The licensing of physicians is one of the key aspects of the nation's state medical boards in the U.S. State medical boards use licensing to ensure that all practicing physicians have received appropriate education and training and that they adhere to recognized standards of professional conduct while supporting their patients.
Obtaining a license to practice medicine in the United States is a difficult process. Those seeking to enter the profession must meet predetermined qualifications such as medical school graduation, postgraduate training, and passing a comprehensive national medical licensing examination that tests their expertise in health and disease management, as well as effective patient care. Applicants must provide proof of their education and training, as well as information about their work history. They must also disclose information that could jeopardize their ability to practice, such as their health status, malpractice judgments/settlements, and criminal convictions. Only those who meet a state's requirements are permitted to practice medicine in that state.
The state medical and osteopathic board regulations on continuing medical education (CME) for licensure registration are listed below. States with no information have no regulations governing CME.
States | CME/Year | Hours/Year | Duration (Years) | AMA/ACOG/AAFP/AOA | Equivalent Certificates | State-mandated CME |
Alabama | 12 | 12 | 1 | 12 | ABMS | |
Alaska | 50 | 25 | 2 | 50 | AMA PRA, ABMS, GME | |
Arizona | 40 | 20 | 2 | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, ABMS, GME | ||
Arizona DO | 20 | 20 | 1 | 12/yr (AOA 1-A) | AOA, ABMS, GME | 12 AOA 1-A credits/year |
Arkansas | 20 | 20 | 1 | Not specified | AMA PRA, AOA, GME | |
California* | 100 | 25 | 4 | 100 | AMA PRA app, ABMS, SMS, | Pain management, Elderly care, end-of-life care |
California DO* | 150 | 50 | 3 | 60 (AOA 1-A or B) | AOA, AAFP, CMA, CAFP | Pain management, geriatric medicine, end-of-life care; AOA cert. accepted if accompanied by AOA registration |
Colorado | 2 | 2 | 1 | Opioidprescribing, recognition of substance use disorders, referral of patients with substanceuse disorders for treatment, and use of the Electronic Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. | ||
Connecticut | 50 | 25 | 2 | Infectious disease, sexual assault, risk management, domestic violence | ||
Delaware | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA app | |
D.C. | 50 | 25 | 2 | 50 | AMA PRA app, AOA, GME | |
Florida* | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA, GME | HIV/AIDS, TB, end-of-life palliative care, domestic violence, med error |
Florida DO | 40 | 20 | 2 | 20 (AOA Category 1-A) | AMA PRA app, GME | HIV/AIDS, risk management, domestic violence, FL rules/laws, use of controlled substances, 2 hrs prevention of med errors |
Georgia | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA app, GME | |
Guam | 100 | 50 | 2 | 25 | AMA PRA app, AOA, NSS, ACEP | Ethics (2 credits every 2 years) |
Hawaii | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA, SMS, NSS, GME | |
Hawaii DO | AMA PRA, SMS, NSS, GME | |||||
Idaho | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, AOA, ABMS, GME | |
Illinois | 150 | 50 | 3 | 60 | AMA PRA, SMS, NSS, GME | SMS, NSS if ACCME-accredited |
Indiana | ||||||
Iowa | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA, ABMS (cert andrecert), GME | Training for identifying and reporting abuse is required every 5 years for EM, FM, FP, IM, OB/GYN, Psych, & primary care service |
Kansas | 50 | 50 | 1 | 20 | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, ABMS, SMS, GME | |
Kentucky | 60 | 20 | 3 | 30 | AMA PRA, AOA, NSS, GME | HB 1 requires a minimum of 4.5 hours every licensing cycle for physicians who are authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances. Primary care physicians should complete a 3-hour domestic violence training course within 3 years of the date of initial licensure |
Louisiana | 20 | 20 | 1 | 20 | AMA PRA | One-time board orientation course |
Maine | 100 | 50 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, ABMS, SMS, GME | |
Maine DO | 100 | 50 | 2 | 40 (AOA 1-A or B) | ||
Maryland | 50 | 25 | 2 | 50 | AMA PRA app, ABMS+ | Partial credit for ABMS. |
Massachusetts | 100 | 50 | 2 | 40 (40 AOA 1-A for DOs) | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, ABMS, SMS | Risk management |
Michigan | 150 | 50 | 3 | 75 | AMA PRA app | 75 Category 1 AMA PRA |
Michigan DO | 150 | 50 | 3 | 60 (AOA 1-A or B) | ABMS, GME | 60 hours Category 1-A or 1-B |
