CME for Pharmacists, Lab and Radiology Specialists: The 40-Hour Plan

Same department, two different targets

Pharmacy, laboratory and radiology teams mix specialists and technicians. SCFHS sets continuing education hours by category, so the specialist and the technician at the next bench do not share a target. Before you plan, check which category is on your registration.

The 40-hour plan in numbers

How do pharmacists in Saudi Arabia fit 40 CME hours around a roster?

Pharmacy counters, labs and imaging suites run long hours and weekends. Online courses suit these teams for that reason. You study in short blocks on your phone or computer and resume where you stopped. At one course a week, eight courses take about two months. If renewal is closer, two a week finishes in about a month.

1. Open Mumaris Plus and read the hours still due for your period.
2. Subtract any hours already posted from other accredited activities.
3. Pick a weekly pace and block the time in your calendar.
4. Complete each course and assessment, then download the certificate from your dashboard.
5. Check that each course appears in your CPD record within 24 to 48 business hours.

If you already hold some hours this period, you may not need all eight courses. Subtract the hours already posted to your Mumaris Plus record, and consider the 30-hour bundle as a step up.

Worked examples from the three fields

The pharmacist's case shows why you round up. Hours come in blocks of 5, so a 25-hour gap needs 5 courses. Taking 6 gives her a small cushion if an older activity turns out never to have been posted. If you want the general method for planning 40 hours online, the guide on how to earn 40 CME hours online walks through pacing week by week.

Mistakes that are common in these teams

• A lab specialist copying the plan of the lab technician at the next bench and stopping at 20.
• A pharmacy technician buying 8 courses when 4 cover the target.
• Assuming a conference or a hospital lecture posted itself. Check the record, and if it is missing, contact the provider first, then raise a Tawasul ticket with the provider name, the activity approval number and the date.
• Leaving everything to the last month, when staffing on the pharmacy counter or in imaging is often tight.

Pharmacists who want the wider picture of renewal rules can read SCFHS CME requirements for pharmacists and dentists.

What if you go past 40?

Some pharmacists and specialists like to finish above their target, especially when a topic is useful for daily work. As shown in Mumaris Plus, hours earned beyond the target carry over as a balance you can use later. Keep the plan simple, though. Reach 40 first, then decide whether more is worth your time.

Your matching bundle

Each bundle gives 6 months of access, certificates are downloaded from your dashboard, and hours are posted for you.

Source: SCFHS Mumaris Plus frequently asked questions. Always confirm your own target in your Mumaris Plus account. Medically reviewed by Dr. Abdullah Alsaiari, Medical Editorial Board Member.