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CME Requirements by State

The following is a guide to state CME requirements in the states that require practitioners to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ in order 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. 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

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 25
Total CME credits required: 25
License renewal is required every 1 year.

Alabama requires a portion of the 25 total credits to be in the areas of controlled substances and medication management. See the Alabama State Medical Board website to determine how to best fill this criteria.

Alaska

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

Alaska allows MDs and DOs to earn credit with either AMA PRA Category 1 or AOA Category 1 or 2 credits. Alaska requires its MDs and DOs to earn credit in the areas of pain management and opiate misuse. See the Alaska State Medical Board website to determine how to best fill this criteria.

Arizona

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40
Total CME credits required: 40
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.
For DOs: 24 must be AOA Category 1-A with no more than 16 hours obtained annually by completing AMA Category 1 Credit

The Arizona State Medical Board requires that a portion of the required credits must be earned in the areas of opioids, substance use disorders or addiction education.

Arkansas

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 50% in Category 1 and in your primary area of practice
CME Credits Required: 20
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

The Arkansas State Medical Board does not require any topic-specific CME.

California

MD

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

The California State Medical Board requires MDs to complete several one-time, topic-specific CME courses as well as topics required within each license cycle as a portion of a physician’s total credit requirements. CME in the areas of geriatrics, pain management and treatment of the terminally ill, are required depending on the practitioner. Check the California Medical Board website to see if these provisions apply to you.

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40 (AOA 1-A or 1B)
Total CME Credits Required: 100
CME requirements must be met every 2 years.

The California State Medical Board requires several one-time and repeated completion of topic-specific CME for DOs in the areas of geriatrics, pain management and treatment of the terminally ill, depending on the practitioner. Check the board website to see if these provisions apply to you.

Colorado

This state does not have any AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ requirements.

Connecticut

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: N/A
Total CME Credits Required: 50
CME requirements must be met every 2 years.

According to the Connecticut State Medical Board website, first-time license renewals do not require CME. For the second license renewal and every six years going forward, physicians are required to earn at least two contact hours of CME on the topics of behavioral health, pain management, controlled substance prescribing, sexual assault, domestic violence and cultural competency.

Delaware

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

According to the Delaware State Medical Board website, Delaware MDs and DOs are required to complete topic-specific CME in some circumstances. See the Delaware State Medical Board website for more information on how to complete state-specific requirements in the areas of child safety, controlled substance prescribing and treatment of chronic pain.

Florida

MD

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40
Total CME credits required: 40
CME requirements must be met every 2 years.

DO

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

Refer to the Florida State Medical Board website for topic-specific CME requirements for certain MDs in the areas of medical error prevention, domestic violence and controlled substance prescribing.

Georgia

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: at least 10
CME Credits Required: 40
Term (Years): 2

According to the Georgia State Medical Board website, physicians must earn a portion of their required credits by participating in activities related to the areas of controlled substance prescribing and chronic pain management, among other similar topics.

Hawaii

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

The Hawaii State Medical Board does not require any topic-specific CME.

Idaho

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

Illinois

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
Total CME Credits Required: 150
CME requirements must be met every 2 years.

According to the Illinois State Medical Board website, physicians must take three CME credit hours in safe opioid prescribing practices and one CME credit hour in sexual harassment prevention.

Indiana

Physicians licensed in Indiana do not have any AMA PRA Category 1 Credit requirements but must complete two credit hours of CME on the topic of opioid prescribing and opioid abuse, according to the Indiana State Medical Board website.

Iowa

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

Iowa-licensed physicians providing primary care services must complete two hours of Category 1 credit training in end-of-life/terminal illness care every five years and must complete CME on the CDC guidelines for proper opioid prescribing. Check the Iowa State Medical Board website for more details on CME requirements.

Kansas

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 20
Total CME Credits Required: 50
CME requirements must be met every 1 year.

The Kansas State Medical Board does not require any topic-specific CME.

Kentucky

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 30
Total CME Credits Required: 60
CME requirements must be met every 3 years.

PCPs may be required to complete three hours of domestic violence CME. Kentucky physicians must also periodically complete controlled substance prescription training every three years. Some practitioners may also be required to take courses in pediatric head trauma. Check the Kentucky State Medical Board website for specific details.

Louisiana

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 20
Total CME Credits Required: 20
CME requirements must be met every 1 year.

Physicians in this state must complete a one-time board orientation course. Meeting CME requirements can also include controlled substance prescribing, diversion and addiction treatment Category 1 courses. See the Louisiana State Medical Board website for more information on these and other requirements.

Maine

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ or AOA Category 1 Required: 40
Total CME Credits Required: 100
CME requirements must met every 1 year.

