CME OVERVIEW
The ATS certifies a variety of continuing medical education (CME) activities for credit each year. These activities include our International Conference, Chapter CME, Journal CME, Manuscript CME, and Enduring Materials. Our educational partners include various ATS Chapters, Medical Education Companies (MECs), and sister specialty societies.
CME Planning of a CME Activity
If you are interested in planning a CME activity outside of the ATS International Conference or ATS Chapters, either as part of an ATS committee or an outside organization, we welcome you to apply to the ATS to certify your program for credit. The ATS is accredited to provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for physicians by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Your activity must meet both ATS and ACCME’s requirements in order to be certified by the ATS. In order to meet the requirements, we have broken down the process into four phases:
- Phase One - Identification of the activity educational planners. During this phase,
- Either ATS Staff or an ATS Member submits a list of persons serving on the planning committee
- The planning committee members disclose all financial relationships within the last 24 months to the ATS
- The disclosures are reviewed by the COI team and the Associate Director of Accreditation of Learning Programs. A mitigation/conflict resolution process is enacted.
- Phase one is approved or rejected
- Phase Two – Course Content Development. During this phase,
- The activity needs assessment, course description, learning objectives and evaluation plan are created
- An agenda is created to meet the objectives
- A budget is built around the agenda
- The faculty listed on the agenda disclose all financial relationships within the last 24 months to the ATS
- All of the course components above are reviewed by the Associate Director of Accreditation of Learning Programs, COI Team and other ATS Staff as well as the ATS Chief of Learning
- Phase one is approved or rejected
- Phase Three – Marketing and Commercial Support
- Marketing materials are created from the course description, objectives and agenda
- A promotional campaign is enacted based upon the agreed upon scope outlined in the approved planning budget
- ATS is supplied with copies of all promotional materials
- Grant proposals are created using the course components from Phase Two
- Grant requests are submitted via online portals or email by ATS approved grant submitters
- Letters of Agreement are signed by the ATS
- Phase Three is approved
- Phase Four – Post activity Documents
- Copies of attendance reports are provided
- Certificates are distributed
- Final budgets with all course revenue and expenses listed
For more information email Education@thoracic.org.
Maintenance of Certification (MOC)
The American Thoracic Society certifies several activities through the CME for MOC collaboration between our accrediting body, the ACCME, and both the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). Our CME + MOC products are designed to help busy clinicians stay on top of their Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements.
In general, to maintain your ABIM and ABP board certifications you need to
- Maintain good professional standing
- Have a valid medical license
- Pay your Annual MOC Fee
- Participate in Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment activities
- Pass the certification exam in your specialty, or, in the case of the ABIM, enroll and participate in their Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment®
ATS CME + MOC certified activities help you with everything above except the fee! To get started, proceed to our ATS Ed+ catalog where there are many activities available for you to purchase- American Thoracic Society CME-MOC and LMS modules – American Thoracic Society Store. Also, please be sure to attend our annual ATS International Conference where many MOC certified sessions are offered.
For more information email Education@thoracic.org.