Each state’s medical licensing board has its own set of licensure requirements for continued accreditations so that medical professionals remain in CME compliance. To follow is our roundup of required CME credit hours and licensure periods.
Calculate your State and Board Requirements here. Also, be sure to check out these free CME courses that will help you fulfill your state CME requirements.
Updated as of January 6, 2023. Check the medical board for your state for the latest updates on CME credits.
Alabama
For MD/DO accreditation in Alabama, 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are required per one-year term. The Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners does not allow the rollover of credits.
Alaska
Set forth by the Alaska State Medical Board, Alaskan MD/DO accreditation requires 25 CME credits during each year of the previous licensing period. Because licenses are renewed biennially, physicians must earn 50 credit hours during the concluding licensing period. For license renewals, at least 2 of the total hours of CME that are required to qualify for renewal must be specific to pain management and opioid use and addiction.
Courses must be Category 1 of AMA-approved education, or Category 1 or 2 of AOA-approved education.
Arizona
MD: The Arizona Medical Board requires 40 hours of MD CME over a two year licensure period. The board does not allow for rollover credits.
DO: The Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery specifies that not more than 16 hours of annual credits be obtained by completing CME requirements in AMA PRA Category 1™ approved by an ACCME-accredited CME provider.
The DO AOA 1-A requirements in Arizona is 24 CME credits and the DO CME requirement is 40 hours. Both should be completed during the two-year licensure term.
Arkansas
The Arkansas State Medical Board requires 20 hours of CME annually with 50% of the AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ targeting the main area of practice. One of the 20 annual credits must be in the area prescribing opioids and/or benzodiazepines. Random audits are performed monthly. If audited, certificates of CME completion are required to be submitted.
There is a one-time requirement of 3 hours in prescribing education within the first 2 years of licensure.
California
MD: The Medical Board of California requires 50 CME hours in MD AMA PRA 1™ and 50 MD CME hours every two years. For Doctors with practices in Family and or Internal Medicine, 20% of CME must be in geriatrics if 25% of patients in the practice are older than 65 years old.
The one-time requirement of 12 of CME in pain management and treatment of terminally ill and dying patients must be finished before the second license renewal date or within four years, whichever occurs first.
DO: The Osteopathic Medical Board of California requires 100 hours of DO CME every two years. During this time, at least 40 hours must be AOA 1-A or AOA 1-B. Additionally, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California has a one-time requirement of 12 CME hours on pain management and the appropriate care and treatment of the terminally ill. The AOA certificate is accepted when supplemented with the AOA activity registration.
Colorado
Colorado Physicians are not required by the Colorado Medical Board to obtain continuing education. One hundred hours of CME are required every two years, however, for Physician Assistants, requires 25 hours of Category 1 CME in the last twelve months. Renewal of licenses is required every two years.
Connecticut
The Connecticut Medical Examining Board requires 50 CME hours every two years with one credit in each of the following categories every two year licensure period: cultural competency, domestic violence, infectious disease (which includes, but is not limited to, AIDS and HIV), risk management, sexual assault, and behavioral health.
Delaware
The Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline requires 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 40 CME within a two year licensure period.
Florida
MD: Every two years, the Florida Board of Medicine requires 40 CME credits and 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ which should include the following concentrations within that timeframe: one-time requirement upon first renewal for one hour in HIV/AIDS and two hours in medical errors prevention. Two hours of medical errors prevention and two hours in domestic violence is required every subsequent renewal.
DO: The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine requires 40 CME hours every two years. Of this, 20 hours in DO AOA 1-A, and 15 may be in either AOA or AMA credits.
Upon first renewal, requirements include one hour in HIV/AIDS, professional and medical ethics, Florida laws and rules, and controlled substances, as well as, two hours of domestic violence and medical errors prevention. At least 20 of the remaining hours must be 1-A credits.
Upon second and subsequent renewals, one hour each must be completed in professional and medical ethics, Florida laws and rules, and controlled substances. Two hours each must be completed in domestic violence and prevention of medical errors. Every third renewal requires two hours of credits in domestic violence.
For each license renewal, at least 20 of the remaining hours must be 1-A credits. The remaining hours can be obtained from either AMA PRA Category 1™ or AOA Category 1-A. Complete mandatory live, participatory attendance courses to receive CME for professional and medical ethics, Florida laws and rules, controlled substances, and prevention of medical errors.
Georgia
The Georgia Composite Medical Board requires 40 MD/DO CME Credits and 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every two years.
Hawaii
Every two years, the Hawaii Medical Board requires 40 CME credits and 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Idaho
The Idaho State Board of Medicine requires 40 CME and 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every two year licensure period.
Illinois
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation requires 150 CME credits and 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every three years. A minimum of 40% (60 hours) of the required CME hours shall be obtained in formal CME programs.
Indiana
Indiana physicians have no continuing education requirements from the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana. Licenses must be renewed every two years on October 31st of odd-numbered years such as 2015, 2017 etc.
