Applying Out-of-State CME to Meet Illinois Requirements: A Narrow but Important Option for Multi-State Licensees

As the ICS previously informed members, the 2024 Illinois Medical Practice Act rules rewrite made several changes that may affect chiropractic physicians.  One of these specific changes, regarding the acceptance of out-of-state CME, may impact doctors who are licensed in more than one state.  The previous version of the applicable rule required these doctors to submit to the IDFPR the “Out-of-State Medical And Chiropractic Physicians Continuing Medical Education Approval” application form.  This form will no longer be used.

Under the revised rule, chiropractic physicians licensed in Illinois who also hold licensure in another state may count continuing medical education (CME) credits from out-of-state programs toward their Illinois license renewal. Illinois provides a narrow exception for recognizing CME used to meet requirements in another state (referred to as “jurisdictions” in the rule), but only for those who are actively licensed in both states.

Advertisement

CME Used in Another State May Count in Illinois

According to the revised Section 1285.110(c)(6) of the Illinois Medical Practice Act rules, CME credit hours that are used to satisfy the CME requirements of another state may also be applied to Illinois CME requirements, if:

• The CME is verified as approved by the other state in which it was completed.
• The hours are documented in a manner consistent with Illinois documentation standards.
• The chiropractic physician is licensed in the other state where the CME was completed.

This rule creates a specific opportunity for chiropractic physicians who are maintaining active licenses in multiple states. If you completed CME to meet another state’s renewal requirements, and that state accepted the education, those same hours may be eligible to count toward your Illinois renewal.

This Does Not Apply to All Out-of-State CME

The exception only applies when CME is used to fulfill another state’s license renewal requirement. That means:

• If you are not licensed in another state, this rule does not apply.
• If the CME was not submitted and accepted as part of the other state’s renewal process, it does not qualify in Illinois.
• CME that is approved by a national program or third-party (such as PACE) but was not accepted for license renewal by another state in which you are licensed will not be accepted by Illinois.

Verification and Documentation Requirements

To utilize this exception, chiropractic physicians must:

• Be actively licensed in the other state.
• Confirm that the CME was accepted by that state for license renewal.
• Retain the following documentation for each course: the name and date of the course, the number of credit hours completed, the name of the sponsoring organization, a certificate of attendance or completion, course syllabus or outline if available, information showing the course was approved by the other state, and proof the CME was submitted and accepted for license renewal in that state.

No More Individual CME Approval Applications

Illinois no longer permits doctors to apply for individual CME approval by submitting a separate application and fee. The only mechanism for accepting non-Illinois CME is the multi-state licensure exception described above.

Key Takeaway for Dual-Licensed Chiropractic Physicians

If you are actively licensed in another state and your CME is verified as approved by that state’s board for renewal, you may be able to apply those same hours to your Illinois license. This is a legitimate but narrow pathway requiring strict documentation as outlined above. It does not provide general acceptance of nationally approved CME programs unless they were used and accepted in another state where you are licensed.

If you believe you qualify under this rule, be sure to maintain complete records for renewal and to be fully prepared in case of a CME audit.