Whether you’re starting residency or applying for your first job, there are two crucial things you need to know about: credentialing and continuing medical education (CME).
Credentialing is part of the hiring process, while CME helps expand your knowledge and skills. Although both are integral parts of a new doctor’s career, knowing where or how to start can be challenging.
On that note, let’s make this simple: here’s everything new doctors need to know about credentialing and CME.
What Is Credentialing?
Before a resident or fellow can work as a practicing physician, they must go through a process called “credentialing.” It may help to consider it an extensive background check proving you can do the work the health organization is hiring you for.
Maybe you’re wondering why all of this is necessary. You’ve got the degree and completed your residency—what else is there to prove? However, there are several crucial reasons for credentialing new hires, including:
- Quality and safety of care: Patients are the health field’s number one priority. Credentialing ensures that only qualified professionals provide care, lowering the risk of mistakes.
- Risk management: This process can allow health organizations to address concerns before hiring someone. Catching these helps physicians and health facilities maintain their reputations and reduce negligence.
- Regulatory compliance: Healthcare facilities have to follow specific requirements, including ones concerning their employees. Credentialing helps ensure they have accurate records for legal standards.
With that said, credentialing is not a “one-and-done” endeavor. While new doctors must complete the process before their first position, it’s required any time you switch jobs.
Credentialing Process
As you prepare to apply for your first job as a new doctor, it’s essential that you also think about credentialing since it’s a requirement for employment. First, you’ll start with an application. Read all directions carefully to ensure you fill out the form accurately.
Throughout the process, you’ll need to supply supporting documents proving your claims. What you need to submit differs by facility, but here are some common ones:
- Medical licenses
- Education history
- National Provider Identification Number
- Board certification
- Tax ID
- Drug Enforcement Administration Number
- Malpractice insurance
- Continuing medical education (CME) history
- Letters of recommendation
- Work history
It’s helpful to save this information as you obtain it—including your licenses, CME credits, and certifications—so you can reference it whenever you need. Many physicians create an American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Profile to streamline the credentialing process.
What’s Next?
Once you submit your application, a dedicated team verifies that everything is accurate. Next, hospital boards or department heads determine if they will offer employment.
What About CME?
After you leave residency and become a practicing physician, you’ll need to earn CME credits to maintain licensure (which directly affects credentialing!). Part of a medical professional’s job is lifelong learning, which is what makes CME so crucial.
CME requirements vary by state, employer, specialty, and medical association. Ensure you read the requirements for each so you earn appropriate credits for your role.
What Qualifies as CME?
New physicians can earn CME from providers accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Several education formats qualify as CME, including:
- Seminars and conferences
- Discussion panels
- Medical journals
- On-demand and self-paced content
CME topics range from specialty-focused content to patient-provider relationships, leadership, and practice management.
Start Planning For CME Today
Whether you’re a new doctor preparing for credentialing and CME or need a refresher, you’re in the right place. Build out your CME schedule with in-person and online conferences or on-demand courses today!