Iowa
Every two year licensure period, the Iowa Board of Medicine requires 40 CME and 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Training for identifying and reporting child and dependent adult abuse must be acquired every five years, as well as, two CME hours each in chronic pain management and in end-of-life care.
Kansas
Kansas Board of Healing Arts annually requires 50 CME credits, 20 of which must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 30 of Category 2.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure requires 60 hours of CME credits every three years, 30 of which must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. There is a mandatory one-time requirement for primary care physicians to complete a domestic violence course. Two credits in a Kentucky approved HIV/AIDS course must be obtained every 10 years.
Louisiana
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners requires 20 CME credits and 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ annually. A one-time board orientation course is required as well.
Maine
The Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine requires 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 100 CME credits every two years. A minimum of 40 hours must be Category I; the remainder may be any combination of Category 1 and Category 2. Must complete 3 hours of Category 1 credit on the prescribing of opioid medication.
The Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure requires 100 DO CME credits every two years, of which 40 must be approved as osteopathic medical education.
Specialists may obtain other than AOA Category 1 credits.
Maryland
The Maryland Board of Physicians requires 50 hours each for CME and AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every two years.
Massachusetts
The Board of Registration in Medicine requires 100 CME and 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (AOA 1-A) every two years.
Michigan
The Michigan Board of Medicine requires 75 MD AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 150 CME credits every three years. A minimum of 1 hour of of CME must be earned in the area of Medical Ethics. The Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery requires 150 DO CME credits every three years, of which, 60 hours of AOA 1-A or 1-B credits are required.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice requires 75 CME credits and 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every three years. An ABMS certification or MOC is accepted.
Mississippi
Every two years, the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure requires 40 CME and 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Upon initial certification, DO credits must be AOA 1-A.
Missouri
The Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts requires 50 hours of CME and 50 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to be completed every two years.
Required topics include: AOA 1-A or AAFP or if activity includes post-test or specialty board certification or recertification or ACGME or AOA approved internship/residency, 50 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA 1-A will be required.
A licensee is exempt from these CME requirements if they received their initial license within the previous renewal period.
Montana
The Montana Board of Medical Examiners does not require continuing physician education.
Nebraska
The Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery requires 50 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every two years. Up to 24 hours accumulated beyond the 50 required hours may be carried over to the next renewal cycle.
Nevada
The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners requires up to 40 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ depending on when you’re licensed biennially. See a detailed breakdown here. Every four years, physicians are required to complete at least 2 hours of CME on Suicide Prevention and Awareness.
The Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine annually requires 35 hours of DO CME. Biennially, at least 2 hours of CME in ethics, pain management or addiction care. Similar to MD’s, DO’s are required to complete at least 2 hours of CME every 4 years on evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness.
New Hampshire
Credit for courses is reported to the New Hampshire Medical Society. The New Hampshire State Board of Medicine requires 100 CME credits, 40 of which must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and the remaining 60 can be either Category 1 or Category 2 every two years. Physicians with an NH-DEA license are required to include 3 hours of Board approved opioid CME as part of their 100 credits.
New Jersey
Every two years, the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners requires 100 CME credits every 2 years. Of these 100, there must be a minimum of 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and a maximum of 60 may be Category 2. Of the 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 2 shall be related to End-of-Life care. A one-time requirement of six credits for cultural competence is to be completed in addition to the 100 hour requirement for physicians licensed before March 24, 2005. These credits may be included if licensed after this date. The Board requires newly licensed physicians to attend an orientation program, of which, no CME is given.
New Mexico
Every three years, The New Mexico Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners requires 75 AOA 1-A credits or 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every 3 years. An active membership in the AOA may replace 75 CME credits. The New Mexico Medical Board also requires 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every three years. MDs completing first-time license renewals are exempt from CME requirements.
New York
The New York State Office of the Professions does not require CME for physicians. However, physicians are required to attend a mandated training related to infection control every four years. Chiropractors, Dental Hygienists, Dentists, Optometrists, Physicians, Podiatrists, Psychologists, and Registered Nurses are required to take a one-time two hour course in child abuse and maltreatment.
North Carolina
Every three years, the North Carolina Medical Board requires 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ relevant to the physician’s current or intended specialty or area of practice. Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must earn 3 hours per CME cycle on controlled substance prescribing.
North Dakota
The North Dakota State Board of Medicine requires 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every three years.
Ohio
The State Medical Board of Ohio requires 100 CME hours every two years. A minimum of 40 hours must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and a maximum of 60 hours may be Category 2.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision requires 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every three years.
The Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners annually requires 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (AOA 1-A or AOA 1-B). One credit is required in prescribing controlled substances every other year.
