MD - Doctor of Medicine
MD License Renewal & CME Requirements by State
Complete reference guide for medical license renewal cycles and continuing medical education (CME) credit requirements across all U.S. states and territories.
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The information provided on this page may have changed since publication. Healthcare providers should always verify current requirements with their respective state medical licensing boards. If you find any errors or outdated information, please submit feedback to help us keep this resource accurate.
| State/Jurisdiction | License Renewal Cycle | License Deadline | CME Cycle | CME Deadline | Total CME | Special CME Requirements | One-time Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 year | Dec 31 annually | 1 year | Dec 31 annually | 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hrs every 2 years for AL Controlled Substance Certificate (ACSC) holders | 2 hrs professional boundaries course ('Navigating Professional Boundaries in Medicine') within 12 months of initial licensure |
| Alaska | 2 years | Dec 31 (even years) | 2 years | Dec 31 (even years) | 50 hours (AMA PRA Category 1 or AOA Category 1 or 2) | 2 hrs pain management/opioid use and addiction if possess DEA | None |
| Arizona | 2 years | Birthday | 2 years | Birthday | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 3 hrs opioid/substance use disorder/addiction | None |
| Arkansas | 1 year | Last day of birth month | 1 year | Last day of birth month | 20 hours (10 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 1 hr opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing (annually) | 3 hrs prescribing education within first 2 years of licensure (for prescribers licensed after Dec 31, 2015) |
| California | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 10 hrs geriatric medicine (~20% of CME) for internists/family medicine with >25% of patients age 65+; all CME must include cultural/linguistic competency and implicit bias | 12 hrs Pain Management and Treatment of Terminally Ill Patients |
| Colorado | 2 years | April 30 (odd years) | 2 years | April 30 (odd years) | 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (accruing now; first enforced at the Apr 30, 2027 renewal) | 2 hrs opioid prescribing/substance use prevention (repeal pending under SB 26-138; still in force) | None |
| Connecticut | 1 year | Last day of birth month | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 50 Contact Hours (AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ accepted) | 5 hrs infectious diseases (incl. HIV/AIDS), risk management (controlled substances/pain), sexual assault, domestic violence, cultural competency (1 hr each) (every 6 years); 2 hrs behavioral health (suicide prevention, cognitive/dementia, or veteran mental health) (every 6 years) | None |
| Delaware | 2 years | March 31 (odd years) | 2 years | March 31 (odd years) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A | 1 hr child abuse and domestic violence recognition/reporting (each renewal); 2 hrs controlled substance prescribing/chronic pain if holding Delaware Controlled Substance Registration | 1 hr Delaware-specific controlled substance education for initial Controlled Substance Registration applicants (within first year); 8 hrs treating/managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders if DEA-registered |
| Delaware (from Mar 31, 2027) | 2 years | March 31 (odd years) | 2 years | March 31 (odd years) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A | 1 hr child abuse and domestic violence recognition/reporting (each renewal); 2 hrs controlled substance prescribing/chronic pain if holding Delaware Controlled Substance Registration | From the 2027 renewal: 2 hrs Alzheimer's disease or other dementias (physicians with direct patient interactions with adults over 25); 1 hr Delaware-specific controlled substance education for initial CSR applicants (within first year); 8 hrs opioid/substance use disorder treatment if DEA-registered |
| District of Columbia | 2 years | Last day of birth month | 2 years | Last day of birth month | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hrs LGBTQ cultural competency; 5 hrs DC Health public-health priority domains (sexual & reproductive health, chronic disease management, One Health, healthcare workforce retention, community & patient safety) (10% of total); at least 1 course in pharmacology | None |
