States Modifying Continuing Medical Education Requirements

States Modifying Continuing Medical Education Requirements in Response to COVID-19 Last Updated: February 5, 2021

States with Waivers: 28 States without Waivers: 15 + DC States with expired Waivers: 4
Note: Colorado, Montana and South Dakota do not require CME

State Alabama
Alaska
Arizona Arkansas California

Note
• The Board and Commission recognize the difficulty licensees may have meeting the annual CME requirement in 2020 due to the public health emergency. Consequently, all licensees are exempt from the continuing medical education requirements for the calendar year 2020, and no audit for 2020 will be conducted. This includes the annual requirement of 25 credits for license renewal, the biannual requirement of 2 credits for ACSC renewal, and the biannual requirement of 4 credits for QACSC renewal. Credits earned in 2020 may not be rolled over to 2021 to meet the 2022 license renewal requirement.
• In determining compliance with the controlled substances CME requirements for ACSCs (two credits biennially) and QACSCs (four credits biennially), the Board will extend the two-year period to include 2020. If your two-year period was 2019-2020, it is now 20192021. If it was 2020-2021, it is now 2020-2022. Qualifying controlled substances CME credits earned in 2020 may be used to comply with the biennial requirement.
• Status – N/A
• On May 14, 2020, the State Medical Board approved a fifty percent reduction of CME requirements for MD, DO, DPM and paramedics for the 2019-2020 licensing period. Physician assistants must maintain a current active NCCPA certification to qualify for renewal.
• Status - This board order will cease on January 1, 2021, following the end of the current renewal cycle. In the event the COVID-19 pandemic extends past the renewal deadline, the board may consider adjusting CME requirements for the 2021-2022 licensing period.
• A state agency or board that licenses individuals or entities as indicated herein shall: … b) Defer requirements to complete continuing education by six months, unless those requirements can be completed online or due to the nature of the license is not practical; c) Suspend any rules that prevent or limit the amount of online or alternative learning hours permitted to issue or renew a license.
• There has been no change to the CME requirements as the rule, R4-16-102, requires the 40 hours of CME be completed during the two calendar years preceding biennial registration (license renewal). For licenses due to expire between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020 the period to renew has been extended by six months from the expiration date.
• Status – 6 month extension valid for licenses expiring between March 1, 2020 (new expiration: September 1, 2020) and September 1, 2020 (new expiration: March 1, 2021).
• [No information found]
• Under DCA Waiver DCA-20-69, continuing medical education (CME) requirements related to a license that expires between March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2020 are deferred for a six-month period. This temporary waiver does not apply to any CME, training, or examination required pursuant to a disciplinary order against a license. In order to receive the CME waiver at the time of renewal, a physician must submit a complete renewal application and pay the required fees. There are no additional steps.
• Status – Licensees eligible under this waiver must complete their CME no later than June 15, 2021

Citation
ALBME Guidance
State Resource Page
CME Reduction Board Order
State Resource Page
Executive Order 202017
CME FAQs State Resource Page State Resource Page
CMA Guidance DCA 20-69
State Resource Page

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Colorado Connecticut
Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa
Kansas

