DISCLAIMER: It is the learner’s responsibility to understand the requirements of the applicable association, state and/or specialty and adhere to them precisely. In addition, it is the learner’s responsibility to verify the type of credit awarded by looking in the course brochure, flyer, advertisement, handout, etc. for the applicable accreditation statement.
FAQ for Osteopathic Physician License Renewal in PA
What are the requirements for Osteopathic Physician license renewal in PA?
To renew a license in PA, a physician will need 100 total credit hours of continuing medical education (CME) in the two-year license cycle which runs from November 1 of an even year through October 31 of the next even year. It is the licensee's responsibility to maintain/track their personal CME credit hours. Be sure to check your email for emails from the SBOM regarding license renewal.
- A minimum of 20 credit hours shall be completed in AOA category 1-A approved activities
- At least 12 credit hours shall be completed in Category 1 or Category 2 approved activities in the area of patient safety and risk management
- 2 continuing education credits from a Department of Human Services (DHS) approved course on the topic of mandated child abuse recognition and reporting
- 2 hours of continuing education in pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing of opioids
Please Note: the two (2) hours continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting and the two (2) hours of continuing education in pain management, the identification of addiction or in the practice of prescribing or dispensing of opioids cannot be counted toward the 12 credit hours of continuing medical education to be completed in the area of patient safety and risk management.
References:
Does UPMC provide opportunities to earn continuing medical education credit online?
Yes, the UPMC CCEHS certifies hundreds of online modules. Please visit the following sites designed to meet your learning needs:
- UPMC Physician Resources (Over 150 online courses)
http://upmcphysicianresources.com
Experts from UPMC and our partners present on the latest clinical advances, bench-to-bedside research, and best practices in care delivery.
- University of Pittsburgh ISER Online Learning Courses
Accredited modules for physicians and other healthcare professionals including University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine Grand Rounds and numerous modules designated for ABIM MOC Part 2 credit.
- UPMC Center for Continuing Education Learning Portal
Accredited modules for physicians and other healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses and pharmacists.
- Wolff Learning Academy at UPMC
https://www.wolfflearningacademy.com/
The Wolff Learning Academy, part of the Wolff Center at UPMC, is designed to meet the quality and safety educational needs of healthcare professionals, including executives, physicians, directors/managers, and clinical staff by providing education, tools, and resources based on reliability and improvement science to improve healthcare outcomes.
Patient Safety/Risk Management
Are patient safety and/or risk management credits designated on my UPMC CME credit transcript?
Patient safety and/or risk management credits are self-claimed. There is not a requirement for CME providers to designate patient safety and/or risk management credit, however, in many instances, your credit transcript will designate relevant education with a patient safety/risk management footnote.
How do I know if a CME activity satisfies the requirement for patient safety or risk management?
The following list of topics that will satisfy the patient safety/risk management requirement:
- Improving medical records and record keeping
- Reducing medical errors
- Professional conduct and ethics
- Improving communication among physicians and with other health care personnel
- Communication between physicians and patients
- Preventive medicine education
- Health care quality improvement
- If CME activity falls within these topics, you can count it toward the patient safety/risk management requirement. The course does not have to state, and very likely may not, that it is a patient safety or risk management course.
Does UPMC provide any online opportunities for meeting the patient safety/risk management requirement?
Yes, the UPMC CCEHS certifies hundreds of online modules to help meet the patient safety/risk management requirement.
- https://cme.hs.pitt.edu (Provides a folder specifically dedicated to patient safety/risk management content)
- http://upmcphysicianresources.com
- https://cce.upmc.com
- https://www.wolfflearningacademy.com/
Do the patient safety or risk management credit hours need to be in Category 1?
According to the regulations, the patient safety or risk management credit hours can be in either Category 1 or Category 2.
If I have 12 Category 1 credit hours in patient safety or risk management topics, may I count these for both the Category 1 requirement and the patient safety/risk management requirement?
Yes, if any of the patient-safety credit hours that a physician has earned are Category 1 credit hours, they can be counted toward both the Category 1 requirement and the patient safety/risk management requirement.
Pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing of opioids continuing education requirement
Physicians must complete at least two hours of continuing education in pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing of opioids. Note, physicians choose the opioids education courses (i.e. credit is self-claimed).
Are there any online modules available to meet the pain management requirement?
- UPMC Physician Resources: Managing Acute Pain for Hospitalized Patients (.75 CME) https://www.upmcphysicianresources.com/cme-courses/managing-acute-pain-for-hospitalized-patients-with-substance-use-disorder.
- UPMC Physician Resources: Collaborative Efforts in Treating Back Pain (.75 CME) https://www.upmcphysicianresources.com/cme-courses/collaborative-efforts-in-treating-back-pain
- UPMC Physician Resources: Non-surgical care for Low Back Pain (.75 CME) https://www.upmcphysicianresources.com/cme-courses/nonsurgical-care-for-low-back-pain
- The UPMC CCEHS provides credit for the PDMP modules provides by the state, https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/programs/PDMP/Pages/Education.aspx. Modules 3-7 meet the requirements.
Can the credits I earn to satisfy the pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing of opioids requirement count towards the 100 credit hour requirement?
Yes, these count as part of the 100-hours required for continuing education, not in addition to the 100-hour requirement.
Do the pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing of opioids credit hours need to be in Category 1?
The State Board of Medicine will accept opioids continuing education courses in either Category 1 or Category 2. Get additional details on this requirement— Click here for additional information..
I am a prescriber who does not have a DEA registration number. Do I need to satisfy the requirement for pain management, identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing of opioids?
Click here for additional information.
Child Abuse
PLEASE NOTE, OUR OFFICE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPORTING ANY CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION AND REPORTING ACTIVITIES TO THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Click here for the PA State Requirements for Child Abuse Continuing Education
Must I complete the child abuse recognition and reporting continuing education every time I renew my license?
Yes. As a condition of renewal, you must complete 2 hours of Department of State/Board approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting within the required renewal period (24 month period).
Can I complete child abuse recognition and reporting training online?
Click here for a complete listing of approved providers. Unless a course is listed as approved by one or both of these agencies, the course will not be considered acceptable to meet the requirements for initial licensure or renewal.
Popular online options:
- https://www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu
- www.pamedsoc.org (membership required)
Note, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education does not provide CME credit for any of the online modules . And, we do not have access to any of your completion records.
HOW DO I DETERMINE IF A CHILD ABUSE RECOGNITION AND REPORTING COURSE HAS BEEN APPROVED?
Click here for a complete listing of approved providers. Unless a course is listed as approved by one or both of these agencies, the course will not be considered acceptable to meet the requirements for initial licensure or renewal.
Note, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education does not provide CME credit for any of the online modules. And, we do not have access to any of your completion records.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING MY COMPLETION RESULTS?
Completion results must be submitted electronically from the provider of the education. If you have questions regarding the submission of the continuing education, please contact the approved provider directly before contacting the Board.