| Florida | 2 years | Jan 31 (biennial) | 2 years | Jan 31 (biennial) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hrs controlled substance prescribing if possess DEA; 2 hrs Prevention of Medical Errors (every renewal); 2 hrs Domestic Violence (every 3rd renewal) | 1 hr HIV/AIDS (prior to first renewal) |
| Georgia | 2 years | Last day of birth month | 2 years | Last day of birth month | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (or AOA Category 1-A) | 20 hrs pain management/palliative medicine (counts toward the 40 hrs) if practicing in a pain management clinic and not pain/palliative certified (every 2 years) | 3 hrs controlled substance prescribing if possess DEA (one-time); 2 hrs professional boundaries/sexual misconduct (one-time) |
| Hawaii | 2 years | Jan 31 (even years) | 2 years | Jan 31 (even years) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (or AOA Category 1-A) | None | None |
| Idaho | 2 years | Birthday | 2 years | Birthday | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | None | None |
| Illinois | 3 years | July 31 (triennial) | 3 years | July 31 (triennial) | 150 hours (60 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 1 hr Sexual Harassment Prevention (every 3 years); 1 hr Implicit Bias Awareness (every 3 years); 1 hr Safe Opioid Prescribing if hold IL Controlled Substance License (every 6 years); 1 hr Cultural Competency (every 6 years); 1 hr Recognizing Dementia if treat patients age 26+ (every 6 years); 1 hr Mandated Reporter (Child Abuse) if work with children (every 6 years) | Initial Child Abuse Mandated Reporter training within 3 months of starting a role working with children |
| Indiana | 2 years | Oct 31 (odd years) | N/A | N/A | No CME requirement | None | None |
| Iowa | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (or AOA Category 1-A) | 2 hrs CDC opioid-prescribing guidelines for chronic pain if prescribed opioids in prior license period (every 5 years); 2 hrs end-of-life care if regularly provide direct care to actively dying patients (every 5 years); 2 hrs child abuse mandatory-reporter training if provide primary care to children (every 3 years); 2 hrs dependent adult abuse mandatory-reporter training if provide primary care to adults (every 3 years) | None |
| Kansas | 1 year | July 31 annually | 1 year | July 31 annually | 50 hours (20 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 1 hr acute or chronic pain management/opioid prescribing/prescription-drug monitoring programs | None |
| Kentucky | 1 year | Mar 1 annually | 3 years | Dec 31 (triennial) | 60 hours (30 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 4.5 hrs KASPER/pain management/addiction disorders if prescribe or dispense controlled substances; 12 hrs addiction medicine if DEA-licensed buprenorphine prescriber; 3 hrs medicinal cannabis annually if authorized medicinal cannabis practitioner | 3 hrs Domestic Violence within 3 yrs of initial licensure (primary care); 1 hr Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma within 5 yrs of initial licensure (pediatricians, radiologists, family/ER physicians); 6 hrs medicinal cannabis for initial certification authorization |
| Louisiana | 1 year | Based on renewal date | 1 year | Dec 31 annually | 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (or AOA Category 1-A) | 3 hrs CDS prescribing best practices if possess CDS license (one-time); 1 hr nutrition and metabolic health every 4 years if practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, or gynecology; 1 hr sickle cell disease treatment refresher every 3 years if practicing emergency medicine | 3 hrs CDS prescribing best practices/drug diversion/addiction/chronic pain prior to first renewal (if possess CDS license); Board Orientation / Rules and Regulations course before first renewal; 1 hr initial sickle cell disease course (if practicing emergency medicine) |
| Maine | 2 years | Last day of birth month | 2 years | Last day of birth month | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ per 2-year cycle (or current ABMS certification, excluding lifetime) | 3 hrs opioid prescribing if prescribe controlled substances | 1 hr medical marijuana CME if certifying patients for medical marijuana |
| Maryland | 2 years | Sept 30 (biennial) | 2 years | Sept 30 (biennial) | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hrs controlled substance prescribing for CDS registration (one-time) | 2 hrs controlled substance prescribing for CDS registration (one-time); implicit bias training (first renewal after 4/1/2022); structural racism training (first renewal after 4/1/2026); New Physician Orientation before first renewal; DEA registrants: 8 hrs opioid/substance use disorder (federal MATE Act) |
