Featured | Jul 5, 2025

New Mexico CME Requirements for Licensure

Physicians in New Mexico must complete 75 CME hours every three years, including pain management and a review of state rules. DEA-registered providers must complete 5 hours in pain management per cycle.

Blog post image

Your Guide to New Mexico's CME Requirements for Licensure

As healthcare advances, New Mexico’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 New Mexico's CME requirements for medical license renewal, offering healthcare practitioners a roadmap to meet their obligations and excel in a demanding, innovative environment.

Understanding New Mexico's CME Requirements

New Mexico, like many other states, mandates that licensed healthcare professionals complete a certain number of CME hours within specific time frames to renew their licenses. The New Mexico Medical Board oversees these requirements, aiming to ensure that healthcare providers in the state remain competent and provide quality care to patients.

Here's an overview of the CME requirements for various healthcare professions: https://www.nmmb.state.nm.us/docs/rules/nmac-16.10.04-2022-02-08.pdf


Here's How Your CE Tracking Progress Looks on the CE App 

Your credential requirements

New Mexico MD

Due: 31 Dec, 2025

0%

progress

Track your progress on CE App for free!

Manage continuing education in the CE App and track your your requirements today.

75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s), AOA Category 1-B, AOA Category 1-A, AAFP Prescribed Credit(s), Category 1 Credit(s) & Category 1 Every 3 years
0 more credits needed
5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s), AOA Category 1-B, AOA Category 1-A, AAFP Prescribed Credit(s), Category 1 Credit(s) & Category 1 in Controlled Substance Prescribing Every 3 years
0 more credits needed
1 Credits in NM Medical Practice Act and Board Rules Every 3 years
0 more credits needed

Profession: Medical Doctor and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Profession: Medical Doctor (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
CME Credits Required: 75
Licensure Cycle: Every Three Years
Credit Type: AMA PRA Category, AOA Category 1-A, and AOA Category 1-B credits are required.

Special CME Requirements:

  • New Mexico’s Medical Practice Act and Board Rules: 1 credit hour every 3 years.
  • Pain Management: federal DEA registration and a New Mexico controlled substance registration are required 5 hours within the first year of licensure and every renewal thereafter.

Original Source

General CME Requirements

“Seventy-five hours of continuing medical education are required for all medical licenses during each triennial renewal cycle. CME may be earned at any time during the licensing period, July 1 through June 30 immediately preceding the triennial renewal date. “

New Mexico’s Medical Practice Act and Board Rules CME requirement

“One hour of required CME must be earned by reviewing the New Mexico Medical Practice Act and these board rules. Physicians must certify that they have completed this review at the time they submit their triennial renewal application. “

Pain Management CME Requirement

“The five hours of CME in pain management continuing education set forth in Subsections A and B of 16.10.14.11 NMAC may apply toward the 75 hours required in Subsection A of this section and may be included as part of the required CME hours in pain management in either the triennial cycle in which these hours are completed, or the triennial cycle immediately thereafter. Each subsequent triennial renewal cycle shall include five hours of CME hours in pain management. “


More information on New Mexico CME requirements for physicians on the state medical board.


Track Your Progress on CE App

Supercharge your Continuing Medical Education with our cutting-edge CE app! Stay ahead of the curve, effortlessly track your CME credits, and access high-quality courses tailored to your specialization.

Frequently
Asked
Questions

 In New Mexico, both MDs and DOs are required to complete 75 hours of CME during each three-year (triennial) renewal cycle. These credits may be earned anytime between July 1 and June 30 preceding license renewal.
Source: New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 16.10.4.8

To maintain licensure, physicians must complete:

  • 75 total CME hours every three years

CME credits must be in formats accepted by the board, such as AMA PRA Category 1™, AOA Category 1-A or 1-B
Source: NMAC 16.10.4.8(A)
 

Mandatory topics include:

  • New Mexico Medical Practice Act and Board Rules – 1 hour every three years
  • Pain management – 5 hours required for any licensee with a DEA registration and a New Mexico controlled substance registration
    • These 5 hours must be completed:
      • Within the first year of initial licensure

During every renewal cycle thereafter
Source: NMAC 16.10.4.8(E), NMAC 16.10.14.11

CME credits must be completed every three years, aligning with the license’s triennial renewal cycle. The required pain management training is repeated each cycle, and the Medical Practice Act review is also due once per renewal period.
Source: NMAC 16.10.4.8

The board accepts the following CME credit types toward the 75-hour requirement:

  • AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • AOA Category 1-A and 1-B

Other credits as defined by the New Mexico Medical Board
Source: NMAC 16.10.4.8

Yes, 5 hours of CME in pain management is required if the physician has both:

  • A federal DEA registration, and

A New Mexico controlled substance registration
This training must be completed within the first year of licensure and during every triennial renewal cycle thereafter.
Source: NMAC 16.10.14.11
 

Yes. All physicians must complete 1 hour reviewing the New Mexico Medical Practice Act and Board Rules during each 3-year renewal cycle and attest to completion during license renewal.
Source: NMAC 16.10.4.8(E)

Yes. The 5 hours in pain management may be applied toward the overall 75-hour CME requirement, either within the current renewal cycle or the one immediately following.
Source: NMAC 16.10.14.11(D)


 

Ready for simplified continuing education?