Minnesota | 75 | 25 | 3 | 75 | AMA PRA, ABMS, MOCOMP | ABMS cert/recertification accepted |
Mississippi | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 (DOs: AOA 1-A) | AMA PRA app, ABMS*, GME | Initial certification only (not renewal); for DOs, all credit must be AOA 1-A. |
Missouri | 50 | 25 | 2 | 50 | ABMS, GME | Complete50 hoursofAMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, AOA Category 1-A or 2-A credits, or AAFP |
Montana | No CME required | |||||
Nebraska | 50 | 25 | 2 | 50 | AMA PRA, AOA | |
Nevada | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA app, GME | Ethics (2 credits), 20 credits in the specialty; other 18 hrs can be any in Category 1; 4 credits in WMD/bioterrorism (new applicants only) |
Nevada DO | 35 | 35 | 1 | 10 (AOA 1-A) | AMA PRA app, AOA, ABMS | |
New Hampshire | 150 | 50 | 3 | 60 | AMA PRA, ABMS, GME | Credits reported to NH Med Society; CME reporting cycle to 2 years |
New Jersey | 100 | 50 | 2 | 40 | GME | Cultural Competence;The 6 credits for cultural competence are in addition to the 100-hour requirement for physicians. For newly licensed physicians, the Board requires attendance at an orientation program; no CME is provided for this. |
New Mexico | 75 | 25 | 3 | 75 | AMA PRA, ABMS, GME | |
New Mexico DO | 75 | 25 | 3 | 75 | AMA PRA, ABMS, USMLE | Active membership in AOA may replace 75 hours of CME |
New York | ||||||
North Carolina | 150 | 50 | 3 | 60 | ||
North Dakota | 60 | 20 | 3 | 60 | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, ABMS, MOCOMP | |
North Mariana Islands | 25 | 25 | 1 | |||
Ohio | 100 | 50 | 2 | 40 (DOs: AMA 1-A or B) | AMA PRA app, AOA | All CME must be OSMA or OOA certified |
Oklahoma | 60 | 20 | 3 | 60 | AMA PRA, ABMS, GME+ | +50 hours for each year of GME |
Oklahoma DO | 16 | 16 | 1 | 16 (AOA 1-A or B) | 1 credit on prescribing controlled substances (every 2 yrs) | |
Oregon | 120 | 60 | 2 | 1-hour pain management & end-of-life care; Minimum 6 CME credit hours. Alzheimer's education, cultural competency, & suicide risk assessment | ||
Pennsylvania | 100 | 50 | 2 | 20 | SMS, GME | 12 hrs patient safety or risk management |
Pennsylvania DO | 100 | 50 | 2 | 20 (AOA 1-A) | 12 hrs patient safety or risk management | |
Puerto Rico | 60 | 20 | 3 | 40 | AMA PRA | |
Rhode Island | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, AOA, ABMS, SMS, NSS, GME | 2 credits: pain management, end of life, universal precautions, bioterrorism, OHSA, or ethics |
South Carolina | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | ABMS, GME | 75% specialty education (30 credits every 2 years) |
South Dakota | No CME required | |||||
Tennessee | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | AMA PRA | Appropriate prescribing (1 credit every 2 years) |
Tennessee DO | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 (AOA 1-A or 2-A) | Appropriate prescribing (1 credit every 2 years) | |
Texas | 24 | 24 | 1 | 12 (12 AOA 1-A for DOs) | AMA PRA, ABMS, GME | Of 12 Category 1 credits, at least 1 in ethics and/or professional responsibility |
Utah MDs and DOs | 40 | 20 | 2 | 40 | GME | |
Vermont | ||||||
Vermont DO | 30 | 15 | 2 | AMA PRA | At least 12 of 30 hours in osteopathic medical education | |
Virgin Islands | 25 | 25 | 1 | 25 | ||
Virginia | 60 | 30 | 2 | 30 | AMA PRA app, GME | |
Washington | 200 | 50 | 4 | Not specified | AMA PRA, ABMS, SMS, NSS | |
Washington DO | 150 | 50 | 3 | 60 (AOA 1-A or B) | AMA PRA, AMA PRA app, ABMS, SMS, GME | CME certification from medical practice academies and original certification or recertification within 6 years by the specialty board |
West Virginia | 50 | 25 | 2 | 50 | AMA PRA | One-time requirement for two credits in end-of-life care, and pain management, and 30 credits forthephysician's designated specialty |
West Virginia DO | 32 | 16 | 2 | 16 (AOA 1-A or B) | One-time requirement for two credits in end-of-life care, and pain management, and 30 credits forthephysician's designatedspecialty | |
Wisconsin | 30 | 15 | 2 | 30 | AMA PRA | |
Wyoming | 60 hrs | 20 | 3 | 60 | AMA PRA, ABMS |
Reference:
Federation of State Medical Boards
Staying up to date with your Arizona medical license is crucial to practicing healthcare. The state requires certain continuing medical education and continuing education credits depending on whether you're a physician, nurse, pharmacist, or part of another healthcare field. These rules aim to help licensed professionals keep pace with changes in healthcare standards, laws, and patient care methods.
