Physician Assistants · Pennsylvania · Continuing education
Pennsylvania Physician Assistant CME Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- PA (Board of Medicine): 100 hours (NCCPA CME) every 2 years, including 2 h opioid prescribing & pain management, 2 h child abuse recognition & reporting; renewal on the date shown on your license.
- PA (Osteopathic Board): 100 hours (NCCPA CME) every 2 years, including 2 h opioid prescribing & pain management, 2 h child abuse recognition & reporting; renewal on the date shown on your license.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
Pennsylvania PA (Board of Medicine) CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 100hours (NCCPA CME)
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- On license
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- On the date shown on your license
- Accepted credit
- CME as required by NCCPA; must maintain national certification through recertification mechanisms recognized by the Board
- Renewal fee
- $40
- New licensees
- Initial licensure: 3 hours child abuse recognition and reporting; prescribers: 4 hours (2 pain management/addiction + 2 opioid prescribing) once, within 1 year of licensure (ABC-MAP).
- Renew online
- www.pa.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing & pain managementPAs with prescriptive authority holding or using a DEA registration: pain management, identification of addiction or opioid prescribing/dispensing | 2 | every renewal |
| Child abuse recognition & reportingAll PAs; Board-approved provider; part of the NCCPA CME | 2 | every renewal |
Alternatives & exemptions. Requirement is NCCPA CME plus national certification (Board also recognizes other national certifying organizations it publishes).
Good to know. Biennial renewal. Supervised by the State Board of Medicine; PAs working with DOs are licensed by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (second rule).
Source: www.pa.gov · 49 Pa. Code § 18.145 · checked Oct 28, 2026
Pennsylvania PA (Osteopathic Board) CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 100hours (NCCPA CME)
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- On license
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- On the date shown on your license
- Accepted credit
- CME as required by NCCPA; must maintain national certification through recertification mechanisms recognized by the Board
- Renewal fee
- $80
- New licensees
- Initial licensure: 3 hours child abuse recognition and reporting; prescribers: 4 hours (2 pain management/addiction + 2 opioid prescribing) once, within 1 year of licensure (ABC-MAP).
- Renew online
- www.pa.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing & pain managementPAs with prescriptive authority holding or using a DEA registration: pain management, identification of addiction or opioid prescribing/dispensing | 2 | every renewal |
| Child abuse recognition & reportingAll PAs; Board-approved; part of the 100 NCCPA hours | 2 | every renewal |
Alternatives & exemptions. Requirement is NCCPA CME plus national certification (Board also recognizes other national certifying organizations it publishes).
Good to know. Licensed by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine; biennial renewal. Board states NCCPA currently requires 100 hours per renewal period.
Source: www.pa.gov · 49 Pa. Code § 25.163 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Pennsylvania
05 Questions
Which CE courses count for physician assistants in Pennsylvania?
PA (Board of Medicine): CME as required by NCCPA; must maintain national certification through recertification mechanisms recognized by the Board. PA (Osteopathic Board): CME as required by NCCPA; must maintain national certification through recertification mechanisms recognized by the Board.
How many CE hours do physician assistants need in Pennsylvania?
PA (Board of Medicine): 100 hours (NCCPA CME) every 2 years. PA (Osteopathic Board): 100 hours (NCCPA CME) every 2 years.
How do I verify a physician assistant license in Pennsylvania?
Use the license lookup of the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine (pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/medicine); 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 Pennsylvania?
PA (Board of Medicine): By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit. PA (Osteopathic Board): By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit.
When is the renewal deadline for physician assistants in Pennsylvania?
PA (Board of Medicine): Licenses renew on the date shown on your license (2 years cycle). PA (Osteopathic Board): Licenses renew on the date shown on your license (2 years cycle).