CME requirements for AAFP membership

AAFP active members must complete a reelection cycle every three years to maintain membership.

Your reelection cycle begins on January 1 of the year following the activation of your membership and lasts for three full calendar years. If you are a new member, you can also earn CME for the year in which your membership is activated and apply these credits toward your first reelection cycle. This gives you additional time to earn the required credits during your first cycle.

The cycle consists of earning at least 150 credits of approved CME, with some state chapters requiring additional specific credits.

Prescribed and Elective credit requirements

The AAFP classifies CME credits as one of two ways: Prescribed credits and Elective credits. Of the 150 credits of approved CME during a reelection cycle, 75 must be Prescribed credits.

Prescribed credits include:

  • Advanced training (completing a fellowship)

  • Teaching* (instruction of health professions learners in formal individual or live educational formats)

  • Scholarly activity (participation in a research study)

  • ABFM or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) board certification exam prep

  • Most Life Support courses (i.e., ALSO, ACLS, ATLS, BLS, NALS, PALS, etc.)

  • CME produced by the AAFP, including AFP and FPMjournals, and free online CME products

  • AAFP chapter produced CME

  • CME produced by other providers who have been approved for Prescribed credits

*A maximum of 60 Prescribed credits can be applied during a three-year reelection cycle for teaching.

Elective credits include activities approved for the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician’s Recognition Award Category 1 Credit™ or AOA credit, or professional enrichment (attending medical staff or medical society meetings).

Other activities may be eligible for Prescribed or Elective credit. These may include medical seminars or conferences, lecture series, advanced training, scholarly work, medical writing and editing or other activities. There may be limits on the number of credits from these types of activities applied to each reelection cycle.

Six easy ways to report CME

  1. Report your CME online

  2. Call (800) 274-2237 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST)

  3. Fax your completed CME reporting form or certificate of participation to (913) 906-6075

  4. Mail your completed CME reporting form or certificate of participation to:
    AAFP Member Resource Center
    11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
    Leawood, KS 66211-2672

  5. Use the CME reporting feature in the AAFP mobile app by scanning certificates of participation to search for CME activities

  6. Complete AAFP-produced self-study programs and the online post-test

FAQs about AAFP member CME requirements

What is reelection?

  • As a condition of continued membership, active members are required to report at least 150 credits of approved CME every three calendar years. This period is called a reelection cycle.
  • Once members have met the CME requirement, they are “reelected” to AAFP membership. If reelection requirements are not met, membership is canceled.
  • For AAFP members in their first reelection cycle, the cycle is four calendar years: the year in which they become an active member, plus the next three full calendar years.
  • In order to be eligible for reelection, members must earn and report the required CME credits within their reelection cycle. In addition, CME credits must be reported in the year in which they were earned.

What are the CME requirements for reelection to AAFP membership?

Active members must report at least 150 credits of approved CME every three calendar years (i.e., during their reelection cycle). The 150 credits must include at least 75 AAFP Prescribed credits. Some chapters also require “chapter credits.” Check with your chapter for more information.

Members in other AAFP membership categories are not required to report CME but may do so to maintain a centralized CME record.

Does the AAFP require evidence-based CME?

No. Evidence-based CME is not a requirement of AAFP membership.

Are there maximum credit allowances for certain CME activities during the three-year reelection cycle?

Yes, there are maximum credit allowances for some activities. They are as follows:

  • Professional enrichment: limited to 25 AAFP Elective credits
  • Teaching health professions: limited to 60 AAFP Prescribed credits
  • Advanced training: limited to 25 AAFP Prescribed credits
  • ABFM or AOA one-day certification: limited to 30 AAFP Prescribed credits
  • Scholarly activities: limited to 100 AAFP Prescribed credits

How can I check my reelection status?

You can check your reelection status online.

Questions? Contact us at (800) 274-2237 or aafp@aafp.org.

I have more than 150 CME credits on record, but my reelection status says I need more. Why?

You may need additional CME credits for one or more of the following reasons:

  • You have not reported enough credits to fulfill the minimum requirement of 75 AAFP Prescribed credits.
  • You have exceeded the maximum amount of credit allowed for certain activities during a three-year reelection cycle.
  • You have not reported enough credits to fulfill your chapter’s minimum requirement. (Check with your chapter for more information.)
  • The 150 credits you have reported were not all earned during your reelection cycle.

Is there a deadline for earning and reporting the required 150 CME credits?

Yes. The required 150 credits of approved CME must be earned by Dec. 31 of the year in which your reelection cycle ends (e.g., by Dec. 31, 2025, for a reelection cycle that ends in 2025). In addition, your CME credits must be reported in the year in which they were earned.

If I don't have the required 150 CME credits by the deadline, can I have an extension?

No. The AAFP bylaws do not allow for an extension to earn CME credit.

If you are concerned that you may not meet the CME requirement by the end of your reelection cycle, contact us at (800) 274-2237 or aafp@aafp.org. We can help you get all of your CME recorded. In many cases, after speaking with one of the AAFP Member Resource Center specialists, members find they can meet the requirement by the deadline.

I have more CME credits than I need for this reelection cycle. Can I carry them over to the next cycle?

No. Your CME credits must be reported in the year in which they were earned.

I reported CME earlier and it was designated as Prescribed credit. Subsequent activities are designated as Elective credit. Why?

The CME provider may have requested certification for some activities and not others. Additionally, some providers choose to seek certification for a series of activities in monthly, quarterly or yearly increments.

You may contact us anytime at (800) 274-2237 or email us at aafp@aafp.org to inquire about the status of the CME credit, or you may contact the CME provider.

I have to report my CME to other entities. Why do I have to report it to the AAFP, too?

By reporting your CME to us:

  • You fulfill a requirement of AAFP membership.
  • You maintain a centralized CME record.
  • You have 24-hour access to your CME transcript.
  • You can email a copy of your CME transcript to other organizations to which you belong.

As an added benefit, in most cases, we can report your name to the ABFM when you have met its CME requirements.