| Massachusetts | 2 years | Birthday | 2 years | Birthday | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 10 hrs Risk Management; 3 hrs Pain Management if prescribing controlled substances; 2 hrs reviewing each chapter of Board regulations (243 CMR) | 2 hrs End-of-Life Issues; 2 hrs Implicit Bias; 3 hrs EHR Proficiency; 1 hr Domestic and Sexual Violence; 1 hr Child Abuse and Neglect; 1 hr Alzheimer's Disease; 2 hrs Proper Use of Marijuana (for physicians certifying medical marijuana use) |
| Michigan | 3 years | Based on renewal date | 3 years | Based on renewal date | 150 hours (75 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 3 hrs pain and symptom management (>=1 hr controlled-substance prescribing); 1 hr medical ethics; 3 hrs Implicit Bias (1 hr per year of license cycle); 1 hr opioids & controlled-substances awareness training if hold controlled substance license (each renewal) | 8 hrs managing patients with opioid or substance use disorders for physicians with DEA (one-time); Human Trafficking Training |
| Minnesota | 1 year | Based on renewal date | 3 years | Based on renewal date | 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | None | None |
| Mississippi | 1 year | June 30 annually | 2 years | June 30 (even years) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 30 hrs pain management/addiction/opioid prescribing every 2 yrs if in a registered pain management practice; 5 hrs medical cannabis for each annual MSDH program registration renewal if a registered certifying practitioner. Medical cannabis: Informational guidance only; not automatically tracked. Confirm your MSDH registration renewal deadline and enter it as the requirement's next due date before manually tracking this annual requirement. | 8 hrs opioid/substance use disorder training if possess DEA; 10 hrs pharmacology/dispensing if dispensing physician; 8 hrs medical cannabis if newly MSDH-registered certifying practitioner |
| Missouri | 1 year | Jan 31 annually | 2 years | Dec 31 (odd years) | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1-A (or 40 hours if all Category 1 with post-test) | Health benefits of nutrition: 1 hr | None |
| Montana | 2 years | March 31 (biennial) | N/A | N/A | No specific requirement | None | None |
| Nebraska | 2 years | Oct 1 (even years) | 2 years | Oct 1 (even years) | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 3 hrs controlled substance prescribing (incl. 0.5 hr Nebraska PDMP) if prescribe controlled substances | None |
| Nevada | 2 years | June 30 (odd years) | 2 years | June 30 (odd years) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 20 hrs scope of practice/specialty; 2 hrs medical ethics (pain management or addiction care may substitute up to 2 hrs); 2 hrs misuse of controlled substances/opioid prescribing/addiction if registered to dispense controlled substances; 2 hrs suicide prevention & awareness (every 4 years) | 2 hrs SBIRT (within 2 years of initial licensure); 2 hrs HIV stigma & bias (within 2 years of beginning practice, if emergency or primary care) |
| New Hampshire | 2 years | Last day of license issuance month (biennial) | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 100 hours (40 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 3 hrs pain management and addiction disorder if possess DEA | None |
| New Jersey | 2 years | June 30 (odd years) | 2 years | June 30 (odd years) | 100 hours (40 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 1 hr prescription opioid drugs (controlled substance prescribing); 2 hrs End-of-Life Care; 2 hrs Sexual Misconduct Prevention; 1 hr Explicit/Implicit Bias training for perinatal care providers only | 6 hrs Cultural Competency |
| New Mexico | 3 years | July 1 (triennial) | 3 years | June 30 (triennial) | 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 1 hr NM Medical Practice Act and board rules review; 1 hr nutrition; 5 hrs pain management and controlled substance prescribing if possess DEA | None |
| New York | 2 years | Based on renewal date | N/A | N/A | No general mandate (specific mandates only) | 2 hrs Mandatory Infection Control (NYSDOH/NYSED-approved) (every 4 years); 3 hrs pain management, palliative care, and addiction if DEA-registered prescriber (every 3 years) | 2 hrs Child Abuse Identification and Reporting (one-time baseline; required disability-content update due November 17, 2026, with a 15-minute addendum option for eligible prior trainees). 8 hrs DEA MATE Act on substance use disorders (one-time if DEA-registered) |
