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CME Requirements by State

The following is a guide to CME requirements in states that mandate continuing education to maintain a license to practice medicine in that state. All state CME requirements indicate directives for MDs and/or DOs unless otherwise specified. Please see your state’s official medical board website to determine your exact CME requirements.

Please note, this resource is intended to be a guide and may not be up to date.

Practitioners can track credit while storing certificates and related CME documents using CME Seminars’ CertStore.

Alabama

Total CME Credits Required: 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A Credits
Credit requirements must be met annually.

Physicians with an Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC) must also complete 2 CME credits every two years in one or more of the following areas:

  • Controlled substance prescribing practices
  • Recognizing signs of abuse or misuse of controlled substances
  • Prescribing controlled substances for chronic pain management

For additional CME requirements and updates, visit the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners & Medical Licensure Commission website.

Alaska

Total CME credits required: 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1 or 2 Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Alaska requires its MDs and DOs to earn two credits with opioid-related education. See the Alaska State Medical Board website to determine how to best fill this criteria.

Arizona

Total CME Credits Required: 40
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

For DOs, 24 credits must be AOA Category 1-A, with no more than 16 hours obtained annually with AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Physicians must complete at least 3 Category 1 hours related to the safe and effective prescribing of opioids, substance use disorders, or addiction. Refer to the Arizona Medical Board website for more information on CME requirements.

Arkansas

Total CME Credits Required: 20
*50% Category 1 in your primary area of practice
Credit requirements must be met annually.

Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must also complete:

  • A one-time, 3-hour CME course on controlled substance prescribing during their first renewal cycle
  • An additional 1 hour of CME annually on the topic of opioids and benzodiazepines

Check the Arkansas State Medical Board website for more information on CME requirements.

California

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 50 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

The Medical Board of California requires MDs to complete several topic-specific CME courses as a portion of a physician’s total credit requirements. CME in the areas of geriatrics, pain management and treatment of the terminally ill may be required, depending on the practitioner.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 50
*20 must be AOA Category 1-A or 1-B Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

California’s Osteopathic Medical Board requires completion of several topic-specific CME credits for DOs in the areas of implicit bias, practice management, pain management, treating pain and terminally ill patients.

Colorado

CME Credits Required: 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

The Colorado Medical Board will begin requiring CME to renew state medical licenses during the 2027 renewal cycle. Physicians will also need to complete two or more hours of substance use disorder training.

Connecticut

Total CME Credits Required: 50
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

First-time license renewals do not require CME. For the second renewal and once every six years thereafter, physicians must complete at least one contact hour in each of the following mandated topics:

  • Infectious diseases
  • Risk management
  • Pain management
  • Prescribing controlled substances
  • Sexual assault
  • Domestic violence
  • Cultural competency
  • At least 2 hours in behavioral health

For more information on CME requirements, check the Connecticut State Department of Public Health website.

Delaware

Total CME Credits Required: 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1 Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must complete 2 hours focused on controlled substance prescribing, chronic pain, or related topics. Those who treat adult patients must also complete 1 hour of CME in Alzheimer’s disease education. For more information, refer to the Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline website.

Florida

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 38
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

For second and subsequent renewals, Florida-licensed MDs must complete 38 CME hours, including 2 hours on the prevention of medical errors. Every third renewal must also include 2 hours on domestic violence.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 40
*20 must be AOA Category 1-A Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

DOs must complete 40 hours of CME every two years, including: 2 hours on medical errors, as well as 1 hour each on professional and medical ethics, Florida laws and rules, and controlled substance prescribing laws. A 2-hour domestic violence course is required every third renewal. A 1-hour HIV/AIDS course must be completed no later than the first renewal.

Additionally, MDs and DOs authorized to prescribe controlled substances must complete 2 hours on prescribing controlled substances during each renewal cycle.

Check out the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Osteopathic Medical Association for more information about CME requirements.

Georgia

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must complete:

  • A one-time, 3-hour CME in controlled substance prescribing (for physicians with an active DEA certificate who prescribe controlled substances)
  • A one-time, 2-hour CME in professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct
  • 20 CME credits in pain management or palliative medicine every 2 years if practicing in a pain clinic without board certification in pain management or palliative medicine

View more information about CME requirements on the Georgia Composite Medical Board website.

Hawaii

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1 or 1-A
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

For more details and updates on CME requirements, visit Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional & Vocational Licensing Division website.

Idaho

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

For additional details on CME rules and approved activities, visit the Idaho Board of Medicine website.

