Featured | Jul 5, 2025
Iowa physicians must complete 40 Category 1 CME hours every two years. Additional training is required for those involved in child or adult abuse reporting, end-of-life care, or opioid prescribing. Up to 20 hours may be carried over.
As healthcare advances, Iowa’s CME requirements serve as a cornerstone in upholding high standards in medical practice. In this dynamic field, where progress is constant, Continuing Medical Education (CME) ensures healthcare providers remain at the forefront of medical knowledge. This guide explores Iowa's CME requirements for medical license renewal, offering healthcare practitioners a roadmap to meet their obligations and excel in a demanding, innovative environment.
Iowa, like many states, mandates that healthcare professionals engage in ongoing education to ensure they stay current with advancements in medicine and patient care practices. Here's a breakdown of the key requirements:
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ACO/chapter/653.11.pdf
Your credential requirements
Iowa MD
Due: 31 Dec, 2025
progress
Profession: Medical Doctor (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
CME Credits Required: 40
Licensure Cycle: Every Two Years
Credit Type: Category 1 credits are required.
Special CME Requirements:
“Forty hours of Category 1 credits are required for a two-year license renewal period. This may include up to 20 hours of Category 1 credit carried over from the previous license renewal period. “
“The licensee in Iowa shall complete the training for identifying and reporting child and dependent adult abuse as part of a category 1 credit or an approved training program.''
“ A licensee who regularly provides primary health care to adults in Iowa must complete at least two hours of training provided by the Department of Human Services pursuant to Iowa Code section 235B.16(5)“c” in dependent adult abuse identification and reporting every three years. “
“The licensee shall complete the training for chronic pain management as part of a category 1 credit.”
“The licensee shall complete the training for end-of-life care as part of a category 1 credit. “
More information on Iowa CME requirements for physicians on the state medical board
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Physicians licensed in Iowa, including MDs and DOs, must complete 40 hours of Category 1 CME credits every two years. These credits may include up to 20 hours carried over from the previous cycle. Specific mandatory topics may apply depending on practice focus.
To maintain licensure, MDs and DOs must earn 40 CME credits in Category 1 during each two-year renewal cycle. Up to 20 credits from the prior cycle may be carried forward. Additional topic-specific CME is required for physicians in certain practice areas.
Beyond the 40 Category 1 credits, physicians in Iowa must complete specific CME in the following areas:
Controlled Substance Prescribing – 2 Category 1 hours every 5 years for prescribers of opioids
CME requirements must be fulfilled every two years, aligning with the physician’s license renewal period. Certain specialized CME topics have their own renewal cycles (e.g., 3 or 5 years).
The requirements for DOs mirror those of MDs: 40 hours of Category 1 CME credits every two years, with up to 20 hours eligible for carryover. DOs must also comply with the same mandates for special-topic training if they practice in applicable care areas.
DOs must complete 40 Category 1 CME hours per biennial renewal cycle, the same as MDs. Credits may include carryover, and special training in abuse reporting, end-of-life care, or opioid prescribing may be required.
DOs must complete the same required topics as MDs, including:
Opioid Prescribing and Chronic Pain Management – 2 hours every 5 years (if applicable)
DOs must renew their CME every two years, consistent with license renewal. Topic-specific courses may be required on different timelines, such as every three or five years.
