SAEM Competency-Based Medical Education Primer

Competency-based medical education (CBME) has been adopted as a foundational paradigm by many institutions and certifying organizations, yet remains challenging to understand and implement for many educators. This primer explains the core principles of CBME, describes necessary elements of CBME programs, and proposes solutions to common barriers to the implementation of CBME.

While the essential elements of CBME are universal across specialties, particular attention is given to implementation of CBME in the emergency medicine (EM) environment. This guide is designed to support medical educators in EM who want to develop CBME programs for their own learners, whether at large or small scale.  

Sections

What is Competency-Based Medical Education?

Essential Elements of CBME

Overcoming Barriers to CBME Implementation

CBME in Emergency Medicine

Examples of Successful CBME Programs

References

Annotated Bibliography