CME Credit Guidelines, Expectations, and Deadlines

For Providers and Attendees

CME Provider Expectations

ACCME Accreditation

The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The ASLMS offers a variety of CME educational activities and strives to maintain quality programming with ACCME compliance.

Accreditation Criteria

The ASLMS follows the guidelines set forth within the following documents:

• ACCME Accreditation Criteria
• ACCME Standards for Commercial Support
• ACCME Policies
• The AMA Physicians Recognition Award (PRA) and Credit System: Information for accredited providers and physicians (2017)

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

As an ACCME Accredited Provider, the ASLMS offers CME in the form of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Per the AMA, to certify educational activities for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, the sponsoring organization must:

• Be accredited by either the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or a recognized state medical society (SMS).
• Meet all requirements of both the AMA and their accreditor (ACCME or SMS).

Maintenance of CME Record of Attendance

In compliance with ACCME and AMA criteria, the ASLMS maintains activity registration rosters, assessments, and CME Record and Critique Evaluations as submitted by participating physicians for a total of 6 years. The ASLMS is required to file CME information with the ACCME within the same year as the CME activity.

CME Documentation

The ASLMS requires completion of a Pre-Test, Post-Test (or alternative assessment if available) and CME Record & Critique Evaluation for EACH registered course (including conference workshops, breakfasts or luncheons). For the Annual Conference program, a separate CME Record & Critique Evaluation with documented daily attendance hours, commensurate to the participating physician’s participation, is required.

Deadlines for CME Documentation

If the physician participant wishes to receive a CME credit acknowledgement letter, all required documents must be submitted within 30 days of the activity end-date. The ASLMS will make specific deadlines available to participants prior to, during, and following the activity via varied formats (online, email, mobile app, printed program or mailer).

Expectations for Physician Attendees of ASLMS CME Activities

Submit CME Documentation in a Timely Manner (Deadline)

• To ensure accuracy of records, physician attendees must submit required CME documentation (including but not limited to pre-test, post-test (or alternative assessment) and CME Record and Critique Evaluation) to the accredited CME provider (ASLMS) per the following deadline and guidelines:
  • Physician participants must submit all required CME documentation within 30 days of the activity end date. Specific deadlines will be made available to participants prior to, during, and following the activity via varied formats (website, email, mobile app, printed program or mailer).
  • Exceptions for documentation submitted beyond the 30-day deadline may be considered within 6 months from the end-date of the activity, but only for reasons beyond the participant’s control (extended illness, natural disaster, etc.) Participants must submit a formal request for deadline exception and provide detailed explanation of the reason for their request. Formal requests will be submitted to the CME Director for review.
  • CME documentation submitted beyond 6 months from the end-date of the activity will NOT be accepted.

Claim Accurate CME Credit Hours

• In accordance with the ACCME and AMA, physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
• When claiming CME credit hours, physician attendees should claim time of attendance to the nearest quarter (.25) hour. Up to 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit™ of CME is allowed per each 60 minutes of instruction (breaks are not included).

Approved by the ASLMS Board of Directors - December 18, 2017