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BME Changes CME Date Requirements for Licensure Renewal

March 17, 2022
 

Nashville, TN – On March 11, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners (BME) sent out a summary of new rules going into effect on June 6, 2022. The new rules change the number of allowable times an applicant for a license gets to try to pass the USMLE and address re-entry to practice after absence from clinical practice. More importantly for doctors who are already licensed, the time period in which to obtain the required 40 hours of CME prior to license renewal is changing.

The rule amendments taking effect on June 6 would:

Applicants for license;

  • Mirror the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) attempt limit policy which now allows applicants to take the examination four (4) times before having to meet additional requirements.

Physicians already licensed are not affected by this change.

CME and License Renewal;

  • Delete the provision that CME hours may not be obtained via the internet or electronic means.
  • Amend language throughout the CME rules which currently set the continuing education audit period as the two calendar years prior to license renewal and replace it with a twenty-four (24) month requirement as well as changing references for "calendar year" to "renewal period" throughout the rule. This gets rid of the confusing rule that makes the 2-year CME calendar different from the license renewal calendar.

This change allows licensees to obtain internet CME hours if they met the criteria for CME credit, such as AMA Category 1. Also, once the rule is effective, licensees would need to obtain the 40 hours of required CME in the immediate 24 months before the month of license renewal. Currently, all 40 hours must be obtained within the two calendar years prior to the year a licensee must renew a license. The BME indicated there will be latitude regarding enforcement during the transition period. The change will not impact the current system of random CME audits conducted following the month of licensure renewal. Continue to save documented hours and only send them in pursuant to an audit request.

Licensure Reinstatement

  • Add language to place an applicant for reinstatement, who has been out of clinical practice for more than two (2) years, on notice that the applicant may be required to meet additional requirements provided in Board policies or guidelines before returning to practice.
  • Follow current trends established by the Tennessee General Assembly regarding past due fees and only require the licensee to submit proof of continuing education for the equivalent of up to four (4) years preceding reinstatement and for the equivalent of up to two (2) years preceding reactivation.

These only affect licensees who have been out of practice, had an inactive license for more than two years, then seek to reinstate their licenses.

For more information on continuing medical education and licensure renewal, members may access TMA’s Law Guide topic on Continuing Medical Education at tnmed.org/lawguide or contact the legal department at legal@tnmed.org.