(1) Category I: Continuing medical education activities with accredited sponsorship. The licensed physician may earn all two hundred credit hours in Category I. The commission will accept attendance at a continuing education program that is recognized as Category I credit and is offered by an organization or institution that meets the standards adopted by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education or its designated interstate accrediting agency, the Washington State Medical Association.

(2) Category II: Continuing medical education activities with nonaccredited sponsorship. A licensed physician may earn a maximum of eighty credit hours by attendance at continuing medical education programs that are not approved but which are in accordance with the provisions of Category I.

(3) Category III: Teaching of physicians or other allied health professionals. A licensed physician may earn a maximum of eighty credit hours for serving as an instructor of medical students, house staff, other physicians or allied health professionals from a hospital or institution with a formal training program if the hospital or institution has approved the instruction.

(4) Category IV: Books, papers, publications, exhibits. A licensed physician may earn:

(a) A maximum of eighty credit hours under Category IV, with specific subcategories listed below. Credit may be earned only during the forty-eight-month period following presentations or publications.

(b) Ten credit hours for a paper, exhibit, publication, or for each chapter of a book that is authored by the licensed physician and published. A paper must be published in a recognized medical journal. A licensed physician who presents a paper at a meeting or an exhibit must present to physicians or allied health professionals. Credit may be claimed only once for the scientific materials presented. Credit should be claimed as of the date materials were presented or published.

Medical editing will not be accepted in this or any other category for credit.

(5) Category V: Self-directed activities. A licensed physician may earn:

(a) A maximum of eighty credit hours under Category V.

(b) Self-assessment: Credit hours for completion of a multimedia medical education program.

(c) Self-instruction: Credit hours for the independent reading of scientific journals and books.

(d) Specialty board examination preparation: Credit hours for preparation for specialty board certification or recertification examinations.

(e) Quality care or utilization review: Credit hours for participation on a staff committee for quality of care or utilization review in a hospital or institution or government agency.