Thanks to the constant influx of new research and advanced technologies, the field of medicine is advancing at a rapid rate. While these changes are generally positive, keeping up with them poses a serious challenge for physicians who must attend to a number of other priorities while also staying up to date on information that is relevant for their clinical practice. In order to make continued learning and improved recall of previous learning a priority, physicians, including anesthesiologists, must fulfill Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit requirements following graduation from medical school. These credits can be completed in a time-flexible manner to accommodate the constraints of the hectic physician schedule.

As with most other specialties, there are specific CME requirements within the field of anesthesiology, and fulfillment of these requirements is tracked using a credit system. The American Society of Anesthesiologists organizes continuing medical education credits into two main categories.1 American Medical Association (AMA) PRA 1 credits come from interacting with official AMA or CME-provider resources on the topic of anesthesiology specifically.2 AMA PRA 1 credits can take various forms, including tutorials/lectures, question banks, and conference attendance. AMA PRA 2 credits, on the other hand, are not from an accredited CME/AMA source, but can take the form of teaching, reading medical literature, consultations with other healthcare providers, and self-assessment activities. AMA PRA 2 credits are self-reported. Notably, the process for claiming AMA PRA 2 credits may differ by state medical board; if you are a physician, check the state guidelines online before submitting.3

To even qualify for CME, anesthesiologists must meet the initial minimum requirements to become board certified.4 This includes four years of general medical school training as well as 4-5 years of specialty training in residency. Then, the aspiring anesthesiologist must pass a series of staged board exams mandated by the American Board of Anesthesiology: a basic exam, a board exam, and then an applied exam. Following a fellowship in a subspeciality, additional board exams are required.

The following are the minimum continuing medical education requirements for anesthesiologists, according to the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA):4

Thirty MOCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) questions must be completed each quarter.

By year five of practicing anesthesiology, a minimum of 125 hours of category 1 CME must be completed.

By year ten, a minimum of 250 hours of category 1 CME must be completed. Twenty of these hours must focus on patient safety training. Importantly, no more than 70 hours of CME credit can be obtained in a single calendar year.

An additional examination is required at the ten-year mark – completion of MOCA minute questions, which are multiple choice questions which can be completed online to assess competency and knowledge.

The CME requirements for anesthesiologists are both rigorous and critical for maintaining quality of patient care. A quote from Amanda Burden, MD, which features on the front page of the group’s website, reminds readers: “It’s really vital that anesthesiologists be at the helm of patient care. We have so many aspects of understanding what’s going on with the patient. We really are critical care physicians in the operating room.”5

References

1. American Society of Anesthesiologists. (2021). Guidelines for minimally acceptable continuing medical education in … Guidelines, Statements, Clinical Resources. Retrieved from https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/guidelines-for-minimally-acceptable-continuing-medical-education-in-anesthesiology

2. AAPA. (2020). AAPA CME Criteria. Retrieved from https://aapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/AAPA-CME-Criteria.pdf

3. AMA PRA Category II Credit™ Guidelines. AMA PRA Category II Credit™ Guidelines | Continuing Medical Education | Boonshoft School of Medicine | Wright State University. (2015). Retrieved from https://medicine.wright.edu/continuing-medical-education/ama-pra-category-ii-credit-guidelines

4. MOCA 2.0® components. About MOCA 2.0. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.theaba.org/about%20moca%202.0.html

5. The American Board of Anesthesiology. (n.d.). Newsfeed. Home. Retrieved from https://www.theaba.org/index.html