23+ expert definitions

Medical Credentialing Terminology

Fast definitions for CME, IMLC, DEA, PSV, audits, and renewal evidence.

23 definitions

A

AMA PRA Category 1 CreditAMA PRA: Credits designated by the American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award program. Physicians should verify whether a specific activity satisfies the board or specialty requirement they are trying to meet.
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical EducationACCME: The organization that accredits institutions and organizations that provide CME for physicians. Whether a specific activity satisfies a requirement depends on the applicable board or specialty rule.
American Board of Medical SpecialtiesABMS: Organization overseeing physician board certification in the United States. ABMS member boards certify physicians in 40 medical specialties.

B

Board Certification: Voluntary credential earned by physicians who demonstrate expertise in a medical specialty through examination. Board certification is separate from state licensure.

C

Continuing Medical EducationCME: Educational activities that maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge and skills physicians use to provide services for patients. CME requirements vary by jurisdiction, license type, and renewal cycle.
Continuing EducationCE: Broader term for ongoing professional development activities. In healthcare, CE typically refers to education for nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
Continuing Education UnitCEU: A unit of measurement for continuing education activities, typically equal to 10 contact hours of participation in an accredited program.
Credentialing: The process of verifying a healthcare provider's qualifications, including education, training, licensure, and experience. Required by hospitals and insurance companies.
Contact Hour: Unit of measure for continuing education equal to 60 minutes of participation in an organized learning activity. Often used interchangeably with credit hour.

D

Drug Enforcement AdministrationDEA: Federal agency responsible for enforcing controlled substances laws. Physicians must maintain DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances.

F

Federation Credentials Verification ServiceFCVS: Service offered by the Federation of State Medical Boards that creates a permanent, verified portfolio of physician credentials for use in licensing applications.

I

Interstate Medical Licensure CompactIMLC: An agreement among participating jurisdictions that can create an expedited pathway for eligible physicians to obtain licenses in member states. Current membership and eligibility should be verified against official IMLC sources.
Inactive Status: License status option in some states for physicians not actively practicing. Reduces renewal fees and CME requirements while maintaining license eligibility.

L

Locum Tenens: Latin for "place holder." Refers to physicians who work temporary assignments at healthcare facilities, often requiring licenses in multiple states.
License Endorsement: Method of obtaining a medical license in a new state based on an existing license from another state. Also called license by reciprocity.

M

Maintenance of CertificationMOC: Ongoing program by specialty boards requiring physicians to demonstrate continued competence through assessments, CME, and practice improvement activities.

N

National Provider IdentifierNPI: Unique 10-digit identification number assigned to healthcare providers by CMS. Required for billing Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance claims.

P

Primary Source VerificationPSV: Verification of credentials directly from the original issuing source, such as medical schools, residency programs, or licensing boards.
Point of Care CME: CME earned through clinical practice activities, such as answering clinical questions at the time of patient care using approved resources.

R

Reinstatement: Process of reactivating an expired or lapsed medical license. Typically requires paying fees, completing CME requirements, and may require examination.

S

State Medical Board: Government agency in each state responsible for licensing physicians, investigating complaints, and enforcing medical practice standards. Each state has unique requirements.
Self-Assessment CME: CME activity that includes knowledge assessment components. Required by some specialty boards for Maintenance of Certification (MOC).

T

Telemedicine License: State-specific license or registration allowing physicians to provide medical care remotely to patients in that state. Requirements vary significantly between states.

Plain-language context

Common Questions Answered

What is the difference between CME and CE?

CME (Continuing Medical Education) specifically refers to education for physicians, while CE (Continuing Education) is a broader term that applies to all healthcare professionals including nurses, pharmacists, and allied health workers. CME credits are required for medical license renewal.

What is ACCME accreditation?

ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) accreditation means a CME provider meets quality standards for physician education. ACCME-accredited activities award AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, which are accepted by all state medical boards.

What is the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)?

The IMLC is an agreement among 43 US states that creates an expedited pathway for physicians to obtain licenses in multiple member states. It reduces paperwork and processing time for multi-state licensing.

What does DEA registration cover?

DEA registration authorizes physicians to prescribe controlled substances. It is a federal requirement separate from state medical licensure. DEA registrations must be renewed every three years.

What is primary source verification?

Primary source verification (PSV) is the process of confirming credentials directly from the original issuing source, such as verifying a medical degree directly with the medical school. It is required for hospital credentialing.

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