| North Carolina | 1 year | Birthday | 3 years | Birthday | 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 3 hrs controlled substance prescribing if prescribe controlled substances | None |
| North Dakota | 2 years | Birthday (biennial) | 2 years | Birthday (biennial) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ every 2 years | 1 hr nutrition and metabolic health (exempt if board certified) | None |
| Ohio | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 1 hr duty to report misconduct; 20 hrs pain medicine if owner/operator of pain management clinic; 8 hrs substance abuse/addiction if provide office-based opioid treatment; 2 hrs medical marijuana annually if hold Certificate to Recommend | None |
| Oklahoma | 1 year | Based on renewal date | 3 years | Based on renewal date | 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 1 hr pain management/opioid use/addiction if possess DEA; 1 hr Medical Treatment Laws online presentation (63 O.S. 3162) every 2 years if associated with an inpatient health care entity | None |
| Oregon | 2 years | Dec 31 (odd years) | 2 years | Dec 31 (odd years) | 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (or AOA Category 1-A or 2-A) | 1 hr Oregon Pain Management Commission (OPMC) pain management course (every 2 years); 2 hrs cultural competency (1 hr per year of licensure) | None |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years | Dec 31 (even years) | 2 years | Dec 31 (even years) | 100 hours (20 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 2 hrs pain management/addiction/opioid prescribing (if prescriptive authority); 12 hrs Patient Safety/Risk Management; 2 hrs Child Abuse Recognition (approved) | 3 hrs Child Abuse Recognition (initial licensure); 2 hrs pain management/addiction + 2 hrs safe opioid prescribing within 12 mos of initial licensure (if prescriptive authority); 2 hrs organ & tissue donation (within 5 yrs of initial licensure or first renewal after May 1, 2026) |
| Rhode Island | 2 years | June 30 (even years) | 2 years | June 1 (even years) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (or AOA Category 1-A) | 3 hrs medical marijuana (Category 1; counts toward the 40 hrs) if issue written certifications for medical marijuana (every 2 years) | 1 hr Alzheimer's disease/cognitive impairment (all physicians); 8 hrs opioid prescribing/substance use disorder (Schedule II opioid prescribers); 8 hrs treating/managing opioid or other substance use disorders (all DEA-registered practitioners) |
| South Carolina | 2 years | June 30 | 2 years | June 30 (odd years) | Standard CME pathway: 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or AOA Category 1 per biennium, including at least 30 directly related to practice; statutory alternatives, first-renewal relief, qualifying volunteer-service credit, and applicable exemptions apply. | 2 hrs prescribing and monitoring controlled substances; 1 hr human trafficking every 6 years (if practicing EM, primary care, IM, FM, peds, OB/GYN, hospitalist, or in public health clinics, emergency departments, urgent care centers, or community-based centers); first course by Dec 31, 2027 if licensed before Jan 1, 2026, or within 2 years of initial licensure if licensed on/after Jan 1, 2026. Counts within the 40-hr total. Informational guidance only; confirm your first deadline before tracking this requirement. | None |
| South Dakota | 2 years | March 1 (odd years) | N/A | N/A | No CME requirement | None | None |
| Tennessee | 2 years | Last day of birth month (biennial) | 2 years | Last day of birth month (biennial) | 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hrs prescribing practices (controlled substances; TN opioid/benzodiazepine guidelines) if DEA registrant; exempt if board-certified in pain/anesthesiology/PM&R/neurology/rheumatology | None |
| Texas | 2 years | Feb 28, May 31, Aug 31, Nov 30 (quarterly) | 2 years | Feb 28, May 31, Aug 31, Nov 30 | 48 hours (24 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 2 hrs medical ethics and/or professional responsibility (formal Category 1) (every renewal); 2 hrs pain management and opioid prescribing if direct patient care (first two renewals, then every 8 years); 1 hr Human Trafficking Prevention (HHSC approved) if direct patient care (every 3rd renewal); 10 hrs if practicing in a pain management clinic (annually) | 1 course on pregnancy-related medical emergencies (Life of the Mother Act) for OB-care physicians in 12 designated specialties (one-time, from Jan 1, 2026) |
