Continuing Medical Education
Pursuant to new laws and rules taking effect as of April 1, 2024, licensed physicians are required to complete 40 AMA Category 1 hours of continuing medical education every two years. Each licensed physician, at the time of renewal, will be asked to certify compliance with CME requirements, with the following breakdown:
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If the physician has been licensed for less than one year, no CME is required.
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If the physician has been licensed for one year, but less than two years, 20 CME hours are required.
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If the physician has been licensed for two years but less than three years, 40 CME hours are required.
Note that if you are physician who performs an abortion, as of January 2026, you will be required to review this instructional course within two years before the performance of an abortion (unless deemed a medical emergency). You will receive a certification at the end of the instructional course and be responsible for maintaining records of compliance.
New: The Board is pleased to announce that as of August 1, 2023, it is accepting current certification, maintenance of certification, or recertification by a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association, or the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada, in lieu of compliance with continuing education requirements. Therefore, physicians who have such certification will not need to submit proof of CME hours.
Accreditation Council for Continuing Education (ACCME)
The North Dakota Board of Medicine is pleased to announce it has joined the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education (ACCME) to allow licensees to have their CMEs reported directly to the Board. This initiative reduces burdents and streamlines the CME reporting process for licensees. Physiciains must ask their CME providers to report participation directly to the ACCME. Once the CME provider reports participation, and it is accepted in ACCME's data system, the Board can view and verify your participation.
Physicians may also use the CME Passport to find, track, and generate transcripts of their reported CME through ACCME's CME Passport.
Audit
The Board does not require all physicians to submit documentation/proof of these hours. Rather, the Board will conduct an audit of renewing physicians, who are then notified and required to submit proof of CME compliance.
If CME is not reported into the ACCME database, and the physician is chosen for an audit, the physician will be responsible for providing the following information to establish CME compliance:
- Name of CME provider;
- Name of program;
- Hours of CME completed;
- Dates of attendance;
- Evidence of credit designation;
- Verification of attendance.
Please note that by law, every physician is required to maintain a record of all CME activities in which the physician has participated and maintain such records for at least one year following the time when those CME activities were reported to the Board.
Penalties
Physicians failing to comply with continuing educaiton requirements in the time and manner specified by the Board will be assessed a fee of $500 and possible disciplinary action. The Board will review a physician's failure to file a timely response to an audit and determine whether it is an admission of noncompliance and whether the license should be disciplined. It is therefore essential you keep accurate contact information with the Board so if you are chosen for an audit, you can timely respond.