or two years ACGME residency/fellowship training
   2.1.3 Three-year award
   2.1.3.1 Sixty (60) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and ninety (90) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™ (150 credits total)
   2.1.3.2 Or three years ACGME residency/fellowship training
   2.1.3.3 Or ABMS board certification or MOC

2.2 The AMA requires that at least half of the credit applied toward the AMA PRA Award be within the physician’s specialty or area of practice. Ethics, office management and physician-patient communication can serve as appropriate topics for CME but are not considered specialty specific education. 

2.3 Category 1 (Minimum of 250 credits in 10 years)
The Society recommends a minimum of 250 CME Credits should be earned from educational activities that meet the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ requirements to include earning 125 CME Credits by Year 5 and another 125 by Year 10. 

2.4 The Society recommends 20 Patient Safety Category 1 CME be earned during each 10-year period. 

2.5 Category 2 (Maximum 100 credits in 10 years) 
The Society recommends that a maximum of 100 credits be earned over 10 years from educational activities that meet the AMA PRA Category 2 Credit™ requirements. 

2.6 The Society recommends that those participating in the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) MOCA program, meet the specified requirements from that program.