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
Physician license renewal is an important step that makes sure they can still practice medicine legally. In the rapidly changing field of healthcare, it can be hard to keep track of when and how to renew your medical license. Medical licensing services are very important for making the process of renewing a doctor's license faster and easier. These businesses offer a lot of different ways to make sure that doctors never miss a renewal deadline, which keeps their Arizona state medical license (or other state licenses) in good standing. In this blog we'll go into more detail about how these services work and why they are so important for doctors in this blog.
The journey from medical school graduation to a full-fledged practicing physician involves passing exams, completing residency, and earning state licensure. But the process doesn’t end there. Every few years, doctors must prove their credentials and continuing education to renew their license. If you miss this deadline, you might face fines, disciplinary action, or even suspension of your practicing privileges. Beyond the personal stress, such interruptions risk continuity of care for thousands of patients.
Patient Trust: An active license reassures patients their doctor is in good standing.
Legal Compliance: Practicing on an expired license can result in fines or criminal penalties.
Hospital Privileges: Many facilities revoke admitting and operating rights if your license lapses.
Given these stakes, having a robust system for physician license renewal is non-negotiable.
Medical licensing services offer a streamlined approach to physician license renewal. They handle the logistics, paperwork, and deadlines involved in the renewal process, saving physicians time and stress. These services can guide you through all the steps necessary to maintain a valid medical license, such as:
1. Monitoring Renewal Deadlines
Licensing services keep track of when doctors need to renew their licenses. It's easy for doctors to forget about the renewal process when they have so many other things to do. These services send regular reminders to make sure that doctors don't miss the deadline for renewing their medical license.
2. Managing Continuing Education Requirements
Most states, including Arizona, require doctors to earn a set number of continuing education (CE) credits in order to keep their medical license. Medical licensing services make sure that doctors know what they need to do and assist them finish their required classes on time. They might even help you get into recognized CE classes, which would make the procedure as easy as possible.
3. State-Specific Guidance
Each state has its own rules for getting a license. For instance, medical licence renewal in Arizona takes different paperwork and steps than renewing a license in other states. Medical licensing services know all the details of each state's licensing rules, so they can make sure that all paperwork is filled out correctly and sent in on time. This lowers the risk of mistakes or missing information that could slow down the renewal process.
4. Handling Paperwork and Forms
It might be hard to keep track of all the paperwork that comes with medical licence renewal. The process can be long and frustrating because it requires a lot of forms, fees, and supporting documentation. Medical licensing services take care of the paperwork, making sure that all the right forms are filled out correctly and sent in on time. This helps the renewal process go smoothly and keeps processing from taking too long.
Medical licensing services don’t just prevent missed renewals; they deliver broader advantages:
Time Savings: Physicians report reclaiming dozens of hours annually that would otherwise be wasted chasing down paperwork.
Cost Efficiency: While services charge fees, those often pale compared to fines for late filings or loss of revenue from temporary suspension.
Peace of Mind: Delegating complex compliance tasks frees mental bandwidth for patient care, research, or personal life.
Timely physician license renewal is essential for practicing medicine legally and delivering quality care. Medical licensing services streamline the process by tracking deadