What is CE?
CE refers to a specific form of continuous professional development that helps medical professionals maintain their competence and acquire new skills throughout their careers. CE activities can use audio, video or other media, such as live events, written publications, online programmes and so on. Content for these programmes are developed, reviewed and delivered by a faculty who are experts in their clinical areas.
Globally, independent accreditation bodies regulate CE for healthcare professionals. CE practices of some countries are listed below.
| Country | Ways of ensuring competence | Compulsory | Incentives | Regulating authority | Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CME or CPD | Pear review | + | - | ||||
| Australia | CPD | No | No | No | No | Financial disincentives for noncompliance Respective medical colleges and faculties (professional bodies) |
Cycle varies between 3 and 5 years. Mandatory components vary by college |
| Austria | CME | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Legal requirement Austrian Medical Chamber (professional body) |
150 1-hour credits over 3 years |
| Belgium | CME & CPD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Financial incentive (4% salary increase) | Minister of Public Health (government body) | 20 hours every year OR accreditation (requires 200 credit hours over 3 years and participation in two peer reviews per year) |
| Canada | CPD | Yes | Yes | No | No | Participation awards Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (professional body) |
400 credits over 5 years (some activities worth more credits based on content) |
| France | CME | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Lawsuits by regional councils National Councils for Continuing Medical Education (professional bodies) |
— |
| Germany | CME | No | No | Yes for government employees | Yes for government employees | Reduced reimbursement; accreditation withdrawn Regional chambers of physicians (professional bodies) |
250 45-minute credits over 5 years |
| Italy | CPD | No | No | Yes | Yes | Removal from medical registry Committees of specialists and primary care physicians (professional body) |
200 hours of credits over 5 years; peer visitation every 5 years (only for specialists) |
| The Netherlands | CME & CPD | Yes | Yes for specialists | Yes | Yes | None Continuing Medical Education Commission of the Ministry of Health (government body) |
150 1-hour credits over 5 years |
| New Zealand | CPD | No | No | Yes | Yes | Forced work supervision; loss of registration Medical colleges and faculties (professional bodies) |
Variable by region and college |
| Spain | CME (9 of 17 regions) | No | No | No | No | Variable by region Spanish Medical Association (professional body) |
Variable by region |
| United Kingdom | CPD | Yes: 360° feedback | Yes: 360° feedback | Pending | Pending | Forced work supervision Department of Health (government) |
Parallel requirements: (1) relicensure every 5 years and (2) recertification (variable by college) |
| United States | CME | No | No | Yes | Yes | Variable by state | Variable by state |
No
Financial disincentives for noncompliance
Respective medical colleges and faculties (professional bodies)
Cycle varies between 3 and 5 years. Mandatory components vary by college
Yes
Legal requirement
Austrian Medical Chamber (professional body)
150 1-hour credits over 3 years
Yes
Financial incentive
Minister of Public Health (government body)
20 hours every year OR accreditation (requires 200 credit hours over 3 years and participation in two peer reviews per year)
No
No
Participation awards Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (professional body)
400 credits over 5 years (some activities worth more credits based on content)
Yes
Yes
Lawsuits by regional councils National Councils for Continuing Medical Education (professional bodies)
-
Yes for government employees
Yes for government employee
Reduced reimbursement; accreditation withdrawn Regional chambers of physicians (professional bodies)
250 45-minute credits over 5 years
Yes
Yes
Removal from medical registry Committees of specialists and primary care physicians (professional body)
200 hours of credits over 5 years; peer visitation every 5 years (only for specialists)
Yes
Yes
None Continuing Medical Education Commission of the Ministry of Health (government body)
150 1-hour credits over 5 years
Yes
Yes
Forced work supervision; loss of registration Medical colleges and faculties (professional bodies)
Variable by region and college
No
No
Variable by regionSpanish Medical Association (professional body)
Variable by region
Pending
Pending
Forced work supervision Department of Health (government)
Parallel requirements: (1) relicensure every 5 years and (2) recertification (variable by college)
Yes
Yes
Variable by state
Variable by state
