How many CME credits are required for physicians?
Sarah Duran
Published Feb 23, 2026
50 hours
Under California law, physicians and surgeons must complete at least 50 hours of approved CME during each biennial renewal cycle.
How often do PAs need CME?
What are the NCCPA certification maintenance requirements? In order to maintain certification with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) PAs must: Take a recertification exam every 10 years. Earn 100 CME credits every two years, including at least 50 Category 1 CME credits.
How much CME do I need each year?
State CME Licensure Requirements
| State | Required CME Per Year(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| California* | 100 | 4 yrs |
| California DO* | 150 | 3 yrs |
| Colorado | ||
| Connecticut | 50 | 2yrs |
How many CME credits are required for physicians in California?
For MDs, California requires 50 hours of approved CME credits per licensure cycle. All must be Category 1 approved. For DOs, effective January 1, 2018, licensees must complete 100 CME hours per licensure cycle; 40 hours must be AOA Category 1A or 1B.
How many hours is 1 CME credit?
CME credit is designed on an hour-for-hours basis, so for every hour one spends in an educational activity, one would receive 1 CME credit. Many activities include breaks or other activities that do not qualify for CME credit. These hours are not included when determining the total hours of credit for the activity.
Do CME credits expire?
Please note that CME credits are only valid for 2 years from the date they were accrued.
How long do you need to keep CME records?
six years
An accredited provider must have mechanisms in place to record and, when authorized by the participating physician, verify participation for six years from the date of the CME activity. For more information, see the ACCME’s policy on records retention.
How do I claim CME?
To claim CME credits to obtain a participation record and a CME certificate, complete the online evaluation form for the activity that you have followed on this website (Click on the tab “Claim your credits“). Physicians should only claim CME credit commensurate with their participation in the activity.
How do I claim CME credits?
How often do doctors have to complete CME?
Every 4 years, all physicians must complete 2 CME hours on suicide detection, intervention and prevention. Every 2 years, all physicians must complete 2 CME hours in medical ethics, pain management, or addiction care. 40 CME hours must be Category 1.
How many hours of CME credit do you need?
50 hours of CME credit within the 12 months preceding the license expiration date (may choose to complete within 18 months), of which at least 20 hours must be Category I and no more than 30 may be Category II; or 2. 100 hours of CME credit within the 24 months preceding the license expiration date (may
How many CME hours are required in Texas?
All CME hours must be AMA Category 1 or AOA Category 1A or 2A. All physicians must complete at least 2 CME hours in approved procedures for prescribing and monitoring controlled substances. Texas: 48 hours every 2 years 24 CME hours must be AMA Category 1 or AOA Category 1A.
How many CME hours are required for Category 1?
50% of Category 1 CME hours must be in subjects pertaining to the physician’s primary area of current practice. All physicians (except pathologists and radiologists) must complete 12 CME hours on pain-management and the appropriate care and treatment of the terminally ill.
