OBJECTIVE: To determine the perception of the gastroenterologist about the needs of continuing medical education (CME) in Peru. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional and descriptive study. The sample was not probabilistic. A survey was applied to the gastroenterologists members of the Society of Gastroenterology of Peru. The questionnaire was developed based on the "Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Educational Needs Assessment Report" with a Likert scale of 5 points (1 = not necessary and 5 = indispensable). The average of the scores obtained in each of the 33 items of the clinical, endoscopic and learning methods areas was determined. RESULTS: There were 75 participants and the average age was 43.40 years (SD ± 10.22 years). The place of work was mainly Lima (68%) and the majority (50.67%) had a service time of less than 5 years. The perception of educational needs in the clinical area was higher for gastric cancer (4.37 ± 0.87) and colon cancer (4.37 ± 0.83); in the endoscopic area were polypectomy (4.15 ± 0.95) and emergency techniques (4.13 ± 0.99). The main learning methods for gastroenterologists were attendance at congresses (4.29 ± 0.83) and endoscopic workshops (4.19 ± 1.06). CONCLUSIONS: The perception of the gastroenterologist surveyed on the needs of CME was mainly on gastric and colon cancer issues. Most of them considered congress attendance as the main learning method.