• Colorado is one of only three states that does not require any continuing medical education for physicians. Not only does Colorado not require doctors to complete continuing education courses in order to renew their licenses, the state’s Medical Practice Act actually forbids the state medical board from requiring continuing education.
• Status – N/A
• Under Executive Order 7DD, the continuing education requirements for providers with annual continuing education requirements are suspended for a period of (1) year. Additionally, for those provider types that have other continuing education requirements, such requirements are suspended for a period of six (6) months.
• Status – N/A
• When completing your on-line renewal, the continuing education attestation page will ask if you have been unable to complete your required continuing education due to the Governor’s declared state of emergency. Any licensee who attests that s/he has had difficulty completing CEs before renewal due to the declared state of emergency will be immediately granted additional time to complete their CEs. If the declared state of emergency has impacted your ability to complete your CEs, you will be given until sixty days after the lifting of the state of emergency to complete your CEs for this renewal cycle.
• Status – Active, until end of Delaware State of Emergency (currently scheduled to expire January 23, 2021 per 10th Extension of State of Emergency).
• [DOs]: On March 13, the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine waived the requirement for live, participatory attendance for certain CE courses for the 2018-2020 biennium.
• Status – N/A
• [No information found]
• [No information found]
• Temporary Suspension of rules: 22.01.01.079 Rules of the Board of Medicine for the Licensure to Practice Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine [Continuing Medical Education (CME)] (requiring every person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine or surgery in Idaho shall complete no less than forty hours of practice relevant, Category 1, CME every two years.)
• Waiver of CME requirements: During the COVID-19 response, the Board may waive or extend the time to complete CME credits required for licensure renewal.
• Status – Active until the end of the COVID-19 emergency, which is currently ongoing.
• The Department has also allowed participation in continuing education remotely for programs or requirements that had mandated in person participation. This requirement did not apply to all professions regulated by IDFPR. For medical or osteopathic physicians and surgeons and chiropractic physicians the requirement for 60 hours of Category I continuing education did not include a requirement for in person attendance.
• Status - Any professional licenses issued by the Department that have renewal dates between March 1, 2020 through and including July 31, 2020 are granted an automatic extension to renew to September 30, 2020.
• [No information found]
• All requirements for in-person continuing medical education and all deadlines and other requirements for continuing medical education that are unable to be satisfied due to the health emergency, are temporarily suspended during the period of this health emergency. If a licensee is unable to complete the required continuing medical education required for renewal of their Iowa medical license due to the health emergency, they should note that on their next renewal application.
• Re: Extension of state of emergency – [September 18], Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency for another 30 days. The umbrella COVID proclamation that has been in place for months has been extended until 11:59 pm. October 18, 2020.
• Status – Active, currently scheduled to expire February 6, 2021 per 1/7 Emergency Proclamation.
• Continuing Education Deadline Extensions: The Board is extending continuing education deadlines until 90 days following the termination of the State of Disaster Emergency declaration for licensees who were unable to obtain the required continuing education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Licensees currently in the renewal process will certify either that you have completed the required CEs, or, if you have not yet completed them, that you understand you are required by law to complete them within 90 days following termination of the State of Disaster Emergency declaration. The Board will verify
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Article re: CME State Resource Page
Article re: CME Executive Order 7DD State Resource Page
DPR Guidance
State Resource Page
Osteo Board Guidance Emergency Rule
State Resource Page State Resource Page State Resource Page
Supplemental Proclamation (4/2) Board of Med Rules
BOM Guidance State Resource Page
Article re: CME
IDFR Press Release
State Resource Page State Resource Page
Emergency Declaration (3/22)
State Resource Page
KSBHA Guidance
KSBHA Guidance (8/26)

Kentucky Louisiana
Maine Maryland Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota Mississippi
Missouri Montana Nebraska

