Continuing medical education: A commitment to excellence

Kim Warner, MD, CMS President

Continuing medical education (CME) not only benefits individual physicians but also contributes to the overall improvement of health care delivery and patient safety. Therefore, it is crucial for physicians to prioritize lifelong learning through CME to provide excellent care and uphold the highest standards of medical practice.

With a new CME requirement on the horizon in Colorado, it’s worth revisiting what CME means for our profession – not as a regulatory hoop, but as a tool for real growth. The Colorado Medical Society (CMS), in its dual role as a CME provider and Recognized Accreditor by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), is working to make that growth easier, more relevant, and more impactful.

CMS and its role in Continuing Medical Education

The Colorado Medical Society (CMS) has long been a leader in advancing high-quality CME. As both an accredited provider and a Recognized Accreditor by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), CMS is committed to upholding the highest national standards in educational programming.

CMS accredits and supports a diverse range of CME organizations and programs, from accrediting providers across Colorado and surrounding states, to providing accredited activities. This work helps to ensure educational offerings are relevant to clinical practices, evidence-based, and free from commercial biases and influence.  We develop our educational programs to advance learners’ knowledge, competence, and performance across key domains essential to clinical practice.

CMS serves as a trusted accreditor and collaborator by establishing and enforcing rigorous health and safety standards, thereby playing a vital role in supporting physicians and organizations as they achieve their educational objectives and fulfill regulatory requirements. Through its oversight and partnership with health care entities, CMS ensures consistent quality of care and compliance across programs, ultimately safeguarding patient wellbeing and organizational accountability.

Organizations are able to collaborate with CMS through joint providership. This collaborative model allows a non-accredited organization to plan and implement continuing medical education (CME) activities. Together, this approach ensures educational programs meet ACCME standards while reaching a wider audience.

For groups and organizations interested in becoming a CME accredited provider or collaborating on educational activities, CMS offers guidance, support, and a strong platform for outreach to medical communities at the state, regional, and national levels.

New CME requirement for all Colorado physicians 

Looking ahead, Colorado physicians should be aware of an important change beginning Jan. 1, 2026: For medical license renewals, physicians will be required to complete 30 hours of accredited CME activities every two years.

This change was established through legislation passed in 2024 and represents a new statewide standard for physician education. It does not replace specialty board requirements – many of which exceed this threshold – but adds a baseline expectation for all licensees under the Colorado Medical Board. Providing for generous overlap between board-required education and the new state requirement was a key point CMS advocated for when the bill was under consideration.

While the new law has not yet been implemented, the Colorado Medical Board is in the process of finalizing details related to its implementation, and CMS remains engaged in this process. Physicians should continue following their current CME practices and any specialty board requirements. It’s important to remember the requirement of completing two hours of substance use disorder training (it does not have to be CME accredited) for each renewal cycle remains in effect.

While the new CME credit requirement will not take effect until the 2027 renewal cycle, CMS encourages physicians to begin planning now. This change signals a broader shift toward prioritizing lifelong learning at the regulatory level – recognizing the essential role continuing education plays in advancing patient care and professional practice.

Supporting a culture of continuous learning

As the implementation of this new requirement approaches, CMS will continue to serve as a resource for physicians and organizations alike. Through high-quality accreditation services, educational programming, and guidance, CMS remains committed to supporting a well-informed and well-prepared physician workforce in Colorado. To explore CMS’s CME offerings or to find out how your organization can become an accredited or joint provider, visit www.cms.org or email CME@cms.org. CMS is here to support your continued learning.

CME is – and will remain – a critical tool for ensuring clinical excellence and advancing health care standards for all Coloradans.