Frequently Asked Questions | Continuing Education Company
General
What are your hours of operation?
We are glad to assist you Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Eastern Time. Our toll-free phone number is (800) 327-4502. Email us at info@cmemeeting.org. Chat with us via the LiveChat box on our site during working hours.
Are your CME activities free of commercial support?
Yes, at Continuing Education Company, all our CME activities strictly adhere to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Additionally, it is our policy to not accept commercial support, such as grants, for educational CME activities in an effort to ensure unbiased, evidence-based content focused on advancing medical knowledge and patient care. While we have a limited number of exhibits at our conferences, we select exhibitors that can enhance participants' careers or clinical practice, and we maintain strict policies to prevent commercial influence on the educational activities. Our commitment is to provide high-quality, independent medical education that empowers healthcare professionals.
Who will your conferences benefit the most?
The curriculum is varied and developed for Family Medicine Physicians, Internal Medicine Physicians, Physician Associates and Nurse Practitioners.
Who are the faculty?
All of our presenters are affiliated with a major academic institution, involved with research and/or are considered leaders in their area of expertise. We require that our speakers be involved in clinical care. All of our speakers see patients on a regular basis and are able to explain what the guidelines and data means to a clinician’s practice and their patients.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, checks, VISA, AMEX, and MasterCard.
Is there a late fee if I register less than 30 days before?
No, we do not charge a late fee, but we recommend registering at least three weeks before the start of the conference so we can ensure that we will have enough printed materials for every attendee. CEC does not offer an early bird discount as our conferences are very competitively priced. If you are ever unsure if you can commit to a conference, please use our “Register Now/Pay Later” option when checking out.
How do I take advantage of the “Register Now/Pay Later” option?
Please begin by registering yourself online.
- On the payment page under Payment Information, click on the dropdown menu next to “Credit Card”.
- Click on “Bill Me” and continue with registering.
- When you are ready to pay, simply login to your account.
- Under Navigation Menu, click on "My Orders”, and “Pay Open Orders,” to process your payment by Credit Card.
We email you 4 weeks prior to the conference date to collect payment, if you haven’t already done so. You are also welcome to call us to make payment at (800) 327-4502.
I can only attend some of the days of an in-person live CME conference – is there a special rate?
In most instances, yes, but please call us at (800) 327-4502 to discuss the best option for you.
Are your conferences family-friendly?
Many of our conferences are held at family friendly beach resorts with both hotel rooms and multiple bedroom villas. We try to plan certain CME conferences during school vacations (Spring break, Summer) so that you can bring your family. With our half-day format, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the location with your family.
We respectfully ask that no guests or children be brought to the conference rooms due to insurance liability and as a courtesy to fellow attendees. If childcare is needed during the conference, we suggest that you contact the hotel concierge for recommendations. If you are a nursing mother, please let us know in advance by emailing info@cmemeeting.org so we can secure a private room or area for you.
What makes your conferences the best in the business?
We possess over 30 years of medical education experience. High quality lectures presented by expert faculty at beautiful, full-amenity resorts are our signature. That’s why over 40% of the audience in any given conference are return attendees. Your education and comfort are our highest priority.
In-Person CME Conferences
What is your in-person live meeting format?
All four and five-day conferences run from 7:55 am - 12:15 pm. The agendas on three-day conferences can vary but typically start at 7:45 am or 7:55 am and are over by 12:30 pm or 1:00 pm. Three day conferences may run until 2:30 pm on the second day if a lunch presentation is included. A detailed agenda is located in the Agenda section for each conference.
Do you make hotel and air reservations? Are there special room rates?
You are responsible for making your own hotel accommodations and transportation (flight/ground) arrangements. We do negotiate a special room rate with each hotel. Special room rate pricing is listed under in the Hotel/Resort section for each conference, as well as rental car discount information at the bottom of that page. There are deadline dates for every room block. However, our group rate negotiated rooms may sell out much earlier so reserving rooms early is encouraged.
What does your in-person live meeting registration fee include?
Your registration fee includes access to the conference, a printed and online syllabus, a full breakfast, and your certificate. Some three-day conferences may include lunch on the second day.
Currently, in-person registrations also include a link to watch the conference live streaming (in real time) as well as a link to the recordings for 30 days following the conference. As a Special Offer for in-person attendees, you will also receive a complimentary 15 credit online course following the conference and you will have one year to complete it.
Do you provide food and drink?
A full breakfast is served each morning of the conference for attendees only. Certain three-day conferences may also include lunch.
What is your in-person cancellation policy?
A full refund will be given for written cancellations received up to 7 days prior to the first day of the conference. Please email cancellation requests to registration@cmemeeting.org. Refunds cannot be honored after this date and tuition will be applied towards payment for any of our future conferences, virtual webcasts or online courses. No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows. Occasionally speakers and/or topics may need to be changed. In the unlikely event that the conference is canceled, CEC will refund the tuition in full, but is not responsible for any travel or hotel costs incurred. We will not cancel any conference due to lack of attendance.
Should I bring my laptop or tablet to the conference?
You are welcome to bring your laptop or tablet, but we recommend that you fully charge the device before coming to the conference each day as we cannot guarantee access to outlets. We will provide the printed slides link for those who prefer to view the presentation slides online.
Do I have access to the slides after the conference ends?
Yes The slides will be available for online viewing for up to a year.
Do I have access to the recordings after the conference?
Yes, we will email a link that will give you access to our recorded lectures for 30 days after the conference ends. This is a perfect opportunity to review or watch anything you may have missed.
