CME credit application process
Applying for AAFP credit for your organization’s CME activities is straightforward. Follow our step-by-step guide to get started.
Step 1: Review eligibility requirements
CME providers may apply for AAFP credit for CME activities that are relevant to family medicine and meet the AAFP Credit System's eligibility requirements. Follow our decision tree when trying to determine whether a topic is eligible for AAFP CME credit. It’s also recommended that CME providers familiarize themselves with Credit System policies prior to applying.
Credit system eligibility resources
Eligibility requirements
Decision tree
Policies
Step 2: Create individual account
Every provider account must be linked to an individual AAFP account. Request to link your account and your provider account by emailing cmecredit@aafp.org. Any questions pertaining to individual account creation should be directed to the Member Resource Center at (800) 274-2237 or by emailing aafp@aafp.org.
Step 3: Create organizational account
Every CME organization must have an active AAFP Credit System CME provider account. If the organization under which applications for CME credit will be submitted does not have an active AAFP Credit System CME provider account, you must request to create a new CME provider account. The request is associated with a one-time fee and must be submitted so the Credit System can assess the organization’s eligibility.
What you need to apply for a provider account
The organization’s name, type, contact information, purpose and mission, and primary intended audience
Organizational chart only if your organization, or any of its sister or parent companies, produces, markets, sells, re-sells or distributes healthcare products used by or on patients
Completed educational plan using the AAFP educational plan template
Example of the CME activity evaluation and/or assessment
Copy of your organization’s CME Relevant Financial Relationship Policy and Disclosure Form
Copy of your organization’s policy for managing commercial support
Submit a new provider account request
Navigate to the New CME Provider Request Form page
Choose between submitting an organization account request for a “Standard CME Provider” or an “ALSO/BLSO Only Provider.”
After completing your request for a “Standard CME Provider” or “ALSO/BLSO Only Provider,” the Credit System staff will review the submission and determine the next steps.
Please allow up to 10 business days for staff to reply to these requests.
Step 4: Complete a credit application
If your organization is deemed eligible, then your individual account will be linked to the organizational account, so you can complete a credit application for your CME activity. Log in to your CME provider dashboard to complete your application. Once logged in, you will see your dashboard, which lists all applications for which you are the application owner.
Credit application process
Select one of three pathways: Simple, Advanced, or ALSO/BLSO. (The application pathway is determined based upon the structure and design of a CME provider’s educational content.)
Enter activity level details.
Add a session, or sessions, with the appropriate session format(s) and session level details.
Submit and pay for the application. View fees.
FAQ about the credit application process
Yes, we do allow retroactive credit (meaning the activity/session has occurred in the past). However, the activity/session must be submitted within 365 days of occurring.
The AAFP active or life member should review the titles and learning objectives for each topic within the CME activity. The review should focus on ensuring all topics included in the activity are relevant to the scope of family medicine and designed at a level educationally appropriate for physicians who graduated from medical school and have been awarded a MD/DO degree. If the member agrees that the content meets the definition of AAFP Prescribed credit, then they should provide their AAFP ID number to the CME provider for them to include in the credit application.
If you need help acquiring an AAFP active or life member, you can contact your local state AAFP chapter and they may be able to assist in connecting you with a member or you can contact your local hospital, medical school, or residency for assistance.
Unsure how to ask an AAFP active or life member to review your CME activity for Prescribed credit? We've created a ready-to-use email template to make the process simple and effortless.
No. There is not a set number of learning objectives that must be submitted for each individual topic, or session, within the CME activity. The number of learning objectives should correspond to the length of the session and the content being covered. A general rule of thumb is three to five learning objectives for each topic/session.