Continuing Medical Education Update
From the Board of Medicine, June 2006

On June 20, 2006 Governor Bush signed HB 699 into law. It takes effect on July 1, 2006. Below is a summary of the bill regarding CME requirements.

The new law provides that physician assistants (PAs) will now only be required to complete one (1) hour credit in HIV/AIDS – this must be done prior to the first renewal of the license, but once the physician assistant has taken one (1) credit, he or she does not ever have to take it again. Most Florida physician assistants have already met this requirement and will not need to take the course again.

The new law provides that physician assistants (PAs) will now only be required to complete two (2) credits in Domestic Violence every six (6) years, or every third renewal cycle.

The HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence courses will no longer be required prior to initial licensure. For initial licensure, the only requirement will be two (2) credits in Prevention of Medical Errors. The biennial requirement for Prevention of Medical Errors also remains the same – PAs must complete two (2) during each two-year licensure cycle.

End of life and palliative care courses can no longer be used in lieu of the HIV/AIDS course or Domestic Violence course.

Below is a summary of Florida CME requirements, effective July 1, 2006:

Initial licensure:

Two (2) credits in Prevention of Medical Errors

Every renewal thereafter:

If you ARE currently certified by NCCPA:

1. NCCPA certificate

2. Proof of completing a 2-hour course of category 1 or 2, Preventing Medical Errors

If you ARE NOT currently certified by NCCPA:

Proof of completing no less than ninety-six (98) category 1, general CME, plus
Proof of completing a 2-hour course of category 1 or 2, Preventing Medical Errors

Prescribing Physician Assistants:

1. In addition to the above, proof of completing 10 hours of CME in the specialty area of your supervising physician(s). The 10 hours is inclusive of the 98 general CME hours listed above.

2. 98 credit hours of CME including two (2) credits in Prevention of Medical Errors

In addition to the above, every third renewal must include:

Two (2) credits in Domestic Violence.

PAs renewing on January 31, 2008 will be required to complete two (2) credits of Domestic Violence before renewing on 2012.

Posted June 27, 2006