As an anesthesiologist, you’re an essential part of patient care, helping people feel no pain during their procedures and immediately after. With so much responsibility, it’s imperative that you stay up to date with the latest developments and advancements in your field. Continuing medical education (CME) is a great way to do that.

While every medical professional is busy, you need to make time for CME credits both for your ongoing learning but also to stay certified in your speciality and state. Learn more about the requirements for anesthesiology CME and how you can easily earn credits online through quality programs.

Which CME Credits Are Required for Anesthesiology?

To be initially certified as an anesthesiologist, the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) requires medical professionals to complete a series of exams.

To maintain your certification in anesthesiology, you must have an active medical license. Anesthesiologists must also obtain 125 CME credits every five years and 250 CME credits by the end of 10 years. Of those 250 credits, 20 must be ABA-approved patient safety CME credits.

In addition to CME, you need to fulfill the annual Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) requirement. Do this by answering 120 MOCA Minute questions while maintaining a measurement decision theory (MDT) p-value of at least 0.10. And every 10 years, you need to have earned 50 Quality Improvement (QI) points.

You can earn up to 60 CME credits per calendar year, including AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. You can also answer 30 MOCA Minute questions per quarter and up to 30 per day.

Additionally, each state requires a specific amount of CME credits to maintain state certification. For example, in Massachusetts, practitioners must earn at least 50 CME credits each year. The state also lists several topics that have mandatory CME requirements, such as implicit bias in healthcare. By contrast, South Dakota doesn't have annual CME requirements.

What Are Your Online Options to Earn CME Credits?

The beauty of online CME credits is having the freedom to make your own schedule and access to a wide range of topics and resources. These online courses are accessible to licensed professionals across the country. As you research CME courses, take advantage of this flexibility by picking which areas you want to focus on, not just areas you’re required to study.

Look for an accredited provider that offers additional resources beyond basic course materials. Review any course requirements to make sure they qualify. And look at the format: On-demand activities such as recorded webinars, audio and self-paced modules offer more flexibility than a live course.

With the wide range of valuable topics for internal medicine, earning CME credits online makes it easier to find specific material that caters to you and your interests. While single-topic courses are ideal for in-depth coverage of a specific area, having access to a library of information also is incredibly beneficial. Some physicians will realize that a subscription service is their ideal solution.

Practical Reviews, for example, is a collection of practical, expert reviews of articles from top medical journals. These services offer summarized information on a broad range of topics and additional resources such as mobile apps, commentary and quizzes designed to help you easily earn CME.

Oakstone offers a variety of CME for anesthesiologists, including broad overviews and deeper dives into subspecialties. For example, if you’re a general anesthesiologist looking to learn more about pediatric care, Oakstone’s Pediatric Anesthesia for General Anesthesiologists program provides a general review of pediatric anesthesia challenges and procedure-specific information for younger patients. This program offers a maximum of 11.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

If you’re looking for a wider review, Regional Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine: Complete Review Series covers 10 key areas of anesthesiology. If you prefer, you can purchase individual modules, offering even more flexibility in your CME journey.

How to Select the Right CME for You

Choosing the right CME program can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it's important to do your research to find a program that best suits your needs. Consider the time and financial commitment required for each program, as well as your learning objectives. It may also be helpful to speak with colleagues and peers to get their opinions on various CME programs.

Think about what you need to maintain certification, as well as your career needs and goals. Other questions to ask yourself are do you want to dive more deeply into subspecialities, explore single-topic courses such as pain management, or look for a broader knowledge refresh.

A successful career in medicine requires lifelong learning and self-assessment. Oakstone CME is committed to helping you achieve your educational and certification goals — and fitting them into your schedule. We’re ready to help you fulfill your anesthesiology CME requirements as you pursue improvement in your medical practice.

Find out how you can sign up and save on your CME.