Featured | Jan 1, 2024
Explore state-specific continuing medical education (CME) requirements for 2019. Access essential information for physicians, PAs, and DOs to stay up-to-date and compliant with respective state regulations.
Continuing education is an important part of the medical field, and state boards have almost universally implemented some sort of continuing education requirements for physicians in their states. This is to keep physicians up to date on the continuously developing field medical technology and to make sure that no one actively practicing in their states are getting rusty. Click on your state to see the requirements!
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ALABAMA
MD / DO
Number of Credits Required 25
CME Type(s) Required 25 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 1 Calendar Year
ALASKA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Type(s) Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 Calendar years
Exemption Conditions: Extenuating circumstances including the licensee’s debilitating or long-term personal illness or injury and the debilitating or long-term illness or injury of a member of the licensee’s immediate family.
ARIZONA
MD
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 Calendar years
DO
Number of Credits Required: Not more than 8 hours of annual credits be obtained by completing CME requirements in AMA PRA Category 1 approved by an ACCME-accredited CME provider.
- DO AOA 1-A requirements is 24 CME credits
- DO CME requirement is 40 hours
- Both should be completed during the two-year licensure term.
ARKANSAS
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 20
CME Units Required 50% AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 1 calendar year
Topics Required 50% of credits in primary area of practice
CALIFORNIA
MD
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
Topics Required
- One-time 12 Credit Hours in Pain management and care of the terminally ill (except for Pathologists and Radiologists)
- 20% of mandatory CME in Geriatric medicine if over 25 percent of patient population are 65 years of age or older (General Internists and Family Physicians)
DO
Number of Credits Required 150
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
- 60 credits must be AOA1-A or AOA1-B
Term 3 calendar years
Topics Required
- 12 Credit Hours in Pain management and care of the terminally ill (except for Pathologists and Radiologists)
- 20% of mandatory CME in Geriatric medicine if over 25 percent of patient population are 65 years of age or older (General Internists and Family Physicians)
Exemption Conditions CME waiver can be requested due to health, military service, or undue hardship.
COLORADO
MD / DO
Number of Credits Required None
PA
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required 25 AMA PRA Category 1™CME within the past 12 months
Term 2 calendar years [January 31st (Even-numbered year)]
CONNECTICUT
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required Contact Hours / CME credits
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
1 hr in each topic below required every 6 years:
- Infectious diseases
- Risk management
- Sexual assault
- Domestic violence
- Cultural competency
- Behavioral health
Exemption Conditions No more than 10 Contact Hours can be waived.
DELAWARE
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required 40 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 years [March 31st, odd-numbered year]
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 3 Credit Hours in HIV/AIDS
FLORIDA
MD / PA
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 1 Credit Hour in HIV/AIDS
- 2 Domestic violence
- 2 Medical errors
- Board Official Website
DO
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required
- 20 AOA Category 1-A
- 15 AOA or AMA
Term 2 years [March 31st, even-numbered year]
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 2 credits in Medical Errors
- 1 Professional & Medical Ethics
- 1 Florida Laws and Rules
- 1 Federal & State Laws Related to the Prescribing of Controlled Substances
GEORGIA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 40 every 2 years
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
HAWAII
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required 20 AMA PRA Category 1™, 30 Category 2 CME or 50 AMA PRA Category 1™ in the first year.
Term 2 years [Jan 31st, even-numbered year]
Additional Requirements
Licensees initially licensed in the second year of the biennium shall not be required to complete any CME hours;
All other licensees, except licensees who were issued limited and temporary licenses, shall have completed 40 category 1 CME hours, and 60 category 2 CME hours, or 100 category 1 CME hours.
