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Continuing Medical Education
Evidence of a Commitment to Lifelong Learning and Self Assessment: Part A
Continuing Medical Education
All diplomates participating in MOC must obtain an average of 30 Category 1 CME credits per year from an Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) approved organization as of the date of certification and throughout the 10 year MOC cycle. Three CME credits must be in ethics; at least 80 percent of the Category I CME credits must be relevant to the practice of ophthalmology; and the remainder of the CME credit hours can be in general medicine.
The amount of CME required is based on the year in the 10-year MOC cycle a diplomate applies for the Demonstration of Ophthalmic Cognitive Knowledge (DOCK) examination. The DOCK is offered in years eight, nine and ten of a diplomate’s ten year MOC cycle. Diplomates will be required to submit a total of 30 CME hours multiplied by the year they are registering for the DOCK.
For example, in year 8: 8 X 30 = 240; in year 9: 9 X 30 = 270; and in year 10: 10 X 30 = 300.
Please note: Diplomates who do not have the necessary amount of CME credits at the time they register for the DOCK will be required to submit the a total of 300 CME by the December 31 expiration date of their current certificate. This means a submission of current CME obtained to date is due at the time of DOCK registration and one additional supplemental submission of CME is required prior to certificate expiration.
Submitting CME
Diplomates will be able to list their CMEs in the ABO CME Tracking Tool by logging into the Online Services Center. The CME tracking system will allow diplomates to itemize and submit the following information: name, sponsor, location and dates of the CME courses completed. The tracking system will tally the CME entered and will display the total amount entered and the total amount needed. The Board does not accept original certificates of CME; however, the Board does reserve the right to request this documentation as proof of CME completion.
Ethics CME Requirement
All diplomates participating in MOC must obtain three CME credits in ethics. Ethics courses can be found through various institutions; such as bioethics departments of many universities, community hospitals and medical centers. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) also has an active ethics program which offers courses at its annual meeting and has on-line ethics courses.
The Board’s ethics requirement is designed to encourage ophthalmologists to recognize and resolve the ethical dilemmas that arise which directly impact patient care. The Board does not accept risk management or medico legal courses as ethics courses. While there are no specific guidelines regarding courses that will satisfy the ethics requirement, the course should contain the word ethics in the title or be designated as ethics by the sponsoring organization. Please note, even if an ACCME-sponsored organization designates a specific course as ethics, the Board reserves the right to accept or reject any course submitted as ethics based on course content.
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