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Understanding the California Requirement and the Process to Become, Maintain, or Reinstate the Certified Medical Director (CMD) Credential
California AB 749
AB 749 Compliance
As required by California Legislation (Assembly Bill No. 749), all nursing home medical directors* in California must be certified by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine (ABPLM). AB 749 will help ensure that every medical director in California is prepared to provide effective oversight of quality and safety in their nursing homes. A medical director already employed in a skilled nursing facility as of January 1, 2022, has five years (until January 1, 2027) to become a Certified Medical Director. (*See AB749 for complete details and exemptions.)
California Assembly Bill AB 749 requires nursing home medical directors in California to be certified by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine (ABPLM). Click here for the full text (this will open a new window and take you out of the ABPLM.org website).
This bill would prohibit a skilled nursing facility from contracting with a person as a medical director if the person is not, or will not be within 5 years of the date of initial hire as the facility’s medical director, certified by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, or an equivalent organization as determined by the department, as a Certified Medical Director. Under the bill, a medical director already employed in a skilled nursing facility as of January 1, 2022, would have until January 1, 2027, to become a Certified Medical Director.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Change of Medical Director
To report a Change of Medical Director, you must compete the required application packet.
For facilities completing form HS215A from the California Department of Public Health Centralized Applications branch, contact the ABPLM at cmd@paltc.org for a letter to confirm a physician's initiation into the process to become a Certified Medical Director. Confirmation can be provided upon registration for the required Core Curriculum Course or upon application for CMD certification.
For questions related to form HS215A refer to this link which will take you to the CDPH website.
California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification Program
Centralized Applications Branch
CAB@cdph.ca.gov
Certified Medical Director (CMD) Application Process, Timeframe, and Fees
The American Board of Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine's Certified Medical Director is a private board and is not a member of the American Board of Medical Specialities (ABMS). Click here to download a PDF with details on the CMD certification process, timeline, and fees.
Certified Medical Director (CMD) Initial Certification
The process to become a CMD is an education and experience model. There is no test for certification. Candidates for certification must meet eligibility under three steps, each of which includes education and experience qualification requirements. Candidates must meet all eligibility requirements under each of those options in both areas of experience in practice, and in education to become certified. Eligibility is documented on an application that can be downloaded by clicking here.
Step one is general eligibility, step two is clinical eligibility, and step three is management eligibility. Steps two and three require a candidate to choose the options that are based on whether he/she/they have ABMS/AOA board certifications and any certificates of added qualification; and whether he/she has completed a geriatric fellowship in the past five years.
Under step one, general eligibility, the body of knowledge required for certification is found in the “Core Curriculum on Medical Direction in Long-Term Care” (the Core). The Core is divided into two parts, each of which is required. The first part of the Core is available online, and the second part of the Core takes place at a live meeting over a three-day weekend either in person or virtually online. Information on upcoming offerings and registration for the Core can be found on the PALTC website at: https://apex.paltc.org/page/core-curriculum-on-medical-direction.
Under step two, clinical eligibility, candidates will document clinical education and experience requirements.
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You will apply under option one for your clinical step if you are currently board certified from ABMS or the AOA in Geriatrics or Hospice and Palliative Care.
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No additional CME is required above the Core Curriculum required in Step-One
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You will apply under option two if you are currently board certified from ABMS or the AOA but not in either Geriatrics or Hospice and Palliative Care.
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You will need 60 clinical CME credits earned within the past three years
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You will apply under option three if you are not currently board certified.
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You will need 75 clinical CME credits earned within the past three years
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Under step three, management eligibility, candidates will document management education and experience requirements.
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You will apply under option one for your management step if you are currently board certified from ABMS or the AOA and have completed a Fellowship within the past 5-years in Geriatrics or Hospice and Palliative Care.
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No additional CME is required above the Core Curriculum required in Step-One
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You will apply under option two if you are currently board certified from ABMS or the AOA but have not completed a Fellowship within the past 5-years in Geriatrics or Hospice and Palliative Care.
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You will need 14 management CME credits earned within the past 5 years.
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You will apply under option two for your management step if you are not currently board certified.
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You will need 14 management CME credits earned within the past 5 years.
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While candidates must meet the clinical experience and medical director experience for CMD certification. CMD applications may be submitted for consideration of a letter of education eligibility even before the years of medical director experience are completed. The one-time application review fee will be held with a pending application for up to 5-years. Application deadlines are April 1, and October 1 of each year. Candidates who meet education eligibility will be awarded the education eligibility letter which will be valid for up to five years as the candidate works to complete employment eligibility requirements.
While not required, membership in AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine provides a discount on the education required in step one and on the application review fee. Click here to learn more about AMDA membership.
If you need additional CME credits to meet step-2 or step-3 education requirements, check with CALTCM or AMDA. You can find out more about the AMDA CME on their website at https://apex.paltc.org.
For questions about CMD certification, please contact the ABPLM Director at cmd@paltc.org or 410-992-3117.
Certified Medical Director (CMD) Recertification and Reinstatement
If you are a current or former CMD you may recertify or reinstate your CMD credential via an application that can be downloaded by clicking here.
Recertification is due every six years.
Recertification/Reinstatement Education Eligibility During Covid-19 Crisis
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documentation of 60 clinical CME credits from the last six years certification period. (may come from self-study during Covid-19 crisis)
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documentation of 60 management CME credits from the last six years. (may come from self-study during to Covid-19 crisis)
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a minimum of 30 credits must come from pre-approved CMD credits
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Clinical Education credit hours are AMA PRA Category 1, credits, AAFP-approved, or AOA-approved credits on topics such as diabetes, stroke, pressure ulcers, falls, hypertension, dementia, or other clinical issues seen in your long-term care patient population.
Management topics related to the management and leadership responsibilities in your post-acute and long-term care settings may be submitted for consideration. Management credits can come from such topics as billing and coding, communications with patients and staff, ethics, risk management
If you need additional CME credits to meet your clinical or management education requirements, check with CALTCM or AMDA. You can find out more about AMDA CME on their website at https://apex.paltc.org.
For questions about CMD recertification or reinstatement, please contact the ABPLM Director at cmd@paltc.org or 410-992-3117.
AMDA Membership
AMDA physician members receive a significant discount on registration for the Core Curriculum course required of all CMD candidates in step one eligibility as well as on all AMDA CME offerings. Click here to learn more about AMDA membership.
Core Curriculum on Medical Direction in PALTC Registration
The Core Curriculum on Medical Direction in PALTC is the course required of all applicants for initial CMD certification. AMDA, the Society for PALTC conducts this course. Click here to learn more about the required course and to register. Save on the registration fees with AMDA membership.
CMD Verification
Verification of a physician's CMD status may be checked online by clicking here. For written verification contact the ABPLM at cmd@paltc.org.
Contacts
Contact Membership at AMDA, The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine for membership 410-992-3118
Contact Education/Professional Development for Core Curriculum registration 410-992-3130
Contact CALTCM about state chapter CME and membership. Call the CALTCM Executive Office: (888) 332-3299 - Option 1 for Membership
Contact the ABPLM for questions about CMD certification 410-992-3117
