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Frequently Asked Questions about Continuing Medical Education Exams

I am a subscriber. How can access the free individual exams?
Subscribers have free access to current individual Continuing Medical Education exams. Simply go to the CME 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 status page.

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 added Continuing Medical Education questions to each issue. Can I just circle the correct answers and mail in the flap for credit?
NO – DO NOT MAIL OR FAX THE FLAP CONTAINING THE Continuing Medical Education QUESTIONS!!!
For your convenience we are now publishing the questions related to each issue. If you would like to take the test in smaller bi-weekly segments, subscribers may freely access the individual exam format or individual exams can be purchased by non-subscribers. If you choose to continue taking the comprehensive (semi-annual) exam, you may want to circle the correct answer and keep the flap in your files for a later time when you are taking the exam. 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 now called the Comprehensive Exam. It is still available for purchase in print and online and published twice per year, in January and July. The January Comprehensive Exam contains questions that address The Medical Letter content published during the six month period (July-December) immediately preceding the exam. The July Comprehensive Exam contains questions that address The Medical Letter content published during the six month period (January-June) immediately preceding the exam.

Why can’t I purchase a thirteen 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 earn more than 13 credits for any given 6-month period and you may not test on the same information twice. For example, if you purchase Comprehensive Exam 58 (based on Jan-June 2008 content), and if you try to purchase individual exam 1278 (Jan 2008), you would be testing on the same material twice. Therefore, our system will not allow you purchase more than 13 credits for any given six month period.

How can I order a Continuing Medical Education online exam?
Order on The Medical Letter's Web Site 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 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 (1-800-211-2769).

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 phone (1-800-211-2769).

I'm having problems submitting my Continuing Medical Education online exam. What can I do?
Please email custserv@medicalletter.org or phone (1-800-211-2769). If you have technical problems submitting your completed Continuing Medical Education online exam, please email techsupport@medicalletter.org or phone (1-800-211-2769) 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 1-800-211-2769.

I just mailed a print 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 1-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 13 credits and 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. Each comprehensive exam is assigned thirteen credit hours.

If you wish to receive only one certificate for thirteen 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?
On a comprehensive exam, you must answer at least 70% of the questions correctly. On individual online exams, you must answer at least 5 out of 6 questions correctly. If you do not score at least five correct questions, 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 e-mail address, exam number, credit hours and the date processed.

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 newsletter. Can I take The Medical Letter individual exams and earn credits?
Non-subscribers can order individual exams on The Medical Letter's web site 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 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 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 free of charge. The Continuing Medical Education Program is meant to be an added value for The Medical Letter’s subscribers.

I am not a subscriber to the Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter newsletter. Can I take Treatment Guidelines individual exams and earn credits?
Non-subscribers can order individual exams on The Medical Letter's web site anytime.

Why must I subscribe to the Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter newsletter to freely access the individual exams?
Because when you take individual exams, page links to the respective 6 months of Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter 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 free of charge. The Continuing Medical Education Program is meant to be an added value for Treatment Guidelines.