For many radiologists, the last quarter of the year brings two deadlines at once. One is the CME you need for your license or board certification. The other is the CME stipend your practice or hospital gives you, which often disappears if you don’t use it.
Treat them as one problem and you can solve both. The right purchase can cover your credit gap, use your allowance, and teach you something you’ll use at the workstation next year. Here’s a five-step plan to get there before December 31.
Step 1: Audit Your Credits Against Every Requirement
Before you spend a dollar, figure out exactly what you’re short. Pull your CME transcript and check it against each body that sets rules for you:
- ABR certification. Diplomates need 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ in the previous three-year period. The ABR no longer requires SA-CME for diplomates participating in OLA, so any Category 1 credit counts.
- Every state license you hold. Requirements vary widely. Florida requires 38 hours every 2 years, California 50 hours every 2 years, and Texas 48 hours every 2 years. New York sets no hour total but requires specific topics. Teleradiologists with many licenses should check each one.
- Topic mandates. According to the FSMB, 55 of 67 state boards require content-specific CME, such as opioid prescribing, implicit bias, or medical ethics. General radiology courses won’t satisfy these, so find them first.
- DEA registration. If you hold a DEA registration, as many interventional radiologists do, you need a one-time, 8-hour training on substance use disorders, affirmed at your next registration.
- Mammography and credentialing. If you read mammograms, MQSA requires at least 15 Category 1 CME credits in mammography in the 36 months before your facility’s annual inspection, including at least 6 in each mammographic modality you use (such as tomosynthesis). Hospitals may set their own CME expectations too, so check your reappointment paperwork.
The result is a short list: how many credits you need, which topics are mandatory, and the date each one is due.
Step 2: Learn Your Stipend’s Rules
Radiology CME stipends differ a lot from one employer to the next, and the fine print decides what you can buy. Before December, get answers to these questions (if you haven’t already) from your practice manager, department administrator, or benefits portal:
- When does the year end? Many allowances follow the calendar year, but some follow a fiscal year that ends June 30 or September 30. Some let unused funds roll over. Confirm before you assume December 31.
- What counts as eligible? Most cover course fees and online CME subscriptions. Some also cover travel, board fees, licenses, society dues, journals, or books. Others limit you to accredited CME activities only.
- Is there a receipt deadline? Some employers require receipts by mid-December or within 30–60 days of purchase, even if the allowance itself runs through year-end.
- Can you prepay? Ask whether a multi-year subscription or a course you finish next year is eligible. This is the key question if you want to stretch this year’s money.
- Does it need approval first? Some groups require pre-approval for purchases above a set amount.
If the answers aren’t written down, ask for them in an email. That record helps if your reimbursement is questioned later.
Step 3: Choose CME that’s Worth the Money
A rushed December purchase is easy to regret. Use these filters to pick something that pays off past the deadline:
- Mandatory topics first. Close any state or DEA topic gaps before buying anything else. They’re often short. (Medality partners with Premiere Education to offer CME for physician licensing requirements in all US states.)
- Match it to your worklist. Pick learning in the studies you actually read, or the ones your group wants to add. A course in prostate MRI or cardiac CT can turn into new work for your practice.
- Make sure the credit is accredited. Look for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from that are ACCME-accredited. That’s what the ABR and most state boards accept.
- Compare cost per credit. Divide the price by the credits you’ll realistically earn. Subscriptions with large libraries usually beat single courses if you’ll keep using them.
- Favor learning you can finish. Online, self-paced CME fits a December schedule better than a conference that means travel and time off.
- Stretch the budget, if your policy allows. A multi-year subscription bought this year can cover next year’s learning too.
Step 4: Fit Learning into a Busy Q4
The holidays, vacation coverage, and year-end volume all compete for your time. A few habits make CME manageable:
- Work backward from your deadline. Divide the credits you need by the weeks you have left. Twenty credits over ten weeks is two a week, which is very doable.
- Use short blocks. Fifteen to thirty minutes of case review at lunch or after your last study adds up faster than waiting for a free afternoon.
- Pick case-based learning. Reading real cases and comparing your interpretation to an expert’s feels like work you already do, so it’s easier to keep going.
- Front-load it. Aim to finish by mid-December. That leaves time to claim credits, submit receipts, and handle any surprises.
Step 5: Document Everything and Get Reimbursed
The credits and the money are only yours once they’re recorded. Close the loop with these steps:
- Claim credits as you earn them. Most platforms keep earned credits pending until you claim them. Don’t leave them sitting there on December 31.
- Save every certificate. Keep a CME certificate for each activity in one folder. State boards audit renewals, and you’ll want proof on hand if asked.
- Save itemized receipts. Receipts should show the date, the vendor, what you bought, and the amount. Many employers reject credit card statements alone.
- Submit early. Send reimbursement requests as soon as you buy, not in a year-end batch. Finance teams get busy in December.
- Report to your boards. Some states use a CME tracking service, while others ask you to attest at renewal. Know which method yours uses.
Where Medality Fits
If you’re looking for CME that fits this plan, Medality’s online, case-based learning is built for radiologists. These courses provide convenient access to AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
- For a large credit gap: Premium Membership includes unlimited CME and CPD hours, including state-required CME, plus 4,000+ cases and 125+ video courses. Micro CME earns 0.25 credit for every 15 minutes, so short sessions count.
- For a skill your practice needs: Self-paced Fellowship Certificate™ Programs cover 20 subspecialties, including breast mammography and tomosynthesis. The GI Imaging program, for example, offers up to 44.75 credits with one year of access.
- For stretching this year’s budget: Two-year Premium and Ultimate Learning Pass plans let one purchase cover two years of learning, if your stipend policy allows prepaying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME credits do radiologists need?
The ABR requires 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every three years. State license requirements vary by state and often include specific topics, so check each state where you’re licensed.
What happens to my CME stipend if I don’t use it?
It depends on your employer. Many allowances expire at the end of the calendar or fiscal year, while some roll over. Check your policy or ask your practice administrator.
Can I use my stipend for an online CME subscription?
Often, yes. Many stipends cover accredited CME activities, including online courses and subscriptions. Confirm with your employer before you buy, especially for multi-year plans.
Do credits earned in January count toward this year?
Credits count on the date you complete the activity. If your requirement or stipend ends December 31, finish and claim your credits before then.
Start Your Year-End Plan Today
Audit your credits, check your stipend rules, and pick learning that will still be useful next year. If you’re ready to start, explore Medality’s plans and earn your first credits this week.
