Academe - Medical Education & Beyond

Frequently Asked Questions

Login
How do I login to the acadeME (ME) site?

Technical Questions
I bought an activity, now how do I access it?
I want to access this podcast, but I dont have an iPod.
Im done with an activity and want to claim CME credit, but the system is saying that my activity is still In Progress.
Im trying to view this learning activity and its not working.
Recommended System Requirements
Scores and Detailed Report feature
How do I access free activities for members or residents?

CME Certificate & Transcripts
How do I print a transcript?
My transcript is missing CME credits I claimed from AAPM&R.
My transcript is missing the subspecialty CME credits for my CME activities.
I need a CME certificate (to report to XYZ organization).

Entering/Editing Non-Academy CME
How do I ENTER a record in my profile for non-Academy earned CME?
I made a mistake and need to EDIT a record that I entered in for non-Academy earned CME.

Reporting to Outside Organizations
Is my CME information shared with anyone?
I dont want the Board of PMR to have access to my CME records.

Course Registration & Pricing
How do I register for and/or order an activity?
I bought an activity, now how do I access it?
How long can I access an online activity Ive purchased through the ME site?
I am trying to register for this course/activity on ME, and its not applying the proper registration price?
My membership status is up to date but Im still not receiving the correct pricing.

Claiming CME for Live Events
How do I claim CME credit for attending a live, stand-alone AAPM&R course?
I attended a live, stand-alone AAPM&R course, but I never got CME for it.
How do I get a CME certificate for a live course?

Claiming CME for Online Activities
How do I claim CME credit for an activity I completed online?
Detailed claiming instructions with screenshots

I have an idea
I have an idea for a course/offering on acadeME. Who can I talk to about that?

Refund Policy

Login

How do I login to the acadeME (ME) site?

To login, please enter your user name and password for the AAPM&R Web site. Please note that all Academy members are issued a default login.

If you have forgotten your login, you can:
1. Use AAPM&R's online Password Assistance feature to reset your password.
  OR
2. Call the national office at 847.737-6000 and ask staff to reset your password.
If you are not an AAPM&R member and do not already have a login, you can create a new user account via the AAPM&R Web site.

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Technical Questions

I bought an activity, now how do I access it?

After completing your purchase through the shopping cart, go to My Portfolio to access and launch all activities.
Activities are listed under My Courses near the bottom of your portfolio page.
To open the activity, simply click the "Launch" link next to the course title, or click on the course title itself. A new browser window will open. Please do not close the separate Portfolio window while you are working on an activity.

I want to access a podcast, but I dont have an iPod.

Podcasts are provided as mp3 files, so you can download the podcast to your computer and use any mp3 compatible media player to play it. Because podcasts are at least 30 minutes or longer, it may take longer or shorter to download the file depending on your internet connection and speed.
Or, you can listen to it directly from your computer. You may need to adjust the volume when you launch the activity.

Im done with an activity and want to claim CME credit, but the system is saying that my activity is still In Progress.
Its possible that you have missed a portion of the activity required to complete it and claim CME credit.

The system tracks and saves your course progress, and you are required to complete an evaluation to claim CME.
Please re-launch the course using the Next and Submit buttons to navigate through the course to ensure you complete all necessary sections.
If the next button is grayed out please scroll up to make sure you have completed every question. If you have missed a question, a reminder will appear: Please select a response
When you have finished, click the Save button (on the bottom right) in your lesson window to save your progress.
Once you have completed an activity and clicked the Save button, the pop-up window will close and you will be brought back to the My Portfolio page. You are now eligible to claim CME for the activity.
In the My Courses section, click Claim Credit next to the activity name.
Then click on the Claim button in the pop-up window that appears.
Enter the amount of CME credits you wish to claim in the field provided and click Submit Claim.
- In this honor system, physicians are responsible for claiming credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the educational activity.
- Credit must be claimed in 0.25 increments. Round your claim to the nearest value.
After you have claimed your CME, on your My Portfolio page, you will be able to view or print your complete transcript for all activities youve completed through the Academy since 1998, including the credit you just claimed, by clicking on the My Transcript link.

Im trying to view this learning activity and its not working.
If you are having trouble viewing an activity, please check that your pop-up blocker is disabled, or that your computer is equipped with the proper software requirements.

For Internet Explorer users, if the yellow information bar (pictured below) appears when trying to access a link on acadeME, your pop-up blocker is turned on.

Click on the information bar and select Always Allow Pop-ups from This Site.... Click "yes" on the following prompt window.

Alternatively, to turn off the pop-up blocker, click on the Tools menu of your browser, go to the Pop-Up Blocker menu, and either select Turn Off Pop-Up Blocker or go to Pop-Up Blocker Settings and add the website to your list of allowed sites.

If you are still experiencing problems, please send a Help Request or contact us at 847.737-6000.