This guide breaks down Arizona's required CME and CE courses. You’ll learn their purpose and how to meet these rules while furthering your professional growth.
The state asks doctors to finish 40 CME hours during each Arizona medical license renewal period. Osteopathic doctors (DOs) need 24 hours every year in AOA Category 1-A credits, and 16 of those hours can come from AMA PRA Category 1™ credits.
Doctors with active DEA registration who prescribe Schedule II-controlled drugs must finish 3 CME hours focused on opioids, addiction, or substance-related disorders within each renewal period.
Osteopathic Examiners:
To refurbish an osteopathic Arizona medical license, you should log 40 CME hours permitted by the board in the two years before your license expiration.
Nurses:
Arizona does not demand continuing education hours from registered nurses or licensed practical nurses when renewing an active license. Nurses are still encouraged to stay current with clinical knowledge.
Pharmacists:
Pharmacists in Arizona need 30 hours of CE every two years. This includes:
The Arizona medical license renewal happens every two years and must be done by the pharmacist’s birthday.
Healthcare workers take this course to better grasp addiction and how it affects those they treat. It looks at how addiction works in the brain how common it is, and treatments that work like medicines or therapy.
The state requires this training to address problems linked to opioids. The course teaches everything from stopping misuse to handling and treating OUD. It includes therapies for behavior change and treatment with medication.
This vital training offers methods to treat chronic pain in a safe way through opioid therapy. It covers opioid medications how to prescribe them how to reduce potential side effects, and when to look beyond opioids for other options.
This all-encompassing course tackles both general substance addiction and specific opioid dependency. It teaches about medications like Gabapentin and Pregabalin and familiarizes healthcare providers with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Doctors in Arizona need to follow state rules when giving controlled substances. This program explains drug laws, types of drugs, ways to reduce harm, and how to stay within legal guidelines.
Arizona provides CME course packages to help healthcare workers renew their licenses with less hassle. These packages focus on fulfilling the state’s specific requirements. A standard package often includes:
These packages make it easier for healthcare professionals to cover required topics and meet standards.
Meeting Arizona’s CME or CE rules isn’t tied to keeping your license. It plays a big role in keeping care standards strong. State-required courses help you handle tough health issues like chronic pain or addiction. They also safeguard your patients and your career.
Healthcare keeps changing fast. Learning more as you go helps you stay up-to-date adjust to shifts, and do well in your job. Take time to review what your license needs and pick programs approved by the state that are well-accredited.
In Summary:
To renew a healthcare license in Arizona, professionals must meet certain continuing education standards based on their field. A doctor handling controlled substances or a pharmacist updating knowledge about immunizations needs to stay updated and on top of these requirements. This helps them follow the rules while continuing to provide quality care to their patients. For more details, contact Credidocs professionals.
Continuous growth of digital health companies is putting increasing pressure on health laws and regulations to catch up. Even though technologies like telemedicine and virtual care have transformed the healthcare industry, healthcare providers are still required to comply with requisition rules set by each state. As a result, organizations face increased regulatory responsibilities, spend more time managing license requirements, and are unable to allocate resources to improving patient care. Modern provider licensing requires applying innovative and technology-driven solutions. Licensing management becomes a vital tool in this situation.
Licensing safeguards whether doctors and other healthcare providers meet the standards of practice. There are different licensing rules and schedules in every state or territory, with varying costs involved. Dispensaries need to have licenses in all states where they serve patients, a challenge for multistate companies.
There are generally two key steps in obtaining a license.
Failure to meet licensing requirements may lead to administratively suspended licensure, fines, and the halt of patient treatment.
Administrative expenses for licensing and credentialing amounted to nearly $950 billion for healthcare organizations in 2019. Without streamlined systems, providers face:
Licensing plays a vital role in maintaining the operations and success of digital health organizations.
1. Inconsistent State Requirements
Managing the differing requirements for paperwork, fingerprints, and background checks can be challenging, often making it difficult for providers to operate in multiple states.
