Basic CME Requirements for Physicians and Physician Assistants

• The CME requirement for physicians and physician assistants is twenty-five (25) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or equivalent annually (calendar year).  
• Credits must be earned January 1 - December 31 of each year. 
• Licensees are responsible for being familiar with and reading the Board rules.

Chapter 540-X-14 is for physicians.  For more information, please visit:
http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/mexam/540-X-14.pdf

Chapter 540-X-7 is for Physician Assistants.  For more information, please visit:
http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/mexam/540-X-7.pdf

What are AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™?
Credit for programs designated to confer AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ sponsored or conducted by entities accredited by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama or by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor or conduct Continuing Medical Education Programs that confer AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSCs) - (MD/DO)
ACSC holders must receive two (2) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or equivalent every two years in the areas of:
• Controlled substance prescribing practices,
• Recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances, or
• Controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management.

Any program in these areas is acceptable to meet the CME credits required of all ACSC holders every two years.  You do not need to obtain pre-approval of the courses you choose.

Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (QACSCs) - (CRNP/CNM/PA)
Initial QACSC:
Submit proof of successful completion of a course or courses (AMA PRA Category 1™) approved by the Board which includes eight (8) hours of instruction regarding the prescribing of controlled substances and four (4) hours of advanced pharmacology and prescribing trends relating to controlled substances within one (1) year preceding the filing of an application for a QACSC.

QACSC Renewal:
As a requirement for renewing a QACSC, a CRNP, CNM or PA shall obtain, every two years, four (4) AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ or equivalent through a Board approved course or courses regarding the prescribing of controlled substances.  For more information, please click on the links below:

PA QACSC
http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/mexam/540-X-12.pdf

NP or CNM QACSC
http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/mexam/540-X-18.pdf

For additional information regarding Continuing Medical Education requirements, please visit:
https://www.albme.gov/resources/licensees/continuing-medical-education/

For more information regarding Board approved courses, please visit:
https://www.albme.gov/uploads/pdfs/ApprovedCMECourses.pdf