Recommended System Requirements
For optimal browsing, we recommend using Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher.

In addition, the following system requirements are recommended or required:

High Speed Internet connection (recommended)
Free Flash plug-in version 8 or higher (click here to download)
Media/Audio software, such as Window Media Player or similar
Computer equipped with audio output (speakers or headphones)
Free Adobe Acrobat Reader (click here to download)
Javascript enabled (click here to download)
Pop-up windows enabled for viewing support materials

Scores and Detailed Report feature
Beginning June 2010 all activities which have post tests or assessment questions will have a Score and Detailed Report function.

On the My Portfolio page:

Click on the + sign next to the activity title to see your Scores and Detailed Report
You will receive your final score for all activities completed in their entirety. Each section will provide four (4) scores: First Score, Most Recent Score, Best Score and Average Score. Clicking on the Detailed Report will provide a visual summary of your most recent answers and the following data for that section: the percentage answered correctly by all users of the activity, the percentage answered correctly by you and your percentile rank for that section.
- % Answered Correctly by All Users: Displays the average of the assessment score associated with the best attempt for each learner that has taken the assessment, including best attempt.
- % Answered Correctly: Displays most recent assessment score in conjunction with the assessment details provided in the question details below.
- Percentile Ranking: Displays the percentage of the total population of learners that performed at a lower level than you on the assessment.

How do I access free activities for members or residents?
There are many activities that are offered for free to members and residents. For a complete list, visit http://me.e-aapmr.org/Free.aspx.

Please note that free activities must be "purchased" in order to load them into your portfolio. The default price shown for all activities on the site is the nonmember price. Correct pricing for members and residents (either free or a discounted price) will be applied after you click "Purchase Now." To check pricing, please click "View full description" below the activity.

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CME Certificates & Transcripts

How do I print a transcript?
You can view your CME credit history (transcript) anytime online on acadeME. Your transcript includes data for all educational activities that you have completed with AAPM&R (since 1998) and is sufficient documentation for proof of credit for a variety of organizations, including American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR), state licensure, the American Medical Association (AMA), and other institutions. Transcripts are available in PDF format for easy viewing and printing.
To access your CME transcript:

Log on to acadeME, and go to My Portfolio (from the left hand navigation).
Click on the View Transcript link (lower right-hand side).
A separate pop-up window will appear, from which you can print your transcript.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing of paper-based CME claims. If after 4-6 weeks you still do not see the credit applied to your transcript, please send a Help Request or contact the Academys Customer Service Department at (847) 737-6000.

My transcript is missing CME credits I claimed from AAPM&R.
In order to be compliant with American Medical Association (AMA) requirements for awarding AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, accredited providers, like AAPM&R, are expected to award CME credits based on the amount of credit claimed by the physician rather than automatically awarding the maximum amount of credit designated for the activity. This is an honor system, where it is the physicians responsibility to claim CME credits commensurate with their actual participation in the activity.

If you completed an activity online and are missing credits on your transcript, please go to your My Portfolio page and make sure you have completed the activity and claimed CME credit.
- Click My Portfolio in the left navigation.
- In the My Courses section of your portfolio, if it says Claim Credit next to the activity name, you have not yet entered your CME credit(s).
- Click Claim Credit.
- Then click on the Claim button in the pop-up window that appears.
- Enter the amount of CME credits you wish to claim in the field provided and click Submit Claim.
- After you have claimed your CME, on your My Portfolio page, you will be able to view or print your complete transcript for all activities youve completed through the Academy since 1998, including the credit you just claimed, by clicking on the My Transcript link.
- If you still do not see your CME credit on your transcript, please send a Help Request or contact the Customer Service Department at (847) 737-6000.
If you mailed or faxed in a CME claim, please allow 4-6 weeks for processing of paper-based CME claims. If after 4-6 weeks you still do not see the credit applied to your transcript, please contact the Customer Service Department at (847) 737-6000.

My transcript is missing the subspecialty CME credits for my CME activities.
In the subspecialty CME section of your transcript, there is a list of the AAPM&R sponsored CME activities you have completed (2008 to September 6, 2010), and the number of CME credits from each activity that is applicable to ABPMR approved subspecialties.

This information can be used as a reference to help organize your CME history and how it applies to maintenance of subspecialty certification.
Please Note: The credits listed are NOT in addition to the total credits earned through AAPM&R (as shown in the CME sections of your transcript), and are NOT an indication of subspecialty certification.

Beginning September 2010 the Academy has suspended tracking subspecialty CME. As a result, subspecialty CME for activities completed after September 6 will not appear on your transcript. Continue to refer to your CME transcript periodically for an update on this policy.

I need a CME certificate (to report to XYZ organization).
As of August 15, 2011, online certificates are no longer available. In place of a certificate, a CME transcript should meet your needs.

