How to Plan a CME Activity

Thank you for your interest in working with the Medical University of South Carolina’s Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) to develop a continuing medical education (CME) activity for physicians. Continuing medical education is defined by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) as "educational activities that serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public or the profession. The content of CME is that body of knowledge and skills generally accepted by the profession as within the basic medical sciences, the discipline of clinical medicine, and the provision of Health care to the public." 

If your proposed activity falls within this definition, the first step is to complete the Request for CME Certification with proposed topics and return it to our office no later than 9 months prior to the proposed activity. Then contact us to set up a meeting to discuss your proposed activity with MUSC Office of CME staff. We will review MUSC OCME and ACCME criteria and standards with you and answer your questions. The MUSC OCME must be integrally involved in the design and development of all CME activities that it certifies for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. An MUSC OCME Manager will be assigned to work with you to develop your CME activity and all required applications and documents for use with your CME activity will be provided to you. Our timeline for completion and submission will also be provided to you. Your MUSC OCME Manager will be in constant contact with you throughout the process to assure that your CME activity is fully compliant with ACCME, MUSC, AMA and OIG requirements.

Important: If your activity has already been developed, planned, agenda finalized and promotional information has already been distributed we will not award AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM.

Police and Procedures: Find information on ACCME and MUSC policies and procedures.

To request a "Request for CME Certification", please email the CME Office at cmeoffice@musc.edu

Types of Activities

A CME activity is an educational offering that is planned, implemented, and evaluated in accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, Standards for Commercial Support, and policies; the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award CME credit system standards and policies; and the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs pertinent opinions. The activities below are defined by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) as follows:

• Live Conference: Activity that occurs at a specific time as scheduled by the accredited CME provider. Participation may be in person or remotely as is the case of teleconferences or live internet webinars.
• Enduring Material/Online: An activity that endures over a specified time and does not have a specific time or location designated for participation; rather, the participant determines whether and when to complete the activity. Examples: online interactive educational module, recorded presentation, podcast.
• Regularly Scheduled Series: A course planned as a series with multiple, ongoing sessions, e.g., offered weekly, monthly, or quarterly; and is primarily planned by and presented to the accredited organization’s professional staff. Examples include grand rounds, tumor boards, and morbidity and mortality conferences.