CME requirements for Hospital Medicine
Continuing medical education (CME) keeps hospitalists current with the latest advancements in inpatient care, diagnostics, and safety protocols. CME credit from activities, such as video lectures, online courses, and live conferences, is required for state medical licensure renewal and for maintaining board certification.
To qualify for the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements, CME credits must be earned through a provider accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and approved for ABIM MOC points or ABFM MOC credit. In this guide, we’ll explore the specific requirements for hospital medicine professionals and how Oakstone can help hospitalists find, complete, and track the right CME activities.
CME Requirements for Hospital Medicine Professionals
State medical boards and specialty certification boards determine the continuing medical education requirements for hospital medicine professionals. Many hospitalists are certified under the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), or American Board of Pediatrics, depending on their specialty.
ABIM and ABFM-certified hospitalists participate in the MOC program, which requires physicians to earn MOC points through AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ activities. Physicians must earn at least 100 MOC points every five years and successfully complete a required Knowledge Check-In to maintain certification.
State medical boards establish separate CME requirements for licensure renewal, which vary by the exact number of credits and the timeline for completion. For example, Texas requires 48 CME hours every two years, whereas Louisiana requires 20 hours annually. Many states also require CME in specialized areas such as ethics, pain management, or implicit bias.
CME Activities That Count Toward Hospital Medicine Requirements
Hospital medicine professionals can earn CME credits that count toward both state licensure and MOC through a wide range of in-person or virtual activities, including:
- Video lectures
- Interactive case discussions
- Live or virtual conferences
- Online courses or webinars
- Journal-based activities
- Point-of-care learning
- Self-assessment CME (SA-CME) modules
To count toward your CME requirements, these activities must fall under AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, be relevant to your field, and be offered by an ACCME-accredited provider and designated for MOC credit. AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™, which include activities like teaching or taking non-accredited courses, don’t count toward MOC requirements but may satisfy certain state licensure CME hours.
Maintaining Certification and Licensure
Hospital medicine professionals must complete the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program to maintain board certification. The program requires physicians to:
- Hold an unrestricted medical license
- Successfully complete a required Knowledge Check-In every five years
- Complete lifelong learning and self-assessments to expand medical knowledge
- Evaluate performance in practice through assessment activities
MOC requirements can be fulfilled through CME activities, self-assessment modules, and practice improvement projects. Physicians must complete these activities within the certification period, document their CME and MOC credits. Credits are reported to the certifying board when physicians claim MOC credit through participating CME providers.
In addition to MOC requirements, physicians must also fulfill separate state medical board CME requirements to maintain licensure. These often include state-mandated topics such as ethics, pain management, cultural competency, opioid prescribing, and implicit bias.
How Oakstone Helps You Find the Right CME Provider for Hospitalists
Oakstone offers a full suite of tools that help hospitalists earn and track ABIM MOC credit. Physicians can explore accredited courses and field-specific topics, including practical reviews, clinical research, and evidence-based content. With mobile access and flexible formats, you can easily find CME activities tailored to your busy schedule. Helpful tools, such as the CME credit tracker, also allow you to monitor credits, document progress, and stay on track with MOC and state requirements.
Explore Oakstone’s products today to find accredited CME activities, track your MOC progress, and stay current with the latest hospital medicine education.