Elective credit is obtainable for activities that are designed primarily for other health professionals but include content that is of interest to physicians and will improve a physician's professional ability. This content need not directly influence patient care or its delivery. These activities do not require AAFP member input. Prior approval is not required unless the provider wishes to print the AAFP Elective credit statement on CME activity materials. However, to ensure that AAFP members who participate in the activity may claim the appropriate AAFP CME credit in a timely manner, it is important for an activity to be accredited before the date it is actually offered. Therefore, prior approval is recommended.
The content of a CME activity must satisfy one or more of the following criteria to be eligible for Elective credit:
Elective Credit Eligibility Requirements
- Have medical education content of interest to family physicians but does not meet the Prescribed Eligibility Criteria.
- Be designed to improve a physician's professional ability, although it need not directly influence patient care or its delivery.
- Designed for health care professionals other than physicians.
To be eligible for Elective credit, a CME activity must also satisfy all of the following criteria:
- Have clinical content that is in one of the following categories:
- Evidence-based
- Based on customary and generally accepted (CGA) medical practice
- Neither based on evidence nor on customary and generally accepted medical practice, but not dangerous, nor proven ineffective.
- Greater than 50% of the activity content meets the eligibility criteria for AAFP CME credit.
- Include a minimum of 15 minutes' worth of clinical content. Approved credit will be based on the actual amount of scientific or socioeconomic activity content. Total credits will be rounded to the nearest 15 minutes (e.g., l hour, 50 minutes = 1.75 credits; 1 hour, 55 minutes = 2 credits). Members attending approved activities are eligible to receive credit only for the actual time spent participating in the activity.
- Comply fully with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support and the American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) Gifts to Physicians from Industry Opinion E-8.061.
