Medical Licensure & Relicensure in Illinois

Documentation
Physicians should maintain records of their continuing medical education (CME) activities, but are not required to submit documentation to the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation with their renewal applications. The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation may conduct an audit and randomly select physicians to forward evidence of CME credits. Therefore, it is important to keep adequate records of all CME credits earned within the renewal cycle.

Maintain a list of Category 1 (formal) CME programs and include the name of the sponsor of the activity, title, date(s) of attendance, and number of credit hours earned. Make sure you have certificates verifying credits earned. Also, record all Category 2 (informal) CME activities. Be sure to list the approximate number of hours spent on each type of CME activity. Maintain CME records for at least one full license cycle (3) years after the cycle in which credits were earned. back

CME Reporting Cycle
To renew a medical license, physicians must attest to compliance with state CME requirements. Licensees are required by law to renew their licenses every three years, by July 31. Next renewal is July 31, 2005. The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation automatically will forward a renewal application to each physician prior to the license expiration. The Department will conduct random audits of physicians for compliance with the CME requirements. back

CME Requirements
For the July 31, 2005, renewal, a licensee will be required to complete 150 hours of continuing medical education (CME). The Department will accept CME taken on or after July 31, 2002.

A renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with the CME requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois license.

Credits shall be earned as follows:

• A minimum of 40% of the required CME hours shall be obtained in formal CME programs. (The entire 150 hour requirement may be completed in Category 1). 
• A maximum of 60% of the required CME hours shall be obtained in informal CME programs or activities.

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Waiver of CME Requirements
In the event that a physician is unable to complete the CME requirements by date of the license renewal, a CME Waiver Request Form must be completed and submitted prior to the renewal date. Contact the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation for specific details and the CME Waiver Request Form. back

Category 1 Determination
CME activities are designated as Category 1 by an accredited sponsor or joint sponsor. Category 1 activities can take the form of lectures, seminars, use of self-study materials, self-assessment programs, and use of audio-visual or computer based materials.

Only an institution or organization accredited for continuing medical education can designate a CME activity as earning Category 1 credit. The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) is responsible for CME accreditation of medical schools, state medical societies, and other institutions and organizations which provide CME activities for a national or regional audience. State medical societies accredit institutions and organizations that provide CME activities primarily for physicians within the state or bordering states. CME credit and accreditation information must be prominently printed on all promotional literature. back

Category 2 Determination
These are educationally beneficial activities in which a physician may participate. Physicians self-designated Category 2 credits. Category 2 study includes any of the following:

• Medical Teaching - Credit hours may be claimed for contact hours of teaching health professionals, including medical students, residents, practicing physicians, and allied health professionals. You should list the type of education, subject, institution, address, and inclusive dates. 
• Articles, publications, books and exhibits - Ten hours of credit may be claimed only once for the medical or educational content of a publication or exhibit regardless of whether it is reissued or changed in format.
• Use of self-instructive materials, such as audiovisual materials, teleconferences, programmed medical education materials, and computer assisted instruction. 
• Clinical consultations that contribute to a physician's education. (Involvement in informal educational consultations about a patient should be estimated and reported in hour blocks.) Important: Ordinary case consultation should not be reported. 
• Discussion with colleagues about patient care and patient centered discussions with colleagues. 
• Participation in patient care review activities such as peer review, case conference, chart audit, service on hospital medical staff committees for tissue review, infections, death conference, pharmacy, etc. 
• Journal club activities. 

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For More Information Contact: 

Illinois State Medical Society
Department of Education and Licensure
20 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 700
Chicago, IL 60602
312-782-1654 ext. 6442
800-782-4767 ext. 6442
cme@isms.org

Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
320 West Washington, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
217-785-0820