Illinois

Total CME Credits Required: 150
*40% must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

Illinois physicians must complete 1 hour of CME in each of the following areas:

  • Sexual harassment prevention and implicit bias, every three years
  • Safe opioid prescribing, every six years
  • Cultural competency, every six years
  • Dementia care, every six years

Additional one-time or federally mandated training may apply to certain practitioners, such as those with a DEA registration. Visit the Illinois State Medical Society website for more information.

Indiana

Physicians licensed in Indiana do not have any general continuing education requirements. However, those with a controlled substance registration must complete two continuing education credit hours on the topic of opioid prescribing and opioid abuse, according to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency website.

Iowa

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Primary care providers are required to complete 2 hours of CME in end-of-life care every five years and must complete education based on CDC guidelines for proper opioid prescribing. Physicians who regularly provide care to children or dependent adults must complete 2 hours of training in child or dependent adult abuse identification and reporting every five years.

Check the Iowa Board of Medicine website for more details on CME requirements.

Kansas

Total CME Credits Required: 50
*20 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met annually.

The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts does not require any topic-specific CME.

Kentucky

Total CME Credits Required: 60
*30 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

Required topics include:

  • 3 hours in domestic violence (one‑time requirement within 3 years of initial licensure for primary care physicians)
  • 4.5 hours in controlled substance prescribing, KASPER use, pain management, or addiction disorders (required every 3‑year cycle for authorized prescribers)
  • 1 hour in pediatric abusive head trauma (one‑time requirement within 5 years of licensure for select specialties)
  • 12 hours in addiction medicine (required every 3‑year cycle for DEA-licensed prescribers of specific buprenorphine products)

Check the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure website for specific details.

Louisiana

Total CME Credits Required: 20 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met annually.

Physicians in this state must complete a one-time board orientation course. Prescribers must also complete 3 hours in controlled substance prescribing, diversion training, and addiction treatment. Visit the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners website for more information.

Maine

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must also complete 3 hours of Category 1 CME on opioid prescribing. The remaining hours may be fulfilled with any combination of Category 1 and Category 2 CME.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 100
*At least 40 must be osteopathic (AOA-approved) CME credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Specialists may fulfill some requirements with credits other than AOA Category 1, depending on board approval.

For more information, visit the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine or the Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure websites.

Maryland

Total CME Credits Required: 50 Category 1 or 2
*25 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Required topics include:

  • 1 hour in opioid prescribing
  • One-time implicit bias training program

For more details concerning CME requirements, visit the Maryland Board of Physicians website.

Massachusetts

Total CME Credits Required: 50 Category 1 or 2
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Required topics include:

  • 10 hours on risk management
  • 3 hours on opioid education and pain management (if the physician prescribes controlled substances)
  • 2 hours on implicit bias in healthcare
  • 2 hours studying the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine regulations

One-time requirements include:

  • 2 hours in end-of-life care
  • Training in electronic health records (EHR)
  • 2 hours in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (for physicians serving adult populations)
  • Training in domestic and sexual violence
  • Training in recognizing and reporting child abuse or neglect

Visit the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine website for more information.

Michigan

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 150
*75 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 150
*60 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

Required topics for MDs and DOs include:

  • 3 hours of pain and symptom management, including at least 1 hour on controlled substance prescribing
  • 1 hour of medical ethics
  • 3 hours of implicit bias training
  • One-time human trafficking training for initial licensure
  • One-time opioid and controlled substances awareness training for those licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances

Check the Michigan Board of Medicine website for more information about CME requirements.

Minnesota

Total CME Credits Required: 75 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

For additional information about CME requirements, visit the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice website.

Mississippi

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians with a DEA registration must complete 5 hours on prescribing practices, emphasizing controlled substances. A one-time, 8-hour training on opioid and substance use disorder treatment is required for all DEA-registered practitioners. Physicians who dispense medications must complete 10 additional hours in pharmacology and/or dispensing and register with the board. Pain management clinic owners must complete 30 of the 40 required hours in topics related to pain management, addiction, or opioid prescribing.

For more information, refer to the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure website.

Missouri

Total CME Credits Required: 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A or 2-A Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Alternatively, physicians can complete 40 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 or AOA Category 1-A Credits, with proof of post-testing.

Visit the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts website for more information about CME requirements.

Montana

Montana’s Board of Medical Examiners does not have any continuing education requirements.

Nebraska

Total CME Credits Required: 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must complete:

  • 3 credits on opioid prescribing, including
  • 0.5 credits on the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)

Visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website for more CME requirement information.

