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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 -- 2 years
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) 34 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 17
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 17
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS, AOA, APA
   
Arizona  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
Certificates accepted as equivalent ABMS, GME
   
Arizona (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 20
   
Arkansas  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 20 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 20
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
    
California*  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 4 years
Average hours per year 25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 100
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, AAFP, CMA, CAFP
   
California (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 150 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 90
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, AAFP, CMA, CAFP, AOA
   
Colorado  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Connecticut  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Delaware  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, AOA
   
District of Columbia  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Florida*  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
   
Florida (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 20 (AOA)
   
Georgia  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, AOA, AAFP, ACOG, ACEP
   
Guam  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 50
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, AOA, AAFP, ACOG, ACEP
   
Hawaii  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
   
Hawaii (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Idaho  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Illinois  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 150 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 50
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 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
   
Kansas  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 50 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 20
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS, GME, AOA
   
Kentucky  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 60 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 30
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
   
Louisiana  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 20 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 20
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
   
Maine  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP
   
Maine (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
   
Maryland*  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 50 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 50
   
Massachusetts  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, GME
   
Michigan  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 150 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 75
   
Michigan (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 150 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 60
   
Minnesota  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 75 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 75
Certificates accepted as equivalent AOA, MOCOMP
   
Mississippi  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent ABMS, AOA, AAFP, ACOG
   
Missouri  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 50 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 30
Certificates accepted as equivalent AAFP
   
Montana  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Nebraska  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 50 -- 2 years
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 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
   
Nevada (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 35 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 35
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 10
   
New Hampshire  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 150 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 60
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS
   
New Jersey  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
New Mexico  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 75 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 75
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP, ACOG, USMLE
   
New Mexico (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 75 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 75
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP, ACOG, USMLE
   
New York  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
North Carolina  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 150 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 60
   
North Dakota  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 20 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 20
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, AOA, AAFP
   
Ohio  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
   
Oklahoma  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 60 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 60
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS
   
Oklahoma (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 16 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 16
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 16
   
Oregon  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Pennsylvania  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required *
Certificates accepted as equivalent Regulations being drafted
   
Pennsylvania (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 100 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 50
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 20
Certificates accepted as equivalent Regulations being drafted
   
Puerto Rico  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 60 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
   
Rhode Island  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 60 -- 3 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 60
   
South Carolina  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent ABMS, AOA, ACOG equivalent
   
South Dakota  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Tennessee  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AAFP
   
Tennessee (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
   
Texas  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 24 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 24
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 12
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
   
Utah  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 20
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 40
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA
   
Vermont  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) None
   
Vermont (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 30 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 15
   
Virgin Islands  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 40 -- 1 year
Average hours per year 40
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 25
   
Virginia  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 60 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 30
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 30
   
Washington  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 200 -- 4 years
Average hours per year 50
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS, AAFP, ACOG
   
Washington (D.O.)*  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 150 -- 3 years
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 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 25
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 50
Certificates accepted as equivalent AMA PRA, ABMS (partial)
   
West Virginia (D.O.)  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 32 -- 2 years
Average hours per year 16
AMA/AOA/AAFP/ACOG category 1 hours required 16
Certificates accepted as equivalent Board-recognized equivalent
   
Wisconsin  
Required number of CME hours per year(s) 30 -- 2 years
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) None (pending)

Additional Notes for Specific Licensing Jurisdictions

California: All general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older shall complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course on geriatric medicine or the care of older patients. All physicians and surgeons shall complete a mandatory continuing education course 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 require 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 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, CME requirement is waived, but licensee must have completed an approved orientation program.

Pennsylvania: Regulation on 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.

Please note: All information should be verified with the licensing board.
Source: American Medical Association, 2004.

You can download the full table of CME requirements by state by clicking here.


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