Initial Certification

You must meet the general licensing, training, and PALTC experience requirements.

• Completion of a U.S. ACGME or AOA accredited post-graduate training program (or a Canadian Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons or College of Family Physicians accredited post-graduate training program).

  Or, completion of relevant U.S. post-graduate training and successful attainment of U.S. state licensure to practice medicine.

• Current, unrestricted MD or DO license and DEA license
• At least 8 hours per month as a PALTC medical director or associate medical director
• At least one year of recent PALTC clinical experience, or a recent geriatric fellowship
• Consent to a FACIS Level 3 background check

After confirming eligibility, pay the non-refundable CMD application fee. The CMD application fee is included in the CMD Bundle, which saves you 20%. If you prefer not to purchase the bundle, you can pay the application fee separately. Review the pricing information below before completing your purchase.

Your one-year period to complete the requirements begins when you pay.

After making your application payment, begin your CMD application in the CMD Portal. You can save your progress and return to upload your documentation as you complete the requirements.

Start your CMD application in the CMD Portal

Complete both required parts:

• Part 1: Online Core Curriculum on Medical Direction
• Part 2: Core Synthesis

View the Core Curriculum

The CMD credits below are in addition to the Core Curriculum credits. Document all required CMD Management and CMD Clinical credits in the CMD Portal. The number required depends on your board certification or fellowship status.

Types of credits that can be used

CMD Management credits: These credits focus on the administrative and leadership responsibilities of a medical director, including leadership, operations, compliance, and regulatory requirements. Qualifying topics may include quality improvement, survey readiness, staffing, and risk management.

CMD Clinical credits: These credits focus on direct patient care and clinical decision-making, including diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based care. Qualifying topics may include dementia care, infection prevention, and medication management.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ focused on post-acute and long-term care: These credits can be used toward CMD requirements only when the educational content focuses on post-acute and long-term care. Applicants must submit documentation verifying the educational activity and its content. Documentation may include a certificate of completion and course agenda that identify the activity, credits awarded, and relevant post-acute and long-term care content. Combine all supporting documentation and upload it as one document.

Complete the required FACIS Level 3 background check. Your credential cannot be awarded until the background check is cleared.

After Steps 1–6 are complete, PALTmed awards your CMD credential and emails your certificate.