From the Guidelines
Free Continuing Education (CE) in medicine can be obtained through various online resources, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Cancer Society.
Available Resources
- The NCCN offers free continuing medical education for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists involved in the management of patients with cancer, with activities such as journal-based CE activities that can be completed online at http://education.nccn.org 1.
- The American Cancer Society provides free continuing medical education and free continuing nursing education for certain articles, available at acsjournals.com/ce 1.
- The GW Cancer Institute’s Cancer Survivorship E-Learning Series for Primary Care Providers is a free online continuing education program that offers continuing education credits at no cost to physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants for each 1-hour module, available at cancersurvivorshipcentereducation.org 1.
- Medscape, LLC also offers Journal-based CME activities, such as the one for the diagnosis and management of microcytic anemias due to genetic disorders of iron metabolism or heme synthesis, available at http://www.medscape.org/journal/blood 1.
How to Access
To participate in these free CE activities, clinicians typically need to:
- Review the learning objectives and author disclosures
- Study the education content
- Take a posttest with a minimum passing score (usually 66% or 75%)
- Complete an evaluation
- View and print a certificate of participation or claim the corresponding CE credits.
From the Research
Free Continuing Education (CE) in Medicine
To obtain free Continuing Education (CE) in medicine, several options can be explored:
- Online courses and resources: Websites like www.advancedpractitioner.com offer free CE credits and resources for medical professionals 2.
- Massive open online courses (MOOCs): MOOCs can provide an engaging, convenient, and cost-effective way to access CE in medicine 3.
- Professional associations and organizations: Many professional associations and organizations offer free or low-cost CE opportunities for their members.
- Institutional support: Some institutions may offer free or sponsored CE opportunities for their employees 4.
Characteristics of Free CE Opportunities
Free CE opportunities may have certain characteristics, such as:
- International accreditation: Courses with international accreditation may have a higher proportion of self-sponsorship 4.
- Online delivery: Online courses and resources can provide a convenient and cost-effective way to access CE in medicine 3, 2.
- Self-directed learning: Free CE opportunities may require self-directed learning and personal development 5.
Funding Sources for CE
The funding sources for CE activities can vary, including:
- Self-sponsorship: Many healthcare professionals sponsor themselves for CE activities, especially for courses with international accreditation 4.
- Institutional sponsorship: Institutions may sponsor their employees for CE activities 4.
- Pharmaceutical-industry sponsorship: The pharmaceutical industry may also sponsor CE activities, although this may be less common 4.