Why? The AMA does not require any organization issuing CME to provide certificates for each activity. They only require that the provider in this case the Academy offer proof of CME, so a transcript is more than adequate. Your AAPM&R transcript includes data for all educational activities that you have completed with AAPM&R (since 1998) and is sufficient documentation for proof of credit for a variety of organizations, including American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR), state licensure, the American Medical Association (AMA), and other institutions.
However, if it is the policy of XYZ organization to receive a certificate, a printed copy is available. A $25 processing fee will be charged. To request a printed certificate for $25, please click here for an order form.

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Entering/Editing Non-Academy CME

To help keep you organized and track your CME in one place, Academy members have the option of entering CME credit earned through other organizations into acadeME.

Please note: Effective immediately, for Academy members tracking AAPM&R issued CME and non-Academy issued CME on the acadeME site earned after January 1, 2008, that CME will be transferred automatically from the Academy to the American Board of PM&R (ABPMR). CME earned prior to January 1, 2008, will need to be manually entered by the diplomate into the ABPMRs official record-keeping system (www.abpmr.org). Additionally, completion data for Self-Assessment Exams (SAEs) will continue to be passed to the ABPMR, as has been the case for several years.

How do I ENTER a record in my profile for non-Academy earned CME?
This is a member-only benefit. After logging in to acadeME, go to My Portfolio > Enter Non-AAPMR CME Credit.

You will be asked to enter the following information:

Name of CME activity
Date activity was completed
Organization Providing CME
Number of CME credits
Type of activity
Subspecialty focus (if applicable)

I made a mistake and need to EDIT a record that I entered in for non-Academy earned CME.
If you need to edit or make a correction to a non-Academy CME record, please send a Help Request or contact the Education Department at 847.737-6000.

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Reporting to Outside Organizations

Is my CME information shared with anyone?
Effective immediately, for Academy members tracking AAPM&R issued CME and non-Academy issued CME on the acadeME site earned after January 1, 2008, that CME will be transferred automatically from the Academy to the American Board of PM&R (ABPMR). CME earned prior to January 1, 2008, will need to be manually entered by the diplomate into the ABPMRs official record-keeping system (www.abpmr.org). Additionally, completion data for Self-Assessment Exams (SAEs) will continue to be passed to the ABPMR, as has been the case for several years.

I dont want the Board of PMR to have access to my CME records.
Its the policy of the AAPM&R to share this information with the ABPMR.

They require us to provide record of who has successfully completed a SAE.
This eliminates the need for you to go onto their system and enter it manually.

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Course Registration & Pricing

How do I register for and/or order an activity?

To order/enroll in an online activity on AcadeME, click on the "Purchase Now..." link located below the course listing. You must purchase an activity even if it is free; purchasing an activity loads it into your portfolio where you can complete the activity online. If you are not logged in, you will need to login before ordering.
After clicking on the "Purchase Now..." link, you will be taken to a Shopping Cart page. You should see the course listed on this page, along with the appropriate pricing (member, non-member, or resident).
To complete your order, click on the "Order" button. Or, to continue shopping, click on the "Continue Shopping" link which will bring you back to the Lifelong Learning page. You may order up to 10 activities per shopping cart transaction.
Enrollment in all online activities, including free activities, requires placing an order through the shopping cart.
Please note that registration for live events, including Annual Assembly, is completed through a separate online order form. Please visit the Meetings and Events section for more information.

I bought an activity, now how do I access it?

After completing your purchase through the shopping cart, go to My Portfolio to access and launch all activities.
Activities are listed under My Courses near the bottom of your portfolio page.
To open the activity, simply click the "Launch" link next to the course title, or click on the course title itself. A new browser window will open. Please do not close the separate Portfolio window while you are working on an activity.

How long can I access an online activity Ive purchased through the ME site?
You can access your activity for 1 year from the date of purchase.

If you are not sure when you purchased a course, go to the My Portfolio page and click on plus sign (+) next to that activity to expand the course information, which includes the expiration and date of last access.
If you have completed a course and claimed CME credit, you can still access the course for your own review and educational needs, for up to one year.

I am trying to register for this course/activity on ME, and its not applying the proper registration price?
The ME site is in constant communication with our membership database.

If you are a member and its telling you that you need to pay the non-member fee, your membership information may not be up to date. Please contact the Membership Department at 847.737-6000 to check your status.
Did you create a new login? If you are an AAPM&R member, you are automatically assigned a login for both the AAPM&R Web site and acadeME. If you created a new login instead of contacting us for your correct login, our membership database does not recognize you as a member. Please call our offices at 847.737-6000 for help with this issue.

My membership status is up to date but Im still not receiving the correct pricing.
We apologize for the error. Please send a Help Request or contact us at 847.737-6000 for help.