compliance by auditing an undetermined percentage of renewed licenses at the expiration of the 90 day period. • Continuing Education In-Person Requirement Waiver: The Board is waiving enforcement of any regulations requiring in-person continuing education for all healthcare professions its licenses. For any professions licensed by the Board, all in-person continuing education requirements can be satisfied by live, online continuing education until March 1, 2021. The Board will reassess this waiver at the February 12, 2021, board meeting. • Status – Active for the duration of the public health emergency, currently scheduled to expire January 26, 2021 per EO 20-64.
• [No information found]
• General CME requirements and CME audits will be temporarily suspended for 2020 (however, this does not apply to the 3-hour required CME on controlled dangerous substances (CDS) for first time license renewal of authorized prescribers of CDS. There are many online options provided for this educational requirement.)
• Status – N/A
• Keep licenses from expiring or needing to be renewed for 30 days after the declaration of the emergency (including CME requirements).
• Status – Active for the duration of the public health emergency, currently scheduled to expire February 17, 2021, per 1/19 announcement.
• [No information found]
• For the duration of this state of emergency and until December 31, 2021, the continuing medical education (CME) requirement for physicians is suspended. Any physician with a CME requirement whose license is due for renewal on April 2, 2020 through and including Dec. 31, 2021 will not be required to complete any CME requirement. This interim order supersedes any existing Board policy or regulation to the contrary for the duration of the state of emergency and until Dec. 31, 2021 in Massachusetts.
• Status – N/A
• Effective immediately… LARA may renew a license to practice… regardless of whether the licensee has satisfied the continuing education requirement applicable to their license… LARA may recognize hours worked responding to the COVID-19 emergency as hours toward continuing education courses or programs required for licensure.
• Under Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-13, followed by Executive Order 2020-49, followed by Executive Order 2020-82 (that has since been rescinded effective June 3), the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) may recognize hours worked responding to the COVID-19 emergency beginning March 17, 2020, through June 30, 2020, as hours toward continuing education courses or programs required for licensure. The Executive Order also allows LARA to renew licenses to practice under Part 170, 172, 175, 177, or 187 of the Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, as amended, regardless of whether the licensees have satisfied the continuing education requirement applicable to their license.
• Status – N/A
• EO 20-23 authorizes Health-Related Licensing Boards to defer continuing education reporting requirements until the first full reporting cycle following termination of the peacetime emergency. It is important to note that continuing education requirements are deferred and NOT waived.
• Status – Active until the end of the peacetime emergency declared in Executive Order 2001, currently scheduled to expire February 12, 2021, per EO 21-04.
• The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure will extend CME deadlines to December 31, 2020. The renewal date will remain June 30, 2020.
• Status – N/A
• [No information found]
• Montana is one of only three states that does not require any continuing medical education for physicians.
• Status – N/A
• [EO 20-10] …also defers the requirements for healthcare providers to pay initial licensing fees or to complete continuing education.
• Licenses due to be renewed during the declared emergency will be extended until 30 days after Executive Order 20-10 is no longer in effect. Renewal notices will then be sent, and licensees will have 90 days to renew by attesting to meeting the continuing education requirement and paying the renewal fee.
• Status – Active through the COVID-19 emergency.
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Emergency Proclamation (5/26)
State Resource Page
State Resource Page LSBME Guidance
State Resource Page
Executive Order 3/24 State Resource Page State Resource Page
Interim Policy re: CME
State Resource Page
MAFP Guidance re: CME
Executive Order 202013
State Resource Page
Press Release re: CME Executive Order 20-23 State Resource Page
Mississippi NetCE State Resource Page State Resource Page
Link State Resource Page
Press Release re: Waivers
Executive Order 20-10 EO 20-10 FAQs

Nevada New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina North Dakota
Ohio Oklahoma
Oregon Pennsylvania