Am I able to attend the conference in-person but watch it as a livestream rather than sit in the conference room?
Yes. We provide a livestream link when you check-in to the conference that will allow you to watch the conference live from your hotel room, beach, pool etc. You just need a device and a strong internet connection.
Do you offer workshops at the live conferences?
We do sometimes offer workshop opportunities either the day before the conference or in the afternoons. Please refer to the website pages for that conference to see if a workshop is also being offered or click here for a listing of current workshop opportunities.
LIVE CME Webcasts
How does the webcast work? Do I need to log into my account each day?
After registering for the webcast, you will receive a confirmation and receipt of payment. One week prior to the conference, we will email you the access details so you can view the webcast, as well as a link for the online materials. No login is required.
Can I ask the presenter questions on a webcast?
We encourage you to ask the presenters questions during the conference by using the LiveChat feature on our site.
Do I need to watch the webcast live to receive credits?
Yes, the live streaming webcasts need to be watched live (in real time) for CME credits. If the conference is being held on the East Coast, then the webcast will follow EST time zone, if the conference is on the West Coast it will follow PST, etc. Please check the Webcast section for time zone information and make sure you can fit your schedule to match it.
Do I have access to the slides after the conference ends?
Yes! The slides will be available for online viewing for up to a year.
Do I have access to the recordings after the conference?
Yes, we will email a link that will give you access to our recorded lectures for 30 days after the conference ends. This is a perfect opportunity to review or watch anything you may have missed.
How do I get my certificate when watching a webcast?
Once the conference is over, you will receive emailed instructions to login to your account to complete the online evaluation and receive your CME credit and certificate. We request that you complete the evaluation within 24 hours, but if you need an extension, you can email us at registration@cmemeeting.org.
What is your webcast cancellation policy?
A full refund will be given for written cancellations received up to 7 days prior to the first day of the conference. Please email cancellation requests to registration@cmemeeting.org. Refunds cannot be honored after this date and tuition will be applied towards payment for any of our future conferences, virtual webcasts or online courses. No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows. Occasionally speakers and/or topics may need to be changed. In the unlikely event that the conference is canceled, CEC will refund the tuition in full, but is not responsible for any travel or hotel costs incurred. We will not cancel any conference due to lack of attendance.
Do you offer live virtual workshops?
Yes, please check out our workshop calendar for upcoming opportunities.
What is your cancellation policy for workshops?
A full refund will be given for a written cancellation received up to 14 days prior to the first day of the workshop. Please email your cancellation request to registration@cmemeeting.org. Refunds cannot be honored after this date and tuition will be applied toward any of our future conferences, virtual webcasts or online courses. No refund or credit will be given for no-shows.
Accreditation
Who provides your accreditation?
All of our live CME conferences provide Prescribed credits approved by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Continuing Education Company, Inc. (CEC) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. In addition to AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, we offer Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. All of our online courses provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Please see our accreditation page for each conference or course for information on other allied health professionals.
Are your conferences approved for ABIM MOC points?
Yes! Our conferences are approved and eligible for ABIM MOC points. Successful completion of the CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. We will submit the credits for you which will take up to four weeks to appear on record.
How do I get my certificate?
For in-person conferences, we provide the certificates on the last day of the conference. They will not be mailed or emailed to you. If you plan on leaving early let our staff know prior to your departure day, so we can have the certificate ready for you. Webcast certificates will be available in the “My CME” section of your account as soon as you complete an online survey at the end of the conference.
How are my credits reported?
You are required to self-report your credits based upon the actual hours you claimed to your organization and/or licensing or credentialing board. CEC will report all ABIM MOC points.
Online CME
Do you have online CME?
Yes, and we call it CME365. Earning CME credit online has never been easier! To view our online CME courses, go to cmemeeting.org/cme365. We offer everything from single topic courses for quick credits to Primary Care Medicine on Demand updates on multiple subjects for 15-20 credits to comprehensive Collections that include a variety of courses for those who are looking for 54-170 credits at incredible savings.
What is the format of your online courses?
All of our online courses can be streamed on any device with an internet connection from our web-based learning management system (no need to download another app!), which keeps track of your course progress, credits and certificates.
Most courses are composed of video lectures from our renowned in-person conference – these videos can be streamed or downloaded and include PDFs of the slides. A smaller percentage of our courses are an online workshop-type format with instructor led chalkboard visuals and multiple knowledge checks.
These videos are streaming only (no downloads). All courses have a post-test that must be passed with 70% or better, as well as a survey. Once all content has been viewed, the post-test passed and survey completed, the certificate is instantly available in your account.
Do online courses expire?
Yes, each course has its own expiration date, which can be found at the bottom of the course’s Accreditation section. Please submit credit prior to the expiration date.
Do you offer a money back guarantee for your online courses?
Absolutely! CEC stands behind their products. If you are not satisfied with your online course for any reason, send a written cancellation request and the reason for canceling to registration@cmemeeting.org within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund. (Cancellations on CME365™ Collection Series will incur a 5% processing fee.) Please note you may watch any of the content but once you claim credit for an online course, no refund can be granted.
What is your cancellation policy for online courses?
If you are not satisfied with your online course for any reason, send a written cancellation request and the reason for canceling to registration@cmemeeting.org within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund. (Cancellations on CME365™ Collection Series will incur a 5% processing fee.) Please note you may watch any of the content but once you claim credit for an online course, no refund can be granted.