2. CME Tracking
All healthcare professionals are required to participate in CME programs to maintain their licensure. Keeping up with the various CME requirements for each state, manual methods can become overwhelming.
3. Regulatory Changes
Licensing laws evolve frequently. It’s important to anticipate changes to ensure compliance and prevent mistakes.
4. Pass-Through Fees
It's important to monitor and record expenses related to licensure renewal to manage healthcare provider licensing costs effectively.
5. Supervision Agreements
Supervising physician agreements differ from state to state and determine the extent of a mid-level provider’s independence in practice and prescription writing.
Technology as a Licensing Ally
PSV is foundational to compliance. It directly verifies the authenticity and validity of a provider’s credentials. PSV supports:
Credidocs is a licensing management tool built for digital health organizations. It simplifies and optimizes the licensing process, allowing businesses to lower their risks, cut down on workload and grow more efficiently.
Key features include:
The effective management of licensing helps ensure the delivery of the highest quality care, safeguards patients, and empowers practitioners. Digital-first licensing platforms like Credidocs eliminate inefficiencies, help providers move freely across state lines, and allow time to be spent where it counts, delivering care without borders.
Plan for a demo with us to understand how the Credidocs platform simplifies the licensing procedure.
American physicians must follow a prolonged multistep application process to obtain their medical license when applying in multiple states throughout the country. The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) that the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) created assists physicians by simplifying their licensure process. The service serves as a safe platform to confirm and maintain physician certifications, which optimizes license acquisition and reduces needless administrative steps.
FCVS operates as an electronic system that both verifies and keeps records of significant physician credentials. Thousands of physicians from 1996 to present trust FCVS which the FSMB originally established as a credentialing verification system. Physicians who maintain their verified profile in FCVS can distribute it whenever necessary instead of sending identical documents to multiple boards.
How FCVS Works
The FCVS process is organized and systematic. Here’s how doctors can get started:
Step 1: Physicians gather necessary documents such as:
Step 2: Create an FCVS account by checking the FCVS website.
Step 3: Submit all the above-listed documents, including medical education as well as training records, to FCVS.
Step 4: FCVS independently verifies each submitted document with the issuing institutions, ensuring accuracy and authenticity.
Step 5: Once verified, the credentials are securely stored in the FCVS electronic database.
Step 6: Doctors can then request their FCVS profile to be transmitted to any participating state medical board as required, streamlining the application process.
FCVS offers the following exclusive benefits for both doctors and licensing authorities:
1. Time-saving and Convenient
Physicians eliminate the task of manually providing credentials to separate state boards since their documents are available for future license applications. The verification process makes documents available for every subsequent licensure application that physicians file through the system.
2. Trusted Verification
FCVS verifications that come from official institutions directly check their accuracy, which accelerates license approvals and eliminates unnecessary verification efforts from state boards.
3. Multi-State Licensing
The process of applying for licensure in several states is simplified by having a verified FCVS profile because physicians won't need to confirm or re-validate their credentials - especially beneficial for locum work and telemedicine practitioners.
4. Secure and Organized Storage
The system securely maintains all sensitive documents under a single protected storage, which safeguards against data loss while defending against fraud and identity theft.
5. Reduces Paperwork
Digital processing dominates the certification process, which minimizes the need for paper documents in each licensing application.
The U.S. medical boards widely recognize the Fast Credentialing Verification Service (FCVS) as a choice for the application process even though its acceptance varies by state laws. FCVS stands as an optional system for specific medical boards, although particular types of licensing applications, such as those for international medical graduates and telemedicine, must utilize FCVS. This FCVS speeds up the entire licensing procedure in states with heavy administrative requirements.
FCVS charges fees for enrollment as well as credential authentication:
Medical professionals usually consider FCVS beneficial because its efficiency outweighs its expenses when they aim to apply for positions across different states.
Through its role as a powerful support system, FCVS facilitates medical licensure handling for physicians working in complex environments. The essential credential storage systems of FCVS create time savings for healthcare professionals while minimizing administrative work to enable better state-to-state practice.
Medical professionals who establish their FCVS profile ahead of medical license applications will reduce delays from unreported documentation needs and quicken the application runtime. The service from FCVS provides trusted verification services to state boards, which results in a simpler and more predictable licensure process. A complete FCVS profile can help both applicants and medical professionals with their license needs.
For more details, contact our team at Credidocs. Our service at Credidocs enables physicians to obtain their licenses quickly despite the reduced stress levels. The first step toward medical practice starts with booking a consultation about licensure from our expert team.
Coprights ©2025 CrediDocs. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
Coprights ©2025 CrediDocs. All Rights Reserved