For Health Professionals

/ Continued Medical Education

Continuing education for health care professionals

Continued medical education is an important part of our commitment to providing quality, cost effective care to our community. We have partnered with Michigan State University (MSU) to bring a four-year medical school to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The university's Secchia Center in downtown Grand Rapids enhances physician recruitment efforts and helps bring new research activities to our community. The first class started in fall 2008 with 50 students. That number will grow to 100 students per class with an annual enrollment of 400 students by 2013.

Spectrum Health serves as a training ground-and our physicians act as faculty preceptors-for approximately 140 students from MSU and other medical schools through the Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners (GRMEP). We offer more than 16 active residency programs and train about 300 medical residents each year.

Revised medical rules and requirements (2016)

In December 2016, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs announced revised Medical Rules adding new requirements for Continuing Medical Education which include: 

  • Training standards for identifying victims of human trafficking – This is a one-time training that is separate from continuing education. Licensees renewing for 2017 must complete training by renewal in 2020; renewals for 2018 by 2021, and renewals for 2019 by 2022. Beginning in 2021, completion of the training is a requirement for initial licensure. 
  • Education on pain and symptom management – Starting in December 2017, a minimum of three hours of continuing education shall be earned in the area of pain and symptom management. 
  • Medical ethics – A minimum of one hour of continuing education shall be earned in the area of medical ethics.

New categories of CME

The Board of Medicine has updated the previous six categories of credit into two categories. As before, each medical doctor is required to complete 150 hours of CME approved by the board of which a minimum of 75 hours of the required 150 must be earned in Category 1 activities. The following is a breakdown of the two categories for licensure:

Category 1

  1. Activities with accredited sponsorship – Maximum 150 hours 
  2. Passing specialty board certification or recertification – Maximum 50 hours
  1. Successfully completing MOC that does not meet requirements (A) or (B) above – Maximum 30 hours 
  2. Participation in a board approved training program – Maximum 150 hours

Category 2

  1. Clinical instructor for medical students engaged in postgraduate training program – Maximum 48 hours 
  2. Initial presentation of scientific exhibit, poster or paper – Maximum 24 hours 
  3. Publication of scientific article in a peer-reviewed journal – Maximum 24 hours 
  4. Initial publication of a chapter or portion of a chapter in a professional health care textbook or peer-review textbook – Maximum 24 hours 
  5. Participation in any of the following as it relates to the practice of medicine – Maximum 18 hours 
    1. Peer review Committee dealing with quality of patient care 
    2. A Committee dealing with utilization review
    3. A health care organization committee dealing with patient care issues
    4. A national or state committee, board, council or association
  1. Until December 6, 2019, attendance at an activity that was approved by the Board of Medicine prior to December 6, 2016 – Maximum 36 hours 
  2. Independently reading a peer-reviewed journal prior to December 6, 2016, that doesn’t satisfy the requirements of Category 1, subdivision (A) – Maximum 18 hours 
  3. Prior to December 6, 2016, completing a multi-media self-assessment program that does not satisfy the requirements of Category 1, subdivision (A) – Maximum 18 hours