Nevada

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
CME requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must complete:

  • 20 hours within their scope of practice
  • 2 hours in ethics, pain management, or addiction care
  • 2 hours in controlled substances, opioid prescribing, or addiction (required for those registered to dispense controlled substances)
  • 2 credits in suicide detection, intervention, and prevention every 4 years
  • One-time training: 4 hours in bioterrorism and 2 hours in SBIRT
DO

Total CME Credits Required: 40
*10 must be AOA Category 1-A Credits
Credit requirements must be met annually.

DOs must complete:

  • 2 hours annually in substance abuse, opioid prescribing, or addiction
  • 2 hours in ethics, pain management, or addiction care (in even-numbered years)
  • 2 hours in suicide prevention due within 2 years of licensure, then every 4 years

For additional information on CME requirements, visit the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners and Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine websites.

New Hampshire

Total CME Credits Required: 100
*40 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians holding a New Hampshire DEA registration must complete 3 CME hours related to pain management, addiction disorder, or opioid prescribing each renewal cycle. Refer to the New Hampshire Board of Medicine’s website for additional information and updates.

New Jersey

Total CME Credits Required: 100
*40 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Required topics within the 100 hours include:

  • 2 hours in end-of-life care
  • 1 hour in opioid prescribing or pain management
  • 6 hours in cultural competency (one‑time requirement; may count toward 100 credits if licensed after March 24, 2005)

Visit the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners website for more information.

New Mexico

Total CME Credits Required: 75 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

Physicians with a federal DEA and New Mexico controlled substance registration must complete 5 hours of pain management and controlled substance prescribing each cycle. All licensees must complete 1 hour reviewing the New Mexico Medical Practice Act. DEA-registered practitioners have a one-time 8-hour opioid/substance use disorder training requirement.

See the New Mexico Medical Board website for additional details.

New York

The State of New York does not have any general CME requirements. However, physicians must complete:

  • Infection control and barrier precautions training every 4 years
  • A one-time 2-hour course on identifying and reporting child abuse and maltreatment
  • 3 hours every three years in pain management, palliative care, and addiction

Visit the NYSED Office of the Professions for full state-mandated training details.

North Carolina

Total CME Credits Required: 60 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

All credits must be relevant to the physician’s scope of practice or specialty. Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must complete 3 hours of CME on controlled substance prescribing, covering safe practices, recognizing misuse, and chronic pain management.

Check the North Carolina Medical Board website for more details on CME requirements.

North Dakota

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Visit the North Dakota Board of Medicine website for more details on CME requirements.

Ohio

Total CME Credits Required: 50
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must complete:

  • 1 hour of CME on the duty to report misconduct to the State Medical Board.
  • 20 hours of Category 1 CME in pain management every two years if they own or operate a pain management clinic. These hours must include at least one course addressing the risk of opioid addiction.

For more information and updates on CME requirements, visit the State Medical Board of Ohio website.

Oklahoma

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 60 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

Physicians must complete at least 1 hour of CME annually in pain management, opioid use, or addiction, unless they do not have a valid DEA registration number.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 16 AOA Category 1-A or 1-B Credits
Credit requirements must be met annually.

DOs must complete 1 CME hour on prescribing, dispensing, and administering controlled substances each year.

For additional information or updates, visit the Oklahoma Medical Board and Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners websites.

Oregon

Total CME Credits Required: 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1 Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Topic-specific requirements include:

  • 1 hour on pain management provided by the Oregon Pain Management Commission (required once)
  • 6 additional credits in pain management or end-of-life care
  • 1 hour in suicide risk assessment, treatment and management
  • 1 hour in Alzheimer’s disease
  • An average of 1 hour per year in cultural competency (4 hours every 4-year audit period)

Learn more about these CME requirements at the Oregon Medical Board website.

Pennsylvania

Total CME Credits Required: 100
*20 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

For DOs, 20 credits must be specifically Category 1-A.

Topic-specific requirements include:

  • 12 credits in patient safety or risk management
  • 2 credits in child abuse recognition and reporting
  • 2 credits in pain management, addiction identification, or safe opioid prescribing (required for all prescribers)

The 2-credit courses in child abuse recognition and opioid-related topics cannot count toward the 12 credits in patient safety/risk management. Visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine website for more information on CME requirements.

Rhode Island

Total CME Credits Required: 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must also complete a one-time, career-long 1-credit training in Alzheimer’s disease. Check with the Rhode Island Department of Health website to learn more about CME requirements.

South Carolina

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

At least 30 of the 40 credits must be related to the physician’s specialty. Physicians must also complete 2 CME hours on safe prescribing and monitoring of controlled substances. Additionally, up to 10 credits may be claimed for volunteer medical service.

Check the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners website for credit requirement specifics.

South Dakota

There are no CME credit requirements for providers governed by the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.