IDAHO
MD / DO
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required 40 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
PA
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
ILLINOIS
Number of Credits Required 60
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Term 3 calendar years [July 31st]
INDIANA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required None
IOWA
MD / DO
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 2 CME hours each in chronic pain management and end-of-life care
PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Term 2 calendar years
Board Website for Physician Assistants
KANSAS
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required Minimum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™; maximum of 30 AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™
Term 1 calendar years
KENTUCKY
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 60
CME Units Required Minimum of 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Term 3 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- Minimum of 4.5 hours of HB1 approved CME for physicians authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances
- 1 hour of HB 157 (Approved Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma CME) for pediatricians, radiologists, family practitioners, and emergency medicine and urgent care physicians
- 3 hours of domestic violence training course for PCPs in the initiative 3 years period
LOUISIANA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 20
CME Units Required 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or equivalent
Term 1 calendar year
MAINE
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 100 every 2 years
CME Units Required 40 AMA PRA Category 1™ or AOA
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 3 hours of opioid prescribing required every two years
MARYLAND
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required 50 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
MASSACHUSETTS
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required Minimum of 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A; maximum of 60 AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™.
Term 2 years [Birthdate]
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 10 Credits of Risk Management (Minimum of 4 Category 1 Credits)
- 2 Credits of End-of-life care
- 2 Credits of study of Board requirements;
- 3 credits opioid education and pain management for renewals;
- 3 credits in Electronic Health Records for renewals after 1/1/15.
MICHIGAN
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 150
CME Units Required Minimum of 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or Category 6 Credits™ (residency); or AOA Category 1-A
Term 3 calendar years [January 31]
MINNESOTA
MD/ DO
Number of Credits Required 75
CME Units Required 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Term 3 calendar years
PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required contact hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Term 2 calendar years
MISSISSIPPI
MD/DO
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required 40 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years [July 1st, even-numbered year]
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 5 hours of CME related to prescribing medications, with emphasis on controlled substances required for Licensees with active DEA certificates
- for initial certification only, DO credits must be AOA 1-A
PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required Minimum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Term 1 calendar year
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 10 hours of CME related to prescribing medications, with emphasis on controlled substances required for PA authorized to prescribe controlled substances.
MISSOURI
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required 50 AMA PRA Category 1™ or AOA Category 1-A or AAFP
Term 2 calendar years [Even Numbered]
MONTANA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required None
NEBRASKA
MD/DO/PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™ or AOA
Term 2 calendar years
NEVADA
MD
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required 40 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements (MD)
- 2 Credit Hours in Medical Ethics / pain management / addiction care
- 20 Credit Hours in licensee’s specialty
- 18 Credit Hours in any AMA PRA Category 1™
DO
Number of Credits Required 35
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™or Equivalent AOA Category 1-A. Minimum of 10 AOA Category 1-A credits.
Term 1 calendar year
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required Minimum of 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™; maximum of 60 AMA PRA Category 2 Credits™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements (MD)
- 3 hours of opioid CME for physicians with a DEA license every 2 years
NEW JERSEY
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required Minimum of 40 AMA PRA Category 1™; maximum of 60 AMA PRA Category 2™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 6 hours of cultural competence training in addition to the 100 credits requirement
- 2 Credit Hours in End-of-life care
NEW MEXICO
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 75
CME Units Required 75 AMA PRA Category 1™ / NM Category 1
Term 3 calendar years [July 1st]
Additional Requirements
- Maximum of 40 hours of Postgraduate Education / Advanced Degrees / Teaching
- maximum of 30 hours of Physician Preceptors, maximum of 10 hours of Paper and Publications
Specialty Credit Recommendation
- 5 credits in pain management
NEW YORK
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required None
Infection control credits are recommended
Term 2 calendar years
Requirement
- Dental hygienists, dentists, licensed practical nurses, optometrists, physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists, registered professional nurses and specialist assistants: Required to complete course work or training in Infection Control at initial licensure and every four years thereafter. In addition, licensee must complete a one-time requirement of 2 hours in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting. Those authorized to prescribe controlled substances are required to complete at least 3 hours of training in pain management, palliative care, and addiction by July 1, 2017, and every 3 years thereafter.
