Learn about continuing medical education with online courses
What is continuing medical education?
Continuing medical education allows healthcare professionals to keep up with the fast pace of medical advancement. It may involve learning new technologies being used in the field, maintaining a specific certification, or adapting to changing demographics.
Other benefits of participating in CME opportunities include:
Understanding the legal and ethical boundaries of healthcare professions.
Developing stronger collaboration skills with professionals in other medical disciplines.
Educating patients to make healthier choices.
Contributing to the overall improvement of healthcare quality.
No matter where you may be in your career, CME can help you stay on top of important advancements and enhance patient outcomes. With online courses on edX, you can build your skills without pausing your career.
Browse online continuing medical education courses
Continuing medical education course curriculum
The type of continuing medical education you pursue will depend largely on your field of interest, as well as the country, state, or professional organization you may belong to. Learners may be interested in courses that discuss cross-disciplinary topics, such as:
COVID-19 training
Prescription drug regulation
The opioid epidemic
Bias in medicine
edX offers online courses that allow learners to study a variety of topics to start or advance a career, including healthcare, medicine, and much more. Sign up for an accelerated boot camp, or enroll in a full degree program and start working toward a bachelor's degree, or (for more advanced learners) a master’s degree in a relevant subject. You can also explore executive education programs specifically designed for busy professionals.
Explore medical jobs
The medical field is vast and encompasses a wide variety of jobs that require ongoing education to stay on top of the latest advancements, technologies, and best practices. Here are just a few jobs that typically include continuing medical education on their career path:
Nurse: May be required to complete CME to renew their license or maintain advanced practice certifications.Footnote 1
Dentist: Engages in CME to stay updated with new dentistry techniques, materials, and technologies.Footnote 2
Occupational therapist: Participates in CME to maintain licensure and learn about new techniques and treatments for patients.Footnote 3
Radiologist: Completes CME to keep up with advancements in imaging technologies and safety protocols.Footnote 4
Chiropractor: Needs CME to maintain licenses and learn about new techniques and treatments in chiropractic care.Footnote 5
Each of these roles will have different education and skills requirements. For example, some employers may seek candidates with a degree in nursing or dentistry, depending on the role. Before deciding on a specific learning path, research the positions you hope to pursue and align your coursework with your career goals.