Tennessee

Total CME Credits Required: 40 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

DOs must earn credit through AOA Category 1-A or 2-A CME, as approved by the Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination.

Unless exempt, physicians must complete 2 hours in controlled substance prescribing, which must include instruction on Tennessee’s guidelines for opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol. Exemptions apply to those board-certified in pain management, anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, or rheumatology.

See the Tennessee Department of Health website for additional details on CME requirements.

Texas

Total CME Credits Required: 48
*24 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Required topics include:

  • 2 hours in medical ethics and/or professional responsibility (Category 1 or 1-A)
  • 2 hours in alternative pain management or controlled substance prescribing and monitoring (Category 1 or 1-A)
  • Completion of a human trafficking prevention course each licensure cycle

See the Texas Medical Board website for full details on CME requirements.

Utah

Total CME Credits Required: 40
*34 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must complete 4 hours of CME on the topic each renewal cycle, including:

  • 3.5 hours in controlled substance prescribing
  • 0.5 hours from a Division of Occupational and Professional Licensure (DOPL) tutorial

All physicians must also complete at least one online suicide prevention training course from a list provided by Utah DOPL. See the Utah Division of Professional Licensing website for the most current CME requirements.

Vermont

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must complete:

  • 1 credit in hospice, palliative care, end-of-life care, or pain management
  • 2 credits in controlled substances prescribing if they currently have or have applied for DEA registration.

CME requirements may be prorated based on the length of time licensed before renewal. See the Vermont Board of Medical Practice for full details.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 30
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

See the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation for the latest DO-specific requirements.

Virginia

Total CME Credits Required: 60
*30 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians must complete 2 hours of CME in a controlled substance course as part of these 60 hours. Up to 30 credits may be earned in Category 2 CME courses. Roughly 50 CME credits can be taken on any topic area. First-time license renewals are exempt from CME requirements.

Visit the Virginia Board of Medicine website for the most current CME details.

Washington

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 200
Credit requirements must be met every 4 years.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 150
*60 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

Required topics for MDs and DOs include:

  • A one-time, 6-hour course in suicide assessment, treatment, and management
  • A one-time, 1-hour course in opioid prescribing for physicians licensed to prescribe opioids
  • A one-time, 4-hour course for prescribers of long-acting opioids or methadone
  • 2 hours in health equity training every 4 years

Physicians with a DEA registration must also complete a one-time, 8-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, as required by federal law.

See the Washington Medical Commission or Washington Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery for additional guidance.

Washington, D.C.

Total CME Credits Required: 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

The following subject areas are required as part of the 50 total hours:

  • 5 hours on public health priorities
  • 2 hours on LGBTQ cultural competency
  • 3 hours on HIV/AIDS
  • 1 hour in pharmacology

Visit the Washington, D.C. Board of Medicine website for additional information and updates.

West Virginia

MD

Total CME Credits Required: 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Thirty credit hours must be in the physician’s area(s) of specialty. Three hours of board-approved drug diversion training and best practices for prescribing controlled substances are also required. Check the West Virginia Board of Medicine website for more information.

DO

Total CME Credits Required: 32
*16 must be AOA Category 1-A or 1-B Credits
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Practitioners who have prescribed, administered, or dispensed controlled substances during their last two-year licensing period must complete a three-hour board-approved CME course in drug diversion training and best practice prescribing of controlled substances. Check the West Virginia Board of Medicine website for more information.

Wisconsin

Total CME Credits Required: 30 Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians with a DEA number need two AMA or AOA Category 1 credits in a board-approved course on responsible opioid prescription. See the Department of Safety and Professional Services website for more information on this and other CME requirements.

Wyoming

Total CME Credits Required: 60 Category 1 or 2
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

At least one credit in the responsible prescribing of controlled substances or the treatment of substance abuse disorder is required for physicians with a Wyoming Controlled Substance Registration. Check the Wyoming Board of Medicine website for more details.

Puerto Rico

Total CME Credits Required: 60
*40 must be Category 1
Credit requirements must be met every 3 years.

Half of a physician’s continuing education credits must be relevant to the physician’s scope of practice or specialty. Visit the Puerto Rico Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline website for more information on CME requirements.

Virgin Islands

Total CME Credits Required: 40
Credit requirements must be met annually.

The Board may accept an average of 40 hours annually, but no fewer than 25 hours per year over a 3-year period. CME courses must be approved by the Virgin Islands Board of Medical Examiners. Equivalent national, state, and territorial courses, including those offered by a medical society or specialty organization, may also be accepted.

Check the Virgin Islands Board of Medical Examiners website for more information on CME requirements.

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