Physician Assistants · Arizona · Continuing education
Arizona Physician Assistant CME Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- PA40 hours of Category I CME every 2 years, including 3 h opioid prescribing & pain management; renewal by your birthday.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
02 Calculator
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03 Requirements
Arizona PA CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 40hours of Category I CME
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birthday
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By your birthday
- Category 1 minimum
- 40
- Accepted credit
- Category I CME approved by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the AMA, the AOA or another accrediting organization acceptable to the board
- Audits & records
- Board randomly audits at least 10% of renewing PAs each calendar year who do not hold current national certification.
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing & pain managementPAs authorized to prescribe Schedule II drugs with a DEA registration (or authorized to dispense): opioid-, substance use disorder- or addiction-related CE; counts toward the 40 hours | 3 | every renewal |
Alternatives & exemptions. CME requirement is deemed satisfied if, at renewal, the licensee holds a certification in good standing from a certifying body approved by the board (e.g. NCCPA).
Good to know. License renews every other year on or before the birthday; late penalty after 30 days, license expires 90 days after the birthday. Extensions possible for illness, missionary work, foreign residence. Board site (azpa.gov) could not be read; facts from statute.
Source: www.azleg.gov · A.R.S. §32-2523; A.R.S. §32-3248.02 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Arizona
05 Questions
Which CE courses count for physician assistants in Arizona?
Category I CME approved by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the AMA, the AOA or another accrediting organization acceptable to the board.
How many CE hours do physician assistants need in Arizona?
40 hours of Category I CME every 2 years, at least 40 of them Category 1.
How do I verify a physician assistant license in Arizona?
Use the license lookup of the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (azpa.gov); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
How do physician assistants report CE in Arizona?
By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit.
When is the renewal deadline for physician assistants in Arizona?
Licenses renew by your birthday (2 years cycle).