The situation with continuous medical education (CME) in the leading countries of the world and in Russia is presented. The principles and possible forms of improving professional knowledge and skills, including CME, of medical doctors working in the clinical laboratories are described. Based on the experience gained in the pilot implementation of the CME system in the field of laboratory medicine in Russia, the identified problems with the organization of training and participation of medical laboratory specialists in it, especially in educational activities, are revealed and ways of resolving issues related to CME are outlined.