• [No information found]
• The following changes shall be made for all professionals, licensed by the… OPLC… (1) Certain continuing education requirements for licensed professionals waived… all CE requirements are hereby waived for those licensees who are scheduled to renew between March 13, 2020 and December 31, 2020. (2)… for licensees whose continuing education requirements are not waived under (1) above, licensees shall be allowed to complete CE through remote instruction until December 31, 2020…
• Status – N/A
• NJ A 5309, currently pending in the Legislature, would permits licensees who did not complete their CME credits due to the PHE to get a 6-month extension, following the end of the PHE, to complete the credits.
• [MDs]: Pursuant to 16.10.4.15 NMAC: A physician unable to fulfill the CME requirements prior to the date of license expiration may apply to the board for an emergency deferral of the requirements by submitting a request in writing no later than July 1 of the renewal year. A designee of the board may grant a deferral of up to 90 days.
• [DOs]: Due to the public health emergency declared by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in Executive Order 2020-004, and to the cancellation of continuing education (CE) opportunities, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine will implement the following procedures through the Regulation and Licensing Department, Boards and Commissions staff: Boards and Commissions staff will process renewals without the proof of continuing CE credit needed for renewal during the pendency of the public health emergency instituted by Executive Order 2020-004… When the public health emergency is lifted, Boards and Commissions staff will send out a notice to licensees stating that the licensee has 6 months, depending upon the Board or Commission, to submit their proof of CE or be subject to discipline by the Board.
• Status – N/A
• Some regulations restrict licensees to a certain percentage of self-study for continuing education requirements. In response to the evolving situation with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and for those licensees whose registrations are due to renew March 1, 2020 – May 1, 2021, the Department will grant an adjustment to all licensees to complete up to 100% of the continuing education as self-study, provided that it is taken from a Department-approved provider and is in an acceptable subject area for the specific profession. Additionally, the Department will grant an adjustment to all licensees, regardless of registration renewal date, to utilize self-study for any coursework taken during the period from March 1, 2020 – May 1, 2021, provided that it is taken from a Department-approved provider and is in an acceptable subject area for the specific profession. Coursework taken outside that timeframe must meet the continuing education requirements in each individual profession’s laws and regulations.
• Status – N/A
• [No information found]
• There have been no other statutory or rule changes regarding licensure, renewals, CME requirements, etc.…
• Status – No waivers in place.
• Beginning immediately, the Medical Board will suspend enforcement of the continuing education requirements for the renewal of a license issued by the State Medical Board of Ohio. This includes, but is not limited to, the requirement for Ohio physicians to obtain 50 hours of Category 1 CME at the time of their license renewal. The exercise of this enforcement discretion is effective the day the State of Ohio declared an emergency, March 9, 2020, and will apply to renewals due by March 1, 2021.
• Status – N/A
• [No information found]
• Licensees will not be asked to report specialty board recertification or completed CME hours until the end of the next licensure biennium.
• Status – N/A
• The below only apply to out-of-state practitioners with temporary licenses: • BPOA may suspend any continuing education (C.E.) requirements for such applicants
seeking a temporary license. • Re: DOs - The Osteopathic Board does not have a statutory provision for the issuance of
temporary licenses; however, out-of-state licensees can apply for an unrestricted license. These licenses also have continuing education requirements suspended by the Governor.
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State Resource Page State Resource Page Exhibit H to EO #29
State Resource Page NJ A 5309
State Resource Page
NMMB Guidance Re: CME
NMBOM Notice
State Resource Page
NYSED Guidance
State Resource Page
State Resource Page NDBOM April Newsletter
State Resource Page Article re: CME and Emergency Licensure State Resource Page State Resource Page
State CME Page State Resource Page
PA Dept. of State Guidance

Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas Utah
Vermont

• [12/24/20 Update] - To all PA licensees: • To afford licensees the ability to acquire the CE hours they need in order to renew their
licenses, and to otherwise offer relief for those experiencing the disruptive effects of the pandemic, the Department sought an extension, which the Governor approved, of the previous waivers mentioned above. Specifically, for the boards and licensee types identified in the March 22/24 and June 26, 2020, waivers − and any other BPOA boards, commissions, professions or occupations whose laws or regulations restrict or impose a limitation on the number or percentage of CE hours that may be accumulated through online learning or distance education − effective January 1, 2021, licensees are permitted to renew their license at their next renewal that comes after January 1, 2021, utilizing CE obtained through either traditional, in-person courses or by means of distance learning. This means that licensees may satisfy up to 100 percent of their CE requirements for their next renewal with hours obtained entirely through online courses from providers of distance education that meet the applicable board's continuing education requirements. • Status – N/A
• [No information found]
• [No information found]
• South Dakota is one of only three states that does not require any continuing medical education for physicians.
• [Regarding Physician Assistants] - I temporarily suspend the statutory provisions… requiring applicants or licensees to submit proof of completing continuing education requirements to prevent delaying license renewal during this emergency. Physician assistants… who are granted a license renewal without having submitted proof shall… submit proof to the SDBMOE as part of the first license renewal application following the termination of the COVID-19 State of emergency.
• Status – N/A
• Rules and policies are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to suspend the requirement that individuals complete or submit proof of continuing education requirements or otherwise demonstrate continuing competence as a condition of reinstating a license, certificate or registration.
• The Department of Health understands that the effects of COVID-19 have resulted in the cancellation of in-person/live continuing education courses, resulting in the inability of healthcare practitioners to obtain the requisite number of in-person/live hours/credits. The Commissioner of Health deems the suspension of in-person/live continuing education credits/hours to be a necessary response…
• Status – Suspended through December 2020 per DOH Guidance.
• Continuing Education requirements related to this renewal extension will be waived. Physician and physician assistant licensees whose current permit expired/expires on 2/28/2020 or 5/31/2020 will automatically be extended through 8/31/2020, and any late fees previously accrued will be waived. Newly licensed physicians and physician assistants whose initial registration is due in March, April, May or June of 2020 will have that due date extended to 8/31/2020 as well.
• Status – N/A
• The requirement to participate in "live" CE hours is temporarily suspended for those with license expiration dates between now [June 18] and end of the pandemic… In other words, online CE may be accrued instead of live CE for the duration of the Pandemic for purposes of license renewal consideration. This waiver is permissive. Those who desire live CE are free to participate in it, though DOPL encourages licensees and providers of CE to adhere to social distancing recommendations…
• Status - Active, until end of Utah State of Emergency, currently ongoing per 10/14 DOH Public Health Order.
• Vermont will allow a continuing medical education extension of up to 180 days and provide alternatives to face-to-face CME opportunities impacted by COVID-19. Online courses and training will be allowed. An extension will be granted if you are unable to complete your continuing medical education due to any of the following circumstances: (A) The in-person CME activity was cancelled due to COVID-19; (B) You feel your health may be at risk by attending an in-person CME activity due to the spread of COVID-19; and/or, (C) You feel your health may be at risk by the required travel to attend an inperson CME activity due to the spread of COVID-19. The office will allow online courses to be taken in lieu of formal CE required by your profession’s administrative rules and allow a continuing education renewal extension of up to 180 days.
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PA DOS Guidance 12/24/20
State Resource Page
State Resource Page State Resource Page
Link EO 2020-16 State Resource Page
Executive Order #20 (Re: CME)
Dept. of Health Guidance
State Resource Page
TMB Guidance
State Resource Page
DOPL Notice re: CME
State Resource Page
Office of Professional Regulation Guidance
State Resource Page

Virginia Washington Washington, DC West Virginia
Wisconsin Wyoming

• Status - The Office will revoke this policy when the impact of COVID-19 has subsided (currently scheduled to expire January 15, 2021, per Addendum 9 to EO 01-20 (12/15/20)).
• Existing Virginia code provides that “The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters.” If the licensee is unable to complete all of the required 60 hours of CME due to the COVID-19 crisis, he/she will indicate this at the time of license renewal. The licensee will then be asked to explain the reasons he/she was unable to complete the 60 hours (i.e. canceled courses).
• Status – Active through COVID-19 emergency.
• The language of each statutory and regulatory provision specified below is hereby waived and suspended in its entirety: Barriers to continued and uninterrupted healthcare practice, including continuing education and other training requirements and license renewal deadlines.
• Status – Active through COVID-19 emergency.
• [No information found]
• The following statutory regulations are to be suspended for the duration of the State of Emergency: … the requirement that individuals graduating from ACGME programs have to complete 40 hours of continuing medical education prior to licensure… the requirement that physicians biennially furnish proof of completion of 32 hours of CME prior to renewal.
• Status - Active through COVID-19 emergency.
• On April 15, Gov. Evers signed AB 1038, which said, in part, “a health care provider credential is not subject to renewal, or any other conditions for renewal including continuing education, and remains valid during the period specified… the period shall be the period beginning on March 12, 2020, and ending on the 60th day after the end of the period covered by the public health emergency…”
• Yesterday the Legislature passed, and Governor Evers signed a package (Act 185) aimed at dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic… temporary suspension of licensure renewal requirements (includes CME requirements).
• Status - Active until 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 emergency, currently scheduled to expire March 20, 2021 per EO 104.
• [No information found]

8 VAC § 85-20-235(G)
State Resource Page Proclamation 20-32 State Resource Page
Resource Page Executive Order 07-20 State Resource Page
AB 1038 WMS Guidance State Resource Page State Resource Page

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