Attending an international medical conference can be exciting and educational for physicians and other health professionals. But can you earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or other CME credit at international conferences? The answer is yes.
It is important to work collaboratively with health care leaders and other stakeholders around the world to respond to the changing health environment and leverage the power of education to improve patient care. This can be accomplished through continuing medical education that addresses health care challenges across borders and oceans.
Access to international CME activities presents physicians with opportunities to participate in quality educational programs and collaborate with colleagues. Some of those activities carry AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™or other CME credit that can be converted to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. If you are attending a medical conference outside the U.S., here are a few ways you can earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
International Conference Recognition Program. To allow U.S. physicians the opportunity to earn CME credit for attendance at major international conferences, the AMA House of Delegates established policy that allows for select events to be approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
The International Conference Recognition Program is managed by the AMA Division of Continuing Physician Professional Development. For a conference to receive AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from the AMA, it must apply to the AMA, meet established criteria and the sponsoring organization must agree to certain terms prior to the conference taking place.
The ICR program recognizes a few conferences each year.
European Union of Medical Specialties. The AMA has an agreement of mutual recognition of CME credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). The agreement has been renewed through July 31, 2022.
Through this agreement, the AMA will convert CME credit for live and e-learning activities that are certified by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), which is the accrediting arm of the UEMS, to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Physicians can have their EACCME Credits converted by applying to the AMA.
Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada. The AMA and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada have renewed their CME/Continuing Professional Development (CPD) agreement through December 31, 2020.
This agreement allows select activities approved for Royal College MOC Credits to be eligible for conversion to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. However, only those national specialty societies and simulation programs that have been approved by the Royal College as accredited CPD providers—and university offices of CME accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education—are covered by this agreement.
Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners Accreditation Department. The AMA also has a conversion of CME credit with the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) Accreditation Department.
This agreement allows select activities approved for QCHP CPD credit to be eligible for conversion to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Effective Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2018, the agreement will be reviewed for renewal prior to the end of the year.
