The American Academy of Ophthalmology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Attendees registered as exhibitors, spouses and guests are not eligible for CME credits.

Academy's CME Mission Statement

The purpose of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) program is to present ophthalmologists with the highest quality lifelong learning opportunities that promote positive change in physician performance or competence, thus enabling such physicians to maintain or improve the knowledge, skills, and professional performance needed to provide the best possible eye care for their patients.
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2008 Joint Meeting & Subspecialty Day CME Credit

The deadline to claim CME credit from the 2008 Joint Meeting and Subspecialty Day was Jan. 21, 2009. Consult My CME Transcript for more information.

2009 Joint Meeting CME Credit

The American Academy of Ophthalmology designates this educational activity for a maximum of 31 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Portions of the meeting identified for credit include Joint Meeting scientific sessions, Instruction Courses, Skills Transfer courses, Breakfast With the Experts roundtables, Scientific Papers and Posters and the Video Program.

In order to comply with the policies of the ACCME, the Academy cannot allow the purchase of overlapping course tickets.

2009 Subspecialty Day CME Credit

The American Academy of Ophthalmology designates the following educational activities as AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™:

• Glaucoma Subspecialty Day: Maximum of 7 credits
• Neuro-Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day: Maximum of 7 credits
• Pediatric Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day: Maximum of 7 credits
• Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day: Maximum of 14 credits
• Retina Subspecialty Day: Maximum of 14 credits

Attendance Verification for CME Reporting

Before processing requests for CME credit, the Academy must verify your attendance at Subspecialty Day and/or the Joint Meeting. In order to be verified for CME or auditing purposes, you must do one of the following:

• Register in advance, receive materials in the mail, and turn in the Final Program and/or Subspecialty Day Syllabus exchange voucher(s) onsite,
• Register in advance and pick up your badge onsite if materials did not arrive before you traveled to the meeting,
• Register onsite, or
• Use your ExpoCard at the meeting.

CME Credit Reporting
Moscone Center: Academy Resource Center (Booth 3553), West Lobby, North-South Concourse

To report credits earned during Subspecialty Day, the Joint Meeting and/or Coding Camp, visit the CME Credit Reporting booths onsite at the Moscone Center.

Academy Members
The CME credit reporting receipt is not a CME transcript. CME transcripts that include Joint Meeting credits entered onsite will be available to Academy members on the Academy’s Web site beginning Dec. 16.

After the Joint Meeting, credits can be claimed at My CME Transcript after Dec. 16, or by mailing the CME form at the back of your Final Program. The Academy transcript cannot list individual course attendance. It will list only the overall credits spent in educational activities at Subspecialty Day, the Joint Meeting and/or Coding Camp.

NOTE: CME credits must be reported by Jan. 20, 2010.

Nonmembers
The Academy will provide nonmembers with verification of credits earned and reported for a single Academy-sponsored CME activity, but it does not provide CME credit transcripts. CME credits must be reported onsite at the CME credit reporting booths.

Proof of Attendance

The following types of attendance verification will be available during the Joint Meeting and Subspecialty Day for those who need them for reimbursement or hospital privileges, or for nonmembers who need them to report CME credit:

• CME credit reporting/proof-of-attendance letters
• Onsite Registration Form
• Instruction Course Verification Form

AAPC CE Credit 

Some courses have been reviewed by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) toward the maintenance of certification of CPC, CPC-H and CPC-P.  Approved courses are identified in the Program with a "C" icon. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.

JCAHPO Continuing Education Credit 

Academy courses have been reviewed by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO), and some have been awarded continuing education credit toward certification or recertification in ophthalmic medical assisting for COA, COT and COMT levels.  These courses are identified in the program with a "J" icon and classified as either Group A or Group B. Retain the proof-of-attendance portion of the course evaluation form.  Credit must be claimed directly with JCAHPO when you are ready to recertify.  Please note: JCAHPO credits cannot be claimed on the Academy's online CME system.

Although JCAHPO has awarded continuing education credit for the specified courses, JCAHPO does not sponsor these or any other review course.  Consult the JCAHPO Web site for more information.

CME Transcripts
Academy members can view and print their CME Transcripts online. You will need to log on using your last name and Academy ID number. Contact the Academy's CME Registrar with any questions.