Oregon
The Oregon Medical Board requires 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A or 2-A credits every 2 years. Credits must be relevant to your current practice. Six credits of pain management must be completed within 12 months of receiving the initial license. A one hour course provided by the Oregon Pain Management Commission is required plus at least six hours in the subjects of pain management or the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. Licensees in residency training and those serving in the military (and deployed outside Oregon for 90 days or longer) are exempt from the CME requirements.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine requires 100 credit hours of CME every two years. Of the 100 credit hours:
- 2 hours must be on the topic of child abuse recognition and reporting requirements
- At least 4 hours must consist of 2 hours in pain management or the identification of addiction and 2 hours in the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids
- 20 hours must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
- At least 12 hours must be on the topic of or related to patient safety or risk management and may be completed in either Category 1 or 2
The Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine requires 100 credit hours every two years. Of the 100 credit hours:
- 2 hours must be on the topic of child abuse recognition and reporting requirements
- At least 4 hours must consist of 2 hours in pain management or the identification of addiction and 2 hours in the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids
- At least 20 hours in AOA Category 1-A credits
- At least 12 hours must be on the topic of or related to patient safety or risk management and may be completed in either Category 1 or 2.
- The remaining credit hours may be completed in AOA Category 1-A, 1-B, or Category 2 or AMA PRA Category 1™ or 2.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline requires 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A credits every two years. Required topics include at least 4 hours of CME in Ethics, Risk Management, Opioid pain management / chronic pain management, End of life/palliative care, Antimicrobial Stewardship.
South Carolina
Every two years, the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners requires 40 credit hours of Category 1 CME sponsored by the AMA, AOA, or another organization approved by the board every 2 years. Of the 40 required hours:
- At least 30 hours must be related to the physician’s area of practice
- At least 2 hours may be related to prescribing and monitoring controlled substances
South Dakota
The South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners do not require physicians to continue their education. Physician Assistants, however, are required to complete 30 hours annually. Providing proof of current certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants by any physician assistant can be used as compliant documentation for this requirement.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners requires 40 hours AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every two years. Of these 40, at least two credits must be in prescribing controlled substances. Specialized CME in pain management is required for providers of intractable pain management.
The Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination requires 40 hours of AOA I-A or II-A credits every two years. Of these 40, at least two hours must be in prescribing controlled substances. If you do not have a DEA registration and do not prescribe, you must complete at least 2 credit hours in addressing prescribing practices.
Texas
The Texas Medical Board requires 48 credit hours every two years. At least 24 of these hours must be in formal Category 1 or 1A credits, with a minimum of at least 2 credits on the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility. Professional responsibility includes, but is not limited to, courses in risk management, domestic abuse, or child abuse.
Physicians that perform forensic examinations on sexual assault survivors, must have basic forensic evidence collection training or the equivalent education. CME courses in forensic evidence collection count toward this requirement.
Physicians who practice in the scope of the treatment of tick-borne diseases should complete CME in the treatment of tick-borne diseases.
Those who practice in pain management clinics must annually acquire 10 pain management credits. DOs must obtain an AOA 1-A.
Utah
The Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensure requires 40 hours every two years. At least 34 credits need to be in the Category 1 offerings established by the ACCME. Up to six hours are allowed from the Division of Occupational and Professional License. Up to 15% of the required hours can come from providing volunteer health care services with one hour of continuing education credit rewarded for every 4 hours of volunteer services. At least 3.5 hours of continuing education must be completed in controlled substance prescribing.
Vermont
Every two years, the Vermont Board of Medical Practice requires 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. 1 hour in hospice, palliative care and/or pain management is also required. Any physician who holds a DEA license will be required to have at least 2 hours of CME on controlled substances.
The Vermont Board of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons requires 30 CME hours approved by the AOA or equivalent organization approved by the Board every two years. At least 40% of these hours must be osteopathic medical education. Physicians who dispense controlled substances must complete at least 2 hours of CME on controlled substances.
Virginia
The Virginia Board of Medicine requires 60 CME hours every two years. At least 30 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and no more than 30 may be AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™. At least two hours of Category 1 credits must be on controlled substances.
Washington
Every three years, the Washington State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery requires 60 credits in DO AMA PRA Category 1™ and 150 credits in DO CME.
Every four years, the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission requires 120 MD AMA PRA Category 1™ and 200 MD CME credits. The board is classified into five CME categories. A re-licensure candidate may earn all 200 hours that are required every four years in Category 1. A maximum of 80 hours may be earned in any of the other four categories.
West Virginia
The West Virginia Board of Medicine requires 50 credits each in MD AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and MD CME every two years. 30 credits related to the physician’s designed specialty must be acquired. A minimum of 3 hours of CME is required in prescribing controlled substances and drug diversion only for physicians who prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances.
The West Virginia Board of Osteopathy requires 32 credits every two year licensure period in DO CME. Sixteen AOA 1-A or AOA 1-B credits are required. Additionally, every two-years, a three hour CME course must be completed by any licensee of the Board who prescribes, administers or dispenses a controlled substance. There is also a one-time requirement for two credits in end-of-life care, as well as, three CME credits in Board-approved pain management prescribing and drug diversion during each renewal cycle.
Wisconsin
The State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services requires 30 credits in AMA PRA Category 1™ and 30 credits in CME every two years.
Wyoming
Every three years, the Wyoming Board of Medicine requires 60 credits each in AMA PRA Category 1™ and CME.
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