CME Resources

WSMA CME Accreditation Program

The Washington State Medical Association is recognized by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)* to provide a voluntary intrastate accreditation program for organizations that provide Category 1 continuing medical education activities. CME is central to life long learning and professional development to which physicians and the WSMA are committed. Through its accreditation program, the WSMA seeks to assure physicians and the public that CME activities provided by accredited sponsors meet the high standards adopted by the association and by the ACCME.

The WSMA CME Accreditation Committee has adopted Essential Areas, Elements and Standards for Commercial Support that must be met in order to become an accredited CME provider. It reviews applications and survey team reports in fulfilling its obligations to make accreditation decisions. An integral part of the accreditation process is the site visit at which time the survey team will gather information and documentation that will verify that the organization has, in practice, met the criteria for accreditation.

The WSMA does not accredit individual activities. Organizations are accredited for their overall CME program. The designation of CME credit for specific CME activities is the responsibility of the accredited provider, and is not within the purview of the WSMA or the ACCME.

To request a pre-application and accreditation information packet, please email John Arveson, Director of Professional Affairs.

• Essential Areas & Elements
• Accreditation & Annual Fees
• CME Accreditation Application
• Standards for Commercial Support
• Surveyor Report Form
• Activity Documentation Review Form

Updated CME Accreditation Guidelines
The WSMA CME Accreditation Committee recently adopted the Updated Accreditation Criteria laid-forth by the ACCME. We are in the process of changing our forms to reflect the updates. Please note the following are DRAFTS ONLY and also that these are not the entirety of the forms, some of which are still in production. Please check back regularly for updates. We will notify all providers when the forms have been finalized.

• WSMA Guide to the Accreditation Process: Demonstrating the Implementation of the WSMA's Updated Accreditatin Criteria
• 2007 Decision-Making Criteria
• Demographic Information Form 

*The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
www.accme.org

Continuing Education, general requirements for physicians: Washington State Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance, Medical Quality Assurance Commission:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/ HPS5/Medical/physician_edu.htm

• WSMA Principles of Medical Ethics
• AMA Ethics
• Opinions from WSMA Judicial Council
• Quality Care/Best Practices
• Leadership Development
• Patient Safety
• Life Long Learning (CME)
  • CME Listings from Washington State
  • Links to Accredited Providers
  • CME Resources
  • Online CME