CME activities that have relevance to family medicine by helping family physicians improve patient care, improve the family physician's professional ability and demonstrate high educational, ethical and medical standards may apply for AAFP CME accreditation.
Learn more about Evidence-based CME (EB CME).
Application Process
Submit Your Application Online - NEW!
Save the $100 Data Entry Fee!
Save the $100 Data Entry Fee!
A. The CME provider may submit an online CME application or complete the Application for Approval of Medical Journals for CME Credit in Word for their CME activity to be reviewed for AAFP CME accreditation.
- All CME activities must comply with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support. The activity director must attest to compliance on the application form. The AAFP reserves the right to withhold or withdraw accreditation from such activities that, in its opinion, do not satisfy AAFP regulations governing CME.
- In any medical journal CME activity, the learner should not encounter advertising within the pages of the article(s) or within the pages of the related questions or evaluation materials. The amount and nature of advertising must be consistent with the educational intent of the materials or activity content. Journals must adhere to the ratio of advertising to editorial content as specified in the application. All product advertising will adhere to ethical standards of the AAFP and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association. Journals are encouraged to abide by the standards of the Association of Medical Publications. The Commission on Continuing Professional Development (COCPD) is the final authority of both editorial content, and ratio and placement of product-specific advertisements in any journal submitted for approval.
- Appropriate educational objectives shall be stated. Educational methodology and journal format must be appropriate to accomplish these objectives.
- The AAFP awards credit on an hour-for-hour basis for time spent in formal education based on quarter-hour segments. Audio and video materials will be accredited on actual time. Written materials will be awarded credit based upon an average time for family physicians to read and comprehend the materials. If credits are determined by a formal peer review process, documentation of the process is helpful in supporting the credits requested. The provider should include the following as verification of the review mechanism:
- a list of the provider's review board/advisory committee and credentials;
- a description of the method used to determine the average time for a physician to complete the material; and,
- the number of test questions per publication and the provider's formula to determine the amount of time to complete the test. Final determination of credits will be made by the COCPD.
- Fifty percent (50%) of content must fulfill AAFP CME criteria for the activity to be eligible for AAFP CME credit. Special consideration may be given when a specified track of the activity is designed primarily for physicians. Providers may apply for split credit hours (e.g., some Prescribed, some Elective), but they must clearly designate the precise number of credits and type of credit approved for specific portions of the activity.
- To verify participation in the activity, the participant must complete and return the post-test to the provider.
- To qualify for Prescribed credit, an AAFP Active or Life member must have direct involvement in the planning of the activity and believe that it is appropriate CME for family physicians. Attestation is required on the CME application. An audit will be done to ensure that the input family physician was involved in the activity planning. With no input family physician, the activity will qualify for Elective credit.
B. If submitting CME application by mail, fax, or e-mail, submit the completed CME application, supporting information (including a set of the 3 most recently published journal issues in their entirety, e.g., sets of January, February and March issues), and review fee -- including the additional $100 data entry fee -- to the AAFP:
To pay by credit card
Fax one copy of the materials to 913-906-6284 or e-mail to cmea@aafp.org. Do not send hard copy by mail if faxing materials.
To pay by check
Submit one copy of the materials by mail to:
AAFP
Attn: CME Accreditation
11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
Leawood, KS 66211
If submitting application online, providers are welcome to pay using a credit card or check. Once the activity information is entered online, providers will be able to select the desired payment option and print a receipt. When paying by check, providers must send the check and a copy of the receipt to AAFP. The review process begins once we receive payment in full.
Upon approval, a complimentary subscription must be provided to AAFP CME Accreditation.
C. Please allow 30 business days (6 weeks) for the review process. If an application and supporting information are submitted without all the required information, the review process will take longer.
The 30 business day (6 week) review process begins when payment is received by the AAFP. If payment is not submitted with the application, the CME Accreditation Department will hold the application for 2 weeks. If payment is not received within 2 weeks, the application will be sent back to the CME provider.
D. CME providers have the option to pay a RUSH FEE to have their CME application reviewed faster than the standard 30 business days. The rush fee is $500 plus the review fee. An additional $100 data entry fee is applied if application is submitted by mail, fax, or e-mail. CME providers who pay the rush fee will be contacted once AAFP receives the application. At that time, the review coordinator will determine how long the review process will take. Typically, the rush review process will take 5-10 business days.
Please note: EB CME documentation review cannot be rushed.
Complete the Request to RUSH form (1-page Word file; About Downloading) and submit with the original CME application.
E. Once AAFP receives the CME application, CME providers may use the following pending credit statement until official credit determination is received:
Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.
F. CME providers will be notified of CME credit approval by e-mail. Please keep this approval for your files.
To pay by credit card
Fax one copy of the materials to 913-906-6284 or e-mail to cmea@aafp.org. Do not send hard copy by mail if faxing materials.
To pay by check
Submit one copy of the materials by mail to:
AAFP
Attn: CME Accreditation
11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
Leawood, KS 66211
If submitting application online, providers are welcome to pay using a credit card or check. Once the activity information is entered online, providers will be able to select the desired payment option and print a receipt. When paying by check, providers must send the check and a copy of the receipt to AAFP. The review process begins once we receive payment in full.
Upon approval, a complimentary subscription must be provided to AAFP CME Accreditation.
C. Please allow 30 business days (6 weeks) for the review process. If an application and supporting information are submitted without all the required information, the review process will take longer.
The 30 business day (6 week) review process begins when payment is received by the AAFP. If payment is not submitted with the application, the CME Accreditation Department will hold the application for 2 weeks. If payment is not received within 2 weeks, the application will be sent back to the CME provider.
D. CME providers have the option to pay a RUSH FEE to have their CME application reviewed faster than the standard 30 business days. The rush fee is $500 plus the review fee. An additional $100 data entry fee is applied if application is submitted by mail, fax, or e-mail. CME providers who pay the rush fee will be contacted once AAFP receives the application. At that time, the review coordinator will determine how long the review process will take. Typically, the rush review process will take 5-10 business days.
Please note: EB CME documentation review cannot be rushed.
Complete the Request to RUSH form (1-page Word file; About Downloading) and submit with the original CME application.
E. Once AAFP receives the CME application, CME providers may use the following pending credit statement until official credit determination is received:
Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.
F. CME providers will be notified of CME credit approval by e-mail. Please keep this approval for your files.
