Becoming a physician means you’ll be participating in career-long learning, not just on the job, but with structured activities. These events help you stay on top of the latest developments in healthcare as a whole and in your specialty, making them crucial to your success.
And luckily, many activities qualify for CME with MOC points—making it easy to earn both at the same time. If you’re curious about CME, MOC, and how certain options offer dual eligibility, our comprehensive guide can help.
CME vs MOC
While lifelong learning is a core tenet of a doctor’s career, continuing medical education (CME) is only one part. The second is maintenance of certification (MOC), which directly pertains to your specialty.
Here’s what you should know about each:
CME
CME credits are required to maintain licensure by your state medical board. However, the primary goal of continuing education is to help physicians stay current with the latest advances in healthcare, like new treatments and best practices.
The number and type of CME credits you will be required to take varies from state to state.
Typical CME activities include:
- Live and virtual conferences or lectures
- Enduring materials
- Test-item writing
- Internet point of care
- Journal-based activities
- Manuscript review
After finding your state medical board’s CME requirements, check periodically to ensure you stay on the right track.
MOC
To maintain board certification, you’ll need to earn MOC points as defined by your medical specialty association. MOC is overseen by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), though each specialty can set its own requirements.
That means the total number of MOC points you may need to earn can vary depending on your specialty. For instance, an internal medicine doctor must earn 100 MOC points every five years.
There are four main areas for evaluation with MOC:
- Evidence of professional standing
- Lifelong learning and self-assessment
- Cognitive expertise
- Evidence of performance in practice
Keep in mind that since MOC points are needed for board certification, it’s crucial to stay on top of specialty-specific requirements.
What Types of CME for MOC Are There?
With two different types of professional development to track, it’s essential to know which activities qualify for each. Luckily, many CME options can also count for MOC points.
Although CME can be broad, for it to count toward MOC, the content must align with your specialty. Additionally, the CME should be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and registered with its PARS system.
CME that may also satisfy MOC point requirements include:
- Society meetings
- Grand rounds
- Live and online courses
- Quality and performance improvement activities
- Internet point of care
- Manuscript review
- Journal-based activities
- Learning from teaching
Fortunately, the American Board of Internal Medicine has a partnership with the ACCME that makes it simple to find activities that qualify for both CME and MOC points. However, note that point and credit amounts don’t always correspond, even if the activity qualifies for both.
What Happens If I Don’t Meet MOC and CME Requirements?
Doctors who don’t meet their CME and/or MOC requirements could face serious consequences. For those who don’t satisfy MOC criteria, potential repercussions include:
- Fines
- Damaged reputation and credibility
- Sanctioning
- Higher malpractice premiums
- Inability to be accepted into professional organizations
- Lower reimbursement rates
Additionally, without board certification, you won’t be able to practice in your specialty. With that said, failing to meet CME requirements also carries several consequences, such as:
- Inability to renew your license
- Financial penalty
- Disciplinary action
Plus, you’d most likely have to complete the remaining CME hours anyway. Track CME credits and MOC points to ensure you can continue practicing in your state and specialty without interruption.
Why You Need Both CME and MOC
Since CME and MOC are each centered around making you a better doctor, it can be easy to wonder why both are necessary. Aside from the fact that they’re required for licensure and certification, MOC and CME can also:
- Improve care quality
- Reduce Medicare spending
- Enhance diagnostic skills
- Increase the likelihood of patient adherence to treatment
- Set you apart from other providers
- Make it easier to retain knowledge of medicines and treatments
- Reduce the chances of disciplinary action
When considered together, CME and MOC play an essential role in health providers’ professional development. And, by participating in them, you can become a better doctor and provide higher-quality care to your patients.
Ready to earn MOC points while completing CME? In 2026, members of the ABIM can register for (and earn) both CME and MOC credits with our conferences. Browse our upcoming events list to learn more!