| Texas (from Feb 28, 2027) | 2 years | Feb 28, May 31, Aug 31, Nov 30 (quarterly) | 2 years | Feb 28, May 31, Aug 31, Nov 30 | 48 hours (24 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 2 hrs medical ethics/professional responsibility every renewal; 2 hrs pain management/opioid prescribing if direct patient care (first two renewals, then every 8 years); 1 hr Human Trafficking Prevention (every 3rd renewal); 10 hrs each year if practicing in a pain management clinic; 2 hrs forensic evidence collection if practice includes treating patients in an emergency-room setting, for renewals expiring on/after Feb 28, 2027 (non-ER physicians may attest an exemption in CE Broker) | 1 course on pregnancy-related medical emergencies (Life of the Mother Act) for OB-care physicians in 12 designated specialties (one-time, from Jan 1, 2026) |
| Utah | 2 years | Jan 31 (even years) for MDs | 2 years | Jan 31 (even years) | 40 hours (34 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 3.5 hrs controlled substance prescribing plus 0.5 hr DOPL Controlled Substance Database tutorial (tutorial waived if attest CSD use) if prescribe controlled substances; 0.5 hr online suicide prevention training (each renewal) | 3.5 hrs SBIRT (one-time) if prescribe controlled substances |
| Vermont | 2 years | Nov 30 (even years) | 2 years | Nov 30 (even years) | 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 1 hr hospice, palliative care, or pain management (counts toward the 30); 2 hrs safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances (counts toward the 30) if possess DEA registration | None |
| Virginia | 2 years | Last day of birth month (even years) | 2 years | Last day of birth month (even years) | 30 hours (all Type 1/Category 1) | None | None |
| Virginia (from Jul 1, 2026) | 2 years | Last day of birth month (even years) | 2 years | Last day of birth month (even years) | 30 hours (all Type 1/Category 1) | Bias-reduction training each biennial renewal — statute effective 2026-07-01; hours and first renewal cycle TBD by Board regulation (not yet a live requirement) | None |
| Washington | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 4 years | Based on renewal date | 200 hours (120 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 2 hrs Health Equity (every 4 years) | 1 hr if prescribe controlled substances (one-time); 6 hrs Suicide Prevention (Board-approved) |
| West Virginia | 2 years | June 30 (A-L even years; M-Z odd years) | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hrs nutrition education (AMA PRA Category 1 or AAFP, within existing 50 hrs) | 3 hrs Risk Assessment and Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances within 1 year of initial licensure (waived if do not prescribe controlled substances) |
| Wisconsin | 2 years | Oct 31 of odd years | 2 years | Based on renewal date | 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hrs opioid and controlled substance prescribing if authorized to prescribe | None |
| Wyoming | 1 year | June 30 annually | 3 years | Based on renewal date | 60 hours (AMA PRA Category 1 or 2 accepted) | 1 hr responsible prescribing of controlled substances or treatment of substance use disorders if hold Wyoming controlled substance registration (every 2 years) | None |
| Guam | 2 years | December 31 (odd years) | 2 years | December 31 (odd years) | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | 2 hours Medical Ethics | None |
| N Mariana Is. | 2 years | Based on date of issuance | 2 years | At renewal | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | None | None |
| Puerto Rico | 3 years | Based on renewal date | 3 years | Based on renewal date | 60 hours (40 must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) | 3 hrs pain management; 3 hrs proper use of antibiotics; 3 hrs dengue clinical management; 3 hrs bioethics; 1 hr each vaccination, diabetes, cardiovascular/hypertension, obesity; 50% of credits in physician's specialty; conditional: 20 hrs life support for non-EM physicians providing ER services, 6 hrs autism for pediatricians (15 for autism specialists), telemedicine informed-consent/communication credits | 3 hrs Documenting Causes of Death on Death Certificates (first-time provisional/initial licensure) |
| Virgin Islands | 2 years | September 30 (even years) | 2 years | September 30 (even years) | 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ | None | 2 hrs on stigma, discrimination, and bias toward people with HIV |
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