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CME Information by State

Continuing Medical Education for Licensure Reregistration

Fifty-four boards require anywhere from 12 hours (Alabama) to 50 hours (several states) of continuing medical education (CME) per year for license reregistration. Some states also mandate CME content, such as HIV/AIDS, risk management, or medical ethics. In addition, many states also require that a certain percentage of CME be Category 1 as measured, for example, through the American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award.

Alabama

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	24 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	12
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	24
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	ACOG, AAFP


Alaska

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	25
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS, AOA, APA
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Arizona

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	ABMS, GME, AMA PRA application
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	40 hrs within 2-yr timeframe

Arizona DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Category 1-A only
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA


Arkansas

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	20 - 1yr
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA
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California*

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 4yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	100
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AAFP, CMA, CAFP
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Pain management/ geriatric medicine (see note)

California DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	150 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	90
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AAFP, CMA, CAFP, AOA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	60 hrs Category 1-A or 1-B pain management/ geriatric med
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Colorado

Required Number of CME
Hours per Year(s)

None


Connecticut

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 2 yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
State-mandated CME	1 hr in Infectious Disease


Delaware

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AOA
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District of Columbia

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 2 yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA


Florida*

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, TB, end of life palliative care, medical error

Florida DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20 (AOA Category 1-A)
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, risk management, FL rules/laws, use/abuse of controlled substances, 2 hrs prevention of medical errors
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Georgia

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AOA, AAFP, ACOG, ACEP, AMA PRA


Guam

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	50
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AOA, AAFP, ACOG, ACEP
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Hawaii

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA

Hawaii DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	None


Idaho

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS, AOA
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Illinois

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	150 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AOA


Indiana

Required Number of CME
Hours per Year(s)

None


Iowa

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AOA, GME
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	child/dependent adult abuse
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Kansas

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 1yr
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AAFP, ABMS, GME, AOA


Kentucky

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	60 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	30
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	HIV/AIDS; course must be approved by Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services; One time domestic violence course for primary care physicians.
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Louisiana

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	20 - 1yr
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	One-time board orientation course


Maine

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP

Maine DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
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Maryland*

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	50
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	(See note) AMA PRA application


Massachusetts

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, GME
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Study board reqs; risk management
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Michigan

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	150 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	75

Michigan DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	150 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	60 hours Category 1-A or 1-B


Minnesota

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	75 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	75
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AOA, MOCOMP, AMA PRA
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Mississippi

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	ABMS, AOA, AAFP, ACOG, AMA PRA application


Missouri

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	50
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AAFP


Montana

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	None
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Nebraska

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	50
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA


Nevada

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Ethics (2 hrs), 20 hrs in specialty; 18 hours Category 1

Nevada DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	35 - 1 yr
Average Hours per Year	35
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	10
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA
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New Hampshire

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	150 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Credits reported to NH Med Society


New Jersey

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	50
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AOA, AMA PRA
State-mandated CME Content/Additional Notes	Cultural competence
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New Mexico

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	75 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	75
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP, ACOG

New Mexico DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	75 - 3 yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	75
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP, ACOG, USMLE
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Active membership in AOA may replace 75 hours of CME
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New York

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	None
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Infection control, child abuse


North Carolina

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	150 - 3 yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
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North Dakota

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	60 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AOA, AAFP, MOCOMP


Ohio

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	All CME must be certified by OSMA or OOA
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Oklahoma

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	60 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS

Oklahoma DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	16 - 1yr
Average Hours per Year	16
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	16
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	16 hrs of Category 1, 1 hr of which must be CME on prescribing controlled substances (every 2 yrs)
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Oregon

Required Number of CME
Hours per Year(s)

None


Pennsylvania*

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	Regulations being drafted; AMA PRA application
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Regulations being drafted; 12 hrs patient safety/risk management

Pennsylvania DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	100 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	Regulations being drafted; AOA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	20 hrs of Category 1-A AOA; 12 hrs risk management/patient safety
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Puerto Rico

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	60 - 3yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA


Rhode Island

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AOA, AMA PRA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	HIV universal precautions/ blood-borne pathogens, end-of-life education/palliative care
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South Carolina

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	ABMS, AOA, ACOG, AMA PRA equivalent


South Dakota

Required Number of CME
Hours per Year(s)

None


Tennessee

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AAFP, AMA PRA

Tennessee DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	40
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AOA, AAFP, AMA PRA
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Texas

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	24 - 1yr
Average Hours per Year	24
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	12
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AAFP, AOA, AMA PRA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Of 12 hrs Category 1, at least 1 hr in ethics/professional responsibility


Utah

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	40 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	20
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA


Vermont

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	None

Vermont DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	30 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	15
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	At least 12 of 30 hrs must be osteopathic med education
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Virgin Islands

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	25 - 1yr
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	25


Virginia

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	60 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	30
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	30
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	Of Category 1, 15 hrs must be interactive
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Washington

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	200 - 4yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP, ACOG

Washington DO*:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	150 - 3 yrs
Average Hours per Year	50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, AOA, others (see note)


West Virginia

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	50 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	50
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA, ABMS (partial)
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	2 hrs end-of-life pain management (one-time requirement)

West Virginia DO:
Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	32 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	16
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	16
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	Board-recognized equivalent
State-mandated CME Content/ Additional Notes	2 hrs end-of-life management prior to first licensure re-registration
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Wisconsin

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	30 - 2yrs
Average Hours per Year	15
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	30
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA


Wyoming

Required Number of CME Hours per Year(s)	60 - 3 yrs
Average Hours per Year	20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG Category 1 Hours Required	60
Certificates Accepted as Equivalent	AMA PRA
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*Additional Notes for Specific Licensing Jurisdictions

California: All general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which more than 25% are 65 years of age or older shall complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in geriatric medicine or the care of older patients.

All physicians and surgeons shall complete mandatory continuing education in the subjects of pain management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients (one-time requirement of 12 credit hours, to be completed by December 31, 2006). Physicians practicing in pathology or radiology specialty areas are exempt from this requirement.

Florida: Physicians may complete a 1-hour CME course on end-of-life and palliative health care in lieu of the required 1-hour CME course on HIV/AIDS, provided the physician completed the HIV/AIDS course in the immediately preceding biennium (2-year licensure term).

Physicians may complete a 1-hour CME course on end-of- life and palliative health care in lieu of the required 1-hour CME course on domestic violence, provided the physician completed the domestic violence course in the immediately preceding biennium (2-year licensure term).

Maryland: Partial CME credit is offered for American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) certification, select peer review, serving as a intervenor or monitor on a physician rehabilitation committee or professional committee, and serving as a preceptor for resident physicians or medical students in LCME-accredited schools. For first license renewal, the CME requirement is waived, but the licensee must have completed an approved orientation program.

Pennsylvania: Regulation on the amount of category 1 hours required is currently being drafted.

Washington Osteopathic: Other certificates accepted as equivalent include current certification of CME from medical practice academies and original certification or recertification within 6 years by a specialty board.

ABMS - certification or recertification by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties; AMA PRA - American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award; AOA - American Osteopathic Association; AAFP - American Academy of Family Practice; ACOG - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; APA - American Pediatric Association; CMA - California Medical Association; CAFP - California Academy of Family Physicians; CME - continuing medical education; FLEX - Federation Licensing Examination; GME - graduate medical education; MOCOMP - Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; OSMA - Ohio State Medical Association; USMLE - United States Medical Licensing Association.

All information should be verified with the licensing board; medical licenses are granted to those physicians meeting all state requirements — at the discretion of the board.