What Is a CME Hour? Explained for Saudi Health Professionals

An hour is a unit, not a stopwatch

It is natural to think of a CME hour as time spent in a lecture. In practice, the number that counts is the number of hours the accredited activity carries, as stated by its provider under its accreditation. That is why a course page shows a clear figure, such as 5 hours, and why your record shows the same figure once it is posted. Accreditation is granted per activity and per provider, so each activity carries its own hours.

How hours add up to your target

SCFHS sets a target per two-year registration period based on your category. With courses that carry 5 hours each, the arithmetic is simple:

Why count hours, not courses?

Counting in hours lets very different activities share one scale. A short workshop, a full-day conference and an online course can all feed the same target, because each states its hours. It also means you can mix sources freely: some hours from events at work, some from online courses, as long as each one is accredited and posted.

Counting hours from mixed sources: a worked example

Take a physiotherapist. As a specialist, the target is 40 hours per two-year period. Over the first year, three things happen: a hospital workshop that states 5 hours, a conference that states 10 hours, and one online course. Here is how the record should look once each one posts.

With 20 still due, four more courses of 5 hours finish the target. The 20-hour bundle covers exactly that, with 6 months of access to complete it.

Which counting mistakes should you avoid?

• Counting the time you sat in the room. A conference day can run long, but the hours that count are the hours the activity states.
• Adding up certificates. A certificate shows what you completed; the CPD record shows what counts. Keep both, and trust the record.
• Assuming every session at an event carries hours. Accreditation is per activity, so one session can count and the next one may not.
• Waiting for the last course to post on renewal day. Mulhim posts within 24 to 48 business hours, and other providers set their own timing.

For a quick lookup of how many hours each profession needs per period, see how many CME hours per SCFHS cycle. Physicians and dentists can read about the 60-hour rule for physicians and dentists.

The life of one CME hour

An hour only helps your renewal when it reaches your record. This is its path:

1. You choose an accredited activity that states its hours.
2. You complete it, including any assessment.
3. You get your certificate. At Mulhim, you download it from your dashboard.
4. The provider posts the hours to Mumaris Plus. Mulhim does this within 24 to 48 business hours.
5. The hours appear in your CPD record and reduce what is still due.

What happens to extra hours?

As shown in Mumaris Plus, hours earned beyond your target carry over as a balance you can use later.

Turn hours into a plan

Every Mulhim course is SCFHS accredited and Mulhim is fully accredited. Bundles group courses into the common targets, each bundle gives 6 months of access, and your certificates live in your dashboard. Physicians and dentists start with 40 and top up to 60.

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.