CME Requirements & Licensure Renewal

Internet resource: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/

Effective July 1 2006, physicians (MDs and DOs) will now only be required to complete one (1) credit in HIV/AIDS – this must be done prior to the first renewal of the license, but once the physician has taken one (1) credit, he or she does not ever have to take it again. Most Florida physicians have already met this requirement and will not need to take the course again.

Physicians (MDs and DOs) will now only be required to complete two (2) credits in Domestic Violence every third biennial renewal. The HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence courses will no longer be required prior to initial licensure. For initial licensure, the only requirement will be two (2) credits in Prevention of Medical Errors. The biennial requirement for Prevention of Medical Errors also remains the same – MDs and DOs must complete two (2) credits during each two-year licensure cycle. End of life and palliative care courses can no longer be used in lieu of the HIV/AIDS course or Domestic Violence course. Below is a summary of Florida CME requirements:

Allopathic Physicians (MD)

Approximately half of Florida M.D. licenses expire every January 31st. One group holds licenses that expire in even numbered years (2008, 2010 …), while the other group in odd numbered years (2009, 2011…).

Initial licensure

Two (2) credits in Prevention of Medical Errors

First renewal

One (1) credit in HIV/AIDS
Two (2) credits in Prevention of Medical Errors

Every renewal thereafter

40 credit hours of CME including two (2) credits in Prevention of Medical Errors

In addition, every third renewal:

Two (2) credits in Domestic Violence.

EXEMPTIONS: Physicians in the military on active duty in good standing are exempt from all licensure renewal provisions. Physicians attending postgraduate training, fellowship or a residency in an ACCREDITED PROGRAM are exempt from the required 36 general CME hours, but must still take the mandated topic areas in HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence and Prevention of Medical Errors.

Osteopathic Physicians (DO)

In order to retain their Florida licenses, osteopathic physicians must earn a set number of hours of CME credit.

For each two year licensure period, each physician must complete a total of 40 CME hours, 20 of which must be Category 1-A.

Included in the 40 hours, there are five (5) mandatory hours required for Florida relicensure (each licensure period) and cannot be taken by correspondence. The following must be LIVE, PARTICIPATORY credits:

2 hours of Prevention of Medical Errors
1 hour of Risk Management
1 hour of Florida Laws & Rules
1 hour of Uses & Abuses of Controlled Substances

In addition to the above 5 hours, you are required to take 2 hours of Domestic Violence every 6 years (starting 4/1/06). This may be taken by correspondence.

FOR NEW LICENSEES ONLY:

1 hour of HIV/AIDS must be taken before the end of your FIRST licensure renewal. All those that are not in their first two years of licensure are NOT REQUIRED to take an HIV/AIDS course.

Licensure Periods:

(Previous) April 1, 2006 - March 31, 2008
(Current) April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2010
(Next) April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2012

This information is reproduced, with permission, from online resources of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) and Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA).