Frequently Asked Questions about Continuing Medical Education Exams

Frequently Asked Questions about Continuing Medical Education Exams

I am a subscriber. How can I access the free individual exams?
Subscribers have free access to current individual Continuing Medical Education exams. Simply go to the CME exam status page where exams are freely available based upon your current subscription status. Please note that you must be logged in to access the CME exam status page.
My subscription is expired or has been cancelled. Can I access free individual exams for past issues received?
No. Access to individual exams is not available if your subscription is expired or cancelled. Subscribe
Is the content of the Comprehensive online Continuing Medical Education Exam exactly the same as the print version?
Yes.
I see The Medical Letter has print Continuing Medical Education questions in each issue. Can I just circle the correct answers and mail it for credit?
No – Please do not mail or fax the page containing the continuing medical education questions. For your convenience, we publish the questions related to each issue on the last page of the issue. Subscribers may freely access individual exams online. (Individual exams are available for purchase by non-subscribers). You may wish to circle the correct answer and keep the page in your files for a later time when you are taking the exam online (or the Comprehensive Exam in print). This way, you can refer to the answers you selected when the information was still fresh. The questions you see with each issue are the same questions that will appear in the Comprehensive Exam published twice per year.
There used to be a semi-annual test in print and online? Can I still purchase these exams?
Yes. The semi-annual test is called the Comprehensive Exam. It is available for purchase in print and online and published twice per year, in January and July. The January Comprehensive Exam contains questions related to content published in The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics during the six month period (July-December) immediately preceding the exam. The July Comprehensive Exam contains questions related to content published in The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics during the six month period (January-June) immediately preceding the exam.
Why can’t I purchase a 26 credit exam (either print Comprehensive or online Comprehensive) and an individual exam too?
The print Comprehensive, online Comprehensive, and individual exams all contain the same questions. You may not test on the same information twice. You may not earn more than 26 credits for any given 6-month period.
How can I order a Continuing Medical Education online exam?
Order on The Medical Letter’s website anytime, or call our Customer Service Department at 800-211-2769, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, EST.
Can I purchase more than one Continuing Medical Education online exam at a time?
Yes, you can purchase more than one online exam at a time.
I purchased a print Comprehensive Continuing Medical Education Exam. How can I take it online?
If you have a current print Comprehensive Continuing Medical Education Exam that has not yet been submitted, you can “switch” from print to online Comprehensive by logging in and going to the CME exam status page.
I purchased a print or online Comprehensive Continuing Medical Education Exam. Can I take the individual exam option?
If you have already purchased a print or online Comprehensive Exam and would rather take the individual exams, you may “switch” by calling Customer Service at 800-211-2769.
Is there any way to “switch” back to taking the print exam if I decide I don’t want to take the Continuing Medical Education online exam?
Please call our Customer Service Department at 800-211-2769, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, EST.
Where can I access the Continuing Medical Education online exam I purchased or saved?
Exams can be accessed by logging in and going to the CME exam status page.
I can’t access my newly purchased/saved Continuing Medical Education online exam — I am brought to a web page that says “Continuing Medical Education registration not found.” What can I do?
Please be sure to type your email address exactly as it was entered when purchasing or switching from print to online. You must use the same case (upper or lower) letters that you registered with. Please consult the confirmation email we sent you when you registered. If you continue to have problems, email custserv@medicalletter.org or call 800-211-2769.
I’m having problems submitting my Continuing Medical Education online exam. What can I do?
Please email custserv@medicalletter.org or call 800-211-2769. If you have technical problems submitting your completed Continuing Medical Education online exam, please email techsupport@medicalletter.org or call 800-211-2769 and ask for Technical Support.
Can I add my current exam to my list of favorites for quicker access to the exam at a later time?
No, but you may add the exam status page to your list of favorites and access the exam that way.
I just submitted my online exam. How do I know that it was received?
Shortly after submitting an online exam, in either the Comprehensive or individual formats, you should receive an email message confirming the submission of your exam. If you do not receive a confirmation email message, please contact Customer Service at 800-211-2769.
I just mailed a print Comprehensive Exam for grading. When and how can I expect to receive a certificate?
A print certificate will be mailed to you approximately four to six weeks after the exam is received at The Medical Letter.
I just submitted an online exam for grading. When and how can I expect to receive a certificate?
A certificate will be emailed upon successful completion of the exam. To ensure proper email delivery, please be sure your email provider allows attachments and add the address custserv@medicalletter.org to your list of allowed emails.
I just submitted a Medical Letter individual exam. Do I have to wait until I submit all 13 exams to get a certificate?
No. A certificate will be emailed upon successful completion of each individual exam. You will receive a 2-credit certificate for each exam you submit and successfully pass. This way you do not have to take all 13 exams if you do not need all your credits at once; you get the credit as you earn it. We recommend that you create an email folder specifically for your TML certificates to facilitate easy access when you are preparing to submit to your licensing or specialty review board.
Can I get a single certificate showing all Continuing Medical Education credit hours for one year?
No. The Continuing Medical Education individual exam is designed to send one certificate for each exam that is submitted and passed. The Continuing Medical Education Comprehensive Exam is designed to send only one certificate for each exam that is submitted and passed. If you wish to receive only one certificate for 26 credit hours, please order a Continuing Medical Education Comprehensive online or print Exam.
How many questions must I answer correctly in order to successfully pass an exam?
You must answer at least 70% of the questions correctly. If you do not answer at least seven questions correctly on an individual exam online, you will immediately be given two additional opportunities to change your answers.
If I include my AAFP number when I submit my online Continuing Medical Education Exam, will the credits be reported to the AAFP?
Yes. The Medical Letter submits to the AAFP a monthly report containing the following information for those subscribers who include their AAFP number when they take the online exam: AAFP number, subscriber email address, exam number, credit earned, and the date processed.
If I include my NABP e-Profile ID number and birth date when I submit my online Continuing Medical Education Exam, will the credits be reported to the ACPE?
Yes. The Medical Letter submits to the ACPE a monthly report containing the following information for those subscribers who include their NABP e-Profile ID number and birth date when they take the online exam: NABP e-Profile ID, date of birth, ACPE Universal Activity Number, and date of participation. Please note that CPE activity must be submitted a maximum of 60 days from the date the participant completed the CPE activity.
Can I have my CME credits reported for the American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification Program (ABIM MOC)?
Yes. The Medical Letter submits a weekly report to the ABIM MOC Program containing all earned CME credits for those subscribers who pass the exams and include their board ID and date of birth within online individual and online/print comprehensive exams. In order for credits to be counted for the same year the exam was taken, please submit exams no later than December 15th of the same year.
Can I have my CME credits reported for the American Board of Surgery Continuous Certification Program (ABS CC)?
Yes. The Medical Letter submits a weekly report to the ABS CC Program containing all earned CME credits for those subscribers who pass the exams and include their board ID and date of birth within online individual and online/print comprehensive exams. In order for credits to be counted for the same year the exam was taken, please submit exams no later than December 15th of the same year.
I’ve changed my email address since purchasing the exam. What should I do?
Please call our Customer Service Department at 800-211-2769, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, EST or use our online change of email address form.
I am not a subscriber to The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics newsletter. Can I take The Medical Letter individual exams and earn credits?
Yes. Non-subscribers can order individual exams on The Medical Letter’s website anytime. Non-subscribers can also order the print Comprehensive Exam by calling Customer Service at 1-800-211-2769.
Why must I subscribe to The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics newsletter to freely access the individual exams or order the online Comprehensive Exams?
Because when you take these versions of the exams, page links to the respective 6 months of The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics newsletters are provided in order to help you quickly locate the information needed for review to answer the questions. Our business practice does not allow us to give 6 months of content away for free. The Continuing Medical Education Program is meant to be an added value for The Medical Letter’s subscribers.