Physicians are required to complete three hours of Category 1 credit on the prescribing of opioid medication, per the Maine State Medical Board website.

Maryland

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

The state requires a one-time implicit bias training program course. Some physicians may also need a CME course in prescribing or dispensing controlled substance medications. The Maryland State Medical Board website contains details on topic-specific requirements.

Massachusetts

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

Massachusetts requires physicians to complete credits in risk management, implicit bias training, opioid education and pain management each renewal cycle. They must also earn credits for end-of-life care and EHR training. Check the Massachusetts State Medical Board website for details on topic-specific requirements.

Michigan

MD

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 75
Total CME Credits Required: 150
CME requirements must be met every 3 years.

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
Total CME Credits Required: 150
CME requirements must be met every 3 years.

MDs and DOs in Michigan have to complete CME in topic-specific courses consisting of pain management and medical ethics. Those with new licenses will need to meet training in implicit bias. Check the Michigan State Medical Board website for more information about required topics.

Minnesota

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 75
Total CME Credits Required: 75
CME requirements must be met every 3 years.

Physicians prescribing controlled substances are required to earn at least two CME credit hours on best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances. Check the Minnesota State Medical Board website for more details on topic-specific credit requirements.

Mississippi

MD

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

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40*
Total CME Credits Required: 40
Credit requirements must be met every 2 years.

Physicians qualified to prescribe controlled substances must complete five Category 1 credits towards prescription practices and controlled substances. The Mississippi State Medical Board website contains details on these and other state CME requirements.

*For initial licensure, DO credits must be AOA 1-A.

Missouri

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

All credits must be AMA Category 1 or AOA Category 1-A or 2-A; or 40 hours Category 1 or AOA Category 1-A with proof of post-testing.

Montana

The State of Montana does not have any AMA PRA Category 1 Credit requirements.

Nebraska

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

Physicians prescribing controlled substances are required to complete controlled substance prescribing CME credits in each licensure cycle. The Nebraska State Medical Board website provides additional details on this topic-specific requirement.

Nevada

MD

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40
Total CME Credits Required: 40
CME requirements in this state must be met every 2 years.

The Nevada State Medical Board outlines a number of specifications for a physician’s biannual CME requirements. Specific requirements include but are not limited to, 20 hours of CME within a physician’s scope of practice each licensing cycle. Additional CME in ethics, pain management and addiction treatment must also be met before each license renewal. Education in suicide detection, intervention and prevention are also required periodically for physicians.

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 10 (AOA 1-A)
Total CME Credits Required: 35
Term (Years): 1

The Nevada State Medical Board prescribes a number of topic-specific requirements for a DO’s annual license renewal process. Pain management, ethics and opioid prescribing must be met in even-numbered years. Two hours of evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness education are due within two years, then two hours every four years.

New Hampshire

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40
Total CME Credits Required: 100
CME requirements in this state must be met every 2 years.

The New Hampshire State Medical Board requires physicians to complete three credits in addiction and pain management.

New Jersey

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40
Total CME Credits Required: 100
CME requirements in this state must be met every 2 years.

Topic-specific requirements from the New Jersey State Medical Board include Category 1 credits in end-of-life care and one hour of Category 1 credit for opioid prescribing.

New Mexico

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 75
Total CME Credits Required: 75
CME requirements in this state must be met every 3 years.

Five credits in pain management are required for physicians with an NH-DEA license. One additional credit must be earned by reviewing the New Mexico State Medical Board’s Medical Practice Act and Board rules.

New York

The State of New York does not have any AMA PRA Category 1 Credit requirements.

North Carolina

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
CME Credits Required: 60
CME requirements for this state must be met every 3 years.

All credits must be Category 1 and relevant to the physician’s scope of practice or specialty.
Additional credit is needed for prescribing controlled substances. Check the North Carolina Board of Medicine website for more details on this and general CME requirements.

North Dakota

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
CME Credits Required: 60
CME requirements for this state must be met every 3 years.

Ohio

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40
Total CME Credits Required: 100
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Physicians owning or supervising pain management clinics must complete a minimum of 20 hours of Category 1 in pain management every two years. At least one course on this topic must cover the risk of opiate addiction. MDs and DOs are required to complete one hour of CME on the topic of a licensee’s duty to report misconduct.

Oklahoma

MD

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
Total CME Credits Required: 60
CME requirements for this state must be completed every 3 years.

Each licensee must complete not less than one hour of education in pain management or one hour of education in opioid use or addiction each year.

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 16 (AOA 1-A or B)
Total CME Credits Required: 16
CME requirements for this state must be met every year.

DOs must earn one credit for prescribing, dispensing and administering controlled substances per licensure cycle.

