In an effort to provide OSMA members ready access to quality Continuing Medical Education CME programs, the OSMA Council on Medical Education accredits Oklahoma institutions/organizations, (i.e., hospitals, medical societies, specialty societies), to designate Category 1 CME hours AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM. These institutions/organizations must follow the Essentials and Standards set down by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). The OSMA Council on Medical Education has the responsibility to see that the Essental Areas are met.

However, some specialty societies and hospital medical staffs require a certain number of CME Category 1 hours on a yearly basis for membership.

435:10-15-1. Continuing Medical Education
(a) Requirements
(1) Each applicant for re-registration (renewal) of licensure shall certify every three years that he/she has completed the requisite hours of continuing medical education (C.M.E.).
(2) Requisite hours of C.M.E. shall be sixty (60) hours of Category I obtained during the preceding three (3) years as defined by the American Medical Association/Oklahoma State Medical Association/American Academy of Family Physicians or other certifying organization recognized by the Board.
(3) Newly licensed physicians will be required to begin reporting three years from the date licensure was granted.
(b) Audit/Verification
(1) The Board staff will, each year, randomly or for cause select licensees to be audited for verification that C.M.E. requirements have been met.
(2) The Board shall accept as verification:
(A) Current American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award(AMAPRA);
(B) Specialty board certification or recertification that was obtained during the three year reporting period, by an American Board of Medical Specialties(ABMS) specialty board;
(C) Proof of residency or fellowship training during the preceding three years. Fifty (50) hours of CME may be awarded for each completed year of training;(D) Copies of certificates for the Category I education.
(c) Compliance
(1) Licensees selected for audit must submit verification of meeting the CME requirement.
(2) Failure to submit such records shall constitute an incomplete application and shall result in the application being returned to the licensee and the licensee being unable to practice.
(3) A license obtained through misrepresentation shall result in Board action.

The license applicant will not be expected to submit proof of CME with each application, but rather to sign a statement of completion. A certain proportion of applicants will be audited each year. Failure to produce the proper documentation will be seen as unprofessional conduct subject to Board sanctions.

All physicians should be accumulating the expected hours of credit in order to renew their license in 2000 and beyond.