Physicians · California · Continuing education
California CME Requirements for Physicians (2026)
01 In short
- MD50 hours every 2 years, including 10 h geriatrics / aging, 12 h pain management (once); renewal on the anniversary of your license date.
- DO50 credit hours every 2 years, including 1 h opioid prescribing & pain management, 12 h pain management (once); renewal on the date shown on your license.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
02 Calculator
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03 Requirements
California MD CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 50hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- License anniversary
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- On the anniversary of your license date
- Accepted credit
- Programs accredited by CMA, AMA or ACCME that qualify for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit; AAFP prescribed credit; other programs acceptable to the Board. Also: 6 hours per month of ACGME residency/fellowship; teaching a CME course (max one-third of hours); passing a specialty board (re)certification exam = 100 hours for four consecutive years
- Renewal fee
- $1,206
- Audits & records
- Certification under penalty of perjury at renewal; annual audit required by law. Keep CME records at least 4 years. The Board can verify credits reported by ACCME providers in PARS.
- Renew online
- www.breeze.ca.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| End-of-life & palliative carePart of the same one-time 12-hour pain management / terminally ill and dying patients requirement; pathologists and radiologists exempt | — | once |
| Geriatrics / agingGeneral internists and family physicians with over 25% of patients aged 65+: at least 20% of mandatory CME in geriatric medicine, care of older patients or dementia care | 10 | every renewal |
| Pain managementAll except pathologists and radiologists: 12 hours in pain management and treatment of terminally ill and dying patients (any split), incl. risks of addiction with Schedule II drugs; by the second renewal. Alternative: one-time 12-hour opiate-dependent patient course incl. 8 h buprenorphine treatment | 12 | once |
Alternatives & exemptions. CME waiver possible for health, military service or undue hardship (not after an audit); if denied, renew once and document 100 hours by the end of the next cycle. Retired and inactive status renewals need no CME.
Good to know. Licenses expire every two years on the last day of the month in which they were issued; no grace period. The 12 one-time hours count toward the 50. Renewal fee includes $25 Thompson program and $30 CURES fees.
Source: www.mbc.ca.gov · Business and Professions Code section 2423; Cal. Code of Regulations Title 16 sections 1336, 1338 · checked Oct 28, 2026
California DO CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 50credit hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- On license
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- On the date shown on your license
- Category 1 minimum
- 20
- Accepted credit
- At least 20 hours AOA Category 1A or 1B; remainder may be other Board-approved CME (AMA-listed CME counts as AOA Category 2; journal reading 0.5 Category 2 per journal; practice management content max 30%)
- Audits & records
- CME is checked in random audits after the renewal period; proof (AOA activity report or certificates, PDF only) sent only on request. Failure can lead to citation and fine.
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing & pain managementAll DOs: risks of addiction associated with Schedule II drugs / opioids, every renewal | 1 | every renewal |
| End-of-life & palliative carePart of the same one-time 12-hour pain management / terminally ill patients requirement | — | once |
| Pain managementPain management and treatment of terminally ill and dying patients, within 4 years of licensure or by the second renewal; pathology and radiology specialists exempt. Alternative: 12-hour opiate-dependent patient course incl. 8 h buprenorphine | 12 | once |
Alternatives & exemptions. Board may waive requirements under special circumstances (application required). CME waived proportionally for time spent in residency or fellowship during the cycle.
Good to know. DOs are licensed by the separate Osteopathic Medical Board of California (ombc.ca.gov). CME period equals the 2-year renewal period. All CME must include implicit bias curriculum (BPC 2190.1), a provider-side rule without set hours.
Source: www.ombc.ca.gov · BPC § 2454.5; Cal. Code of Regulations Title 16 sections 1635, 1636, 1638, 1641, 1646, 1659.30-1659.35 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in California
05 Questions
Which CE courses count for physicians in California?
MD: Programs accredited by CMA, AMA or ACCME that qualify for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit; AAFP prescribed credit; other programs acceptable to the Board. Also: 6 hours per month of ACGME residency/fellowship; teaching a CME course (max one-third of hours); passing a specialty board (re)certification exam = 100 hours for four consecutive years. DO: At least 20 hours AOA Category 1A or 1B; remainder may be other Board-approved CME (AMA-listed CME counts as AOA Category 2; journal reading 0.5 Category 2 per journal; practice management content max 30%).
How do I verify a physician license in California?
Use the license lookup of the Medical Board of California (mbc.ca.gov); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
How many CE hours do physicians need in California?
MD: 50 hours every 2 years. DO: 50 credit hours every 2 years, at least 20 of them Category 1.
Which CE topics are mandatory for physicians in California?
MD: End-of-life & palliative care (once); Geriatrics / aging — 10 h (every renewal); Pain management — 12 h (once). DO: Opioid prescribing & pain management — 1 h (every renewal); End-of-life & palliative care (once); Pain management — 12 h (once).
How much does a physician license renewal cost in California?
MD: $1,206 per renewal, as listed by the board.
How do physicians report CE in California?
MD: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit. DO: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit.
When is the renewal deadline for physicians in California?
MD: Licenses renew on the anniversary of your license date (2 years cycle). DO: Licenses renew on the date shown on your license (2 years cycle).