NORTH CAROLINA
MD/DO
Number of Credits Required 150
CME Units Required 60 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 3 calendar years [Birthdate]
Additional Requirements
CME credits earned should be specialty relevant
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 3 hours of CME designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices for physicians who prescribe controlled substances
PA
Number of Credits Required 50
CME Units Required NCCPA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years [Birthdate]
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 2 hours of CME designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices for physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances
NORTH DAKOTA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 60
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 3 calendar years [Birthdate]
OHIO
MD/DO
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required Minimum of 40 AMA PRA Category 1™ or AOA Category 1-A; maximum of 60 AMA PRA Category 2™
Term 2 calendar years [See chart]
PA
Number of Credits Required 12
CME Units Required N/A
Term 2 calendar ,years [Jan 31st, even-numbered year]
Additional Requirements
- CE needs to be in pharmacology for Certificate to Prescribe
OKLAHOMA
MD
Number of Credits Required 60
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™, AOA Category 1-A, AAFP, or ACOG Credits
Term 3 calendar years
DO
Number of Credits Required 16
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™/ AOA Category 1-A / 1-B / AAFP / ACOG Credits
Term 1 calendar year
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 1 credit on prescribing controlled substances (every 2 yrs)
OREGON
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 60
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 7 Credit Hours in Pain Management
- Note that 1 hour of the Pain Management requirement must be a course to be provided by the Oregon Pain Management Commission.
PENNSYLVANIA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 100
CME Units Required
- Minimum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
- 20 AOA Category 1 credits
- 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting
Term 2 calendar years [Jan 1st, odd-numbered year]
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 12 hours of risk management and 12 of patient safety
- Mandatory topics include
- Improving medical records and record keeping
- Reducing medical errors
- Professional conduct and ethics
- Improving communication among physicians and with other health care personnel
- Preventive medicine education
- Health care quality improvement
RHODE ISLAND
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
At least 4 hours of continuing medical education shall be earned on topics of current concern as determined by the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. Current topics include
- Ethics,
- Risk Management,
- Opioid pain management / chronic pain management,
- End of life/palliative care,
- Antimicrobial Stewardship.
SOUTH CAROLINA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 75% specialty directly related education (30 credits every 2 yrs)
- 2 hrs related to prescribing and monitoring schedules II, III, and IV controlled substances.
SOUTH DAKOTA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required None
TENNESSEE
MD / PA
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™ / AOA Category 1-A / AAFP
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 2 hours of CME in controlled substances prescribing
DO
Number of DO CME Credits Required 40
- 1 hour of DO Controlled Substances every two years.
- Twenty-four hours of AOA 1-A or AOA 2-A credit is also required.
TEXAS
Number of Credits Required 48
CME Units Required at least 24 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 2 hours of formal hours involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.
- 10 hours of pain management for those who practice in a pain clinic; (For DOs AOA 1-A).
UTAH
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 40
CME Units Required at least 34 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Term 2 calendar years
Additional Requirements
- 6 hrs may be from Division of Occupational and Professional Lic.
VERMONT
MD/ PA
Number of Credits Required 30
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years [Dec 1st]
Specialty Credit Requirements
- 1 hour addressing palliative care, hospice care / pain management
- 1 hour addressing prescribing controlled substances (for DEA licencee)
DO
Number of Credits Required 12
CME Units Required Osteopathic Medical Education
Terms 2 calendar years
VIRGINIA
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 60
CME Units Required 30 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
WASHINGTON
MD
Term 4 calendar years
Number of Credits Required 200
CME Units Required 120 Category 1 credits (AMA PRA Category 1™ accepted)
- Board is classified into five CME categories
DO
Term 3 calendar years
Number of Credits Required 150
CME Units Required 60 Category 1 credits (AMA PRA Category 1™ accepted)
WEST VIRGINIA
Number of Credits Required 50 Credit Hours, 30 of which must be related to your area or areas of specialty.
CME Units Required Category 1 credits (AMA PRA Category 1™ accepted)
Term 2 calendar years
Specialty Credit Requirements:
MD
- 30 hrs related to specialty
- 3 hrs drug diversion training and best practice prescribing controlled substances.
DO
- 3 hours of drug diversion training and best practice prescribing of controlled substances
WISCONSIN
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 30
CME Units Required AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 2 calendar years
WYOMING
MD / DO / PA
Number of Credits Required 60 AND
CME Units Required 60 AMA PRA Category 1™
Term 3 calendar years
