Continuing Medical Education (CME)

(1) Each licensee shall present satisfactory evidence to the Board that in the previous 12 months he or she attended an educational conference(s) or program(s) approved by the Board for not less than 15 CME credits: provided however, that the Board may exempt from this requirement licensees who submit satisfactory proof that they were unable to attend an educational conference or program because of illness or other good cause. Requests for a waiver of the CME requirement due to special circumstances must be submitted in writing and directed to the Secretary of the Board. Only CME credits which have specifically been approved by the Board may be used to meet this requirement. Courses or programs approved for CME credit by the APMA or the Council of Podiatric Medical Education are approved by the Board. (2) Opioid Education and Pain Management Training. At least one credit of CME taken in the previous one year shall be in pain management training, pursuant to St. 2010, c. 283. Pain management training shall include, but not be limited to, training in how to identify patients at high risk for substance abuse and training in how to counsel patients on the side effects, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal of prescription medicines. (3) Any teaching organization or institute seeking CME approval from the Board shall submit a written request to the Secretary of the Board and shall provide a detailed course description. Additional information may be requested at the Board's discretion. (4) Audit and Sanctions for Noncompliance. (a) Each licensee at the time of license renewal shall sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, that he or she has or has complied with the CME requirements set by the Board. (b) A licensee who has not complied with the CME requirement shall not submit a renewal application and shall not practice with a lapsed/expired license. A licensee seeking a waiver of the CME requirement shall not be eligible for renewal of his or her license until he or she has received a written waiver of the CME requirement from the Board. (c) The Board shall audit once each year a random sample of licensees who have reported compliance with the CME requirement. Those licensees selected for audit shall be required to document their compliance with the CME requirements of 249 CMR 3.05 on a form provided by the Board. 7/14/17 (Effective 1/13/17) - corrected (d) Any licensee who is found to have not completed the required number of hours of approved CME may be subject to disciplinary action and required to make up any deficiency during the next renewal period. Such licensees shall document to the Board the completion of any deficient hours identified by audit. Any licensee who fails to obtain the deficient hours, in addition to the hours required for the current renewal period, shall be ineligible for renewal of the license to practice podiatric medicine until such time as all the required hours of CME are completed and documented to the Board.