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Claiming CME for Live Events

How do I claim CME credit for attending a live, stand-alone AAPM&R course?
CME credit for live stand-alone courses is claimed online through acadeME. You must login to ME and claim credit at the conclusion of the course. Course evaluations are also completed online.

If you need documentation of CME credit earned in a certain year for licensure, credentialing, or Maintenance of Certificationyour CME credit claim must be processed by December 31 of that year. If you wait until the following year to claim, your CME credits will be applied to the following year without exception. CME credits for completed activities and live events will not be awarded until you have claimed the CME.

Click My Portfolio
In your portfolio, find the live course in the Your Courses listing.
In the My Courses section of your portfolio, click Launch next to the name of the course you attended. Note: You may need to scroll down to locate the activity.
When you have completed the required elements of the course, you will be instructed to click the "Save" button, located in the lower right corner to record your progress (the window will close).
You will be brought back to the My Portfolio page. You are now eligible to claim CME for the course.
In the My Courses section, click the Claim Credit link next to the course name. Then click on the Claim button in the popup window that appears.
Enter the amount of CME credits you wish to claim, which should be commensurate with the extent of participation in the attended activity and click Claim.
After you have claimed your CME, on your My Portfolio page, you will be able to view or print your complete transcript for all activities youve completed through the Academy since 1998, including the credit you just claimed, by clicking on the My Transcript link.
For more detailed instructions, please click here

I attended a live, stand-alone AAPM&R course, but I never got CME for it.
CME credit for stand-alone courses is now claimed online. You must login to acadeME and claim credit at the conclusion of the course. Please refer to the instructions above for help.

How do I get a CME certificate for a live course?
As of August 15, 2011, online certificates are no longer available. In place of a certificate, a CME transcript should meet your needs.

Why? The AMA does not require any organization issuing CME to provide certificates for each activity. They only require that the providerin this case the Academyoffer proof of CME, so a transcript is more than adequate. Your AAPM&R transcript includes data for all educational activities that you have completed with AAPM&R (since 1998) and is sufficient documentation for proof of credit for a variety of organizations, including American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR), state licensure, the American Medical Association (AMA), and other institutions.
However, if it is the policy of XYZ organization to receive a certificate, a printed copy is available. A $25 processing fee will be charged. To request a printed certificate for $25, please click here for an order form.

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Claiming CME for Online Activities

How do I claim CME credit for an activity I completed online?
Accredited CME providers, including your Academy, must be in compliance with American Medical Association (AMA) requirements for awarding AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, often referred to as continuing medical education (CME).

These standards state enduring educational activities published after July 1, 2011 will need to assess learners performance within the activity so that CME credit is awarded only to those who meet the established performance level. You can review the minimum passing score required before purchasing an activity by clicking "View Description." The minimum passing score and instructions are provided within all applicable activities.

Additionally, the standard state that providers will award CME credits based on the amount of credit claimed by the physician rather than automatically awarding the maximum amount of credit designated for the activity. This is an honor system, where it is the physicians responsibility to claim CME credits commensurate with their actual participation in the activity.

You will have unlimited attempts to achieve the minimum passing score. If you did not receive the passing score, click "Assessment and Evaluation" in the left navigation to retake the assessment. You will not be eligible to claim CME for this activity until you achieve the minimum passing score. No refunds will be issued for failure to pass.
After you pass the assessment click the next button to be taken to a screen with the correct answers and commentary and/or references for each question. Click the "Next" button to continue.
Once you complete the required elements of an activity on ME, you will be instructed to click the Save button, located in the lower right corner of the window, to record your progress.
- PLEASE WAIT FOR THE WINDOW TO CLOSE, this will take a moment while your response is recorded.
- Note: If you do not see the Save button, enlarge your pop-up window and it should then appear.
- YOU ARE NOT FINISHED! YOU MUST COMPLETE THE STEPS LISTED BELOW TO CLAIM CME.
Once the pop-up window has closed, you will be brought back to the My Portfolio page. You are now eligible to claim CME for the activity. In the My Courses section, click Claim Credit next to the activity name.
Then click on the Claim button in the pop-up window that appears.
Enter the amount of CME credits you wish to claim in the field provided and click Submit Claim.
- In this honor system, physicians are responsible for claiming credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the educational activity.
- Credit must be claimed in 0.25 increments. Round your claim to the nearest value.
After you have claimed your CME, on your My Portfolio page, you will be able to view or print your complete transcript for all activities youve completed through the Academy since 1998, including the credit you just claimed, by clicking on the My Transcript link.
For detailed instructions with screenshots, please click here.

How do I complete an SAE-P and claim CME credit?
For detailed instructions on completing an SAE-P and claiming CME credit, please click here.

I have an idea.

I have an idea for a course/offering on acadeME. Who can I talk to about that?
Please send your idea to us by clicking here, or by contacting the Education and/or Membership Departments at 847.737-6000.

Refund Policy

No refunds or exchanges will be issued.

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