Oregon

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
CME Credits Required: 60
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

A one-hour course in pain management provided by the Oregon Pain Management Commission plus six credits of pain management or end-of-life care are required. Learn more about these topic-specific requirements at the Oregon State Medical Board website.

Pennsylvania

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ or AOA Category 1-A Credit Required: 20
Total CME Credits Required: 100
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Topic-specific requirements include patient safety and risk management, child abuse recognition and reporting, and opioid prescribing and addiction care. Visit the Pennsylvania State Medical Board website. This state accepts both AOA Category 1-A and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit towards primary CME requirements for MDs or DOs.

Rhode Island

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

Certain practitioners may be required to earn one-time credit in CME focused on Alzheimer’s Disease in addition to ethics, risk management, opioid prescribing/pain management and palliative care each license cycle. This state accepts both AOA Category 1-A and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit towards primary CME requirements for MDs or DOs. Check with the Rhode Island State Medical Board website to learn more about these unique requirements.

South Carolina

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 40
Total CME Credits Required: 40
CME requirements in this state must be met every 2 years.

Three-quarters of total credits earned must be specialty education, which must equal thirty credits over the two-year license cycle. There are also additional credits required in the area of prescribing and monitoring schedules II, III and IV controlled substances. Check the South Carolina State Medical Board website for credit requirement specifics.

South Dakota

There are no AMA PRA Category 1 Credit requirements for the state of South Dakota.

Tennessee

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ or AOA 1-A or 2-A Credit Required: 40
CME Credits Required: 40
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Topic-specific requirements include prescribing controlled substances. There are additional criteria pain management clinicians must fulfill each license cycle. Check the Tennessee State Medical Board website for details on these and other CME criteria. MDs and DOs in Tennessee can earn either AMA PRA Category 1 Credit or AOA 1-A or 2-A to meet requirements.

Texas

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 24
Total CME Credits Required: 48
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Specific topic requirements include credit hours in Category 1 or Category 1-A CME on medical ethics or professional responsibility. MDs and DOs can also participate in Category 1 or Category 1-A CME on alternative pain management treatment options and/or opioid and controlled substance prescribing and monitoring. Texas also requires a prevention of human trafficking course to be met each cycle. See the Texas State Medical Board website for more details on these and other CME criteria.

Utah

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 34
Total CME Credits Required: 40
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Physicians who prescribe controlled substances are required to earn credit on the topic of controlled substance prescribing each licensure cycle. Physicians must also complete at least one online suicide prevention training course from a list provided by the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Check the Utah State Medical Board’s website for more details on CME requirements.

Vermont

MD

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 30
Total CME Credits Required: 30
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Must earn credit in hospice, palliative care, or pain management. Those with a DEA number also earn credit on the topic of safe and effective controlled substance prescribing. See the state medical board website for more details on CME requirements.

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 30
Total CME Credits Required: 30
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

DOs must earn 12 credits in osteopathic medical education. Hospice, palliative care and/or pain management are also required. Physicians who dispense controlled substances must complete credits on controlled substance prescribing. See the state medical board website for more information.

Virginia

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 30
Total CME Credits Required: 60
Term (Years): 2

Must earn credits in pain management, proper prescribing of controlled substances, and the diagnosis and treatment of addiction. Check with the state medical board for further details.

Washington

MD

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 120
CME Credits Required: 200
CME requirements for this state must be met every 4 years.

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
Total CME Credits Required: 150
CME requirements for this state must be met every 3 years.

MDs and DOs must complete credits in suicide assessment, treatment and management as a one-time requirement. The curriculum for courses in these areas must align with current state regulations and guidance. See the Washington State Medical Board for more details on these requirements. In, addition physicians are required to complete a one-time requirement in opioid prescribing

At least one credit in opioid prescribing is a one-time requirement for any physician licensed to prescribe opioids. Physicians licensed to prescribe opioids must also take a one-time course on this topic.

West Virginia

MD

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 50
Total CME Credits Required: 50
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Thirty credit hours must be in the physician’s area or areas of specialty. Three hours of drug diversion training and best practices for prescribing controlled substances is also required. Check the West Virginia State Medical Board website for more information.

DO

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 16 (AOA 1-A or 1-B)
Total CME Credits Required: 32
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Practitioners need credit in drug diversion training and best practice prescribing of controlled substances. Check the West Virginia State Medical Board website for more information.

Wisconsin

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 30
Total CME Credits Required: 30
CME requirements for this state must be met every 2 years.

Practitioners with a DEA number need two credits in a Board-approved course on responsible opioid prescription. See the Wisconsin State Medical Board website for more information on this and other CME requirements.

Wyoming

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Required: 60
Total CME Credits Required: 60
CME requirements for this state 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 State Medical Board website for more details.