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Requirements for the American Medical Association's Physician's Recognition Award (AMA PRA)

Since 1968, physicians who participate in continuing medical education (CME) have been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) with the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA).

Earning the PRA
The AMA PRA Category 1 credit system has become the CME standard for licensing boards and specialty organizations nationwide. To earn the PRA, physicians participate in at least 50 credits per year of educational activities that meet AMA standards. For more information about the AMA PRA credit system, view the AMA PRA Information Booklet for Physicians (Version 3.0).

Print the PRA application (PDF: 601KB, requires Adobe® Reader®).

New! The AMA now also provides the PRA with Commendation, recognizing physicians who regularly demonstrate a high level of commitment to their continuing education. To apply for the PRA with Commendation, please use the AMA online application.

Category 1 and 2 credit definitions
There are two categories of AMA credit. Generally speaking:

Category 1 Activities
Category 1 activities are designated by an accredited provider before the physician participates in them. Examples include attendance and presentations at a conference where AMA PRA Category 1 credit will be given. Physicians may also earn credit for publishing an article in a peer-reviewed journal and meritorious learning experiences that have been pre-approved for credit.

Basic requirements for the PRA

The AMA offers 1-, 2- and 3-year certificates. The requirements for each are as follows:

1-year certificate - 50 hours

• 20 hours category 1
• 30 hours category 1 or 2

2-year certificate - 100 hours

• 40 hours category 1
• 60 hours category 1 or 2

3-year certificate - 150 hours

• 60 hours category 1
• 90 hours category 1 or 2

The AMA requires at least half of the credits earned to be within the physician's specialty or area of practice. Ethics, office management, and physician-patient development are appropriate subjects of CME but are not considered specialty-specific education.

The CME required to earn the PRA is as much or more than the amount necessary for licensure in states that mandate CME.

Category 2 Activities

Category 2 activities, by contrast, have not been formally designated by an accredited provider for Category 1 credit. Individual physicians may claim Category 2 credit for learning experiences that have improved the care they provide their patients. Category 2 activities include reading journal articles and consulting with colleagues. Many times participation in these activities cannot be documented.

Category 2 credit may be earned for activities physicians have undertaken on their own that should be beneficial to their practice. Credit claimed should be commensurate with the actual time spent on an activity. The following list of non-designated activities may be reported for Category 2 credit:

• Consultations with peers and experts
• Medical research and study online
• Using non-designated enduring materials
• Teaching other health professionals
• Reading authoritative medical literature

All of these activities should be self-reported on the AMA PRA application for credit.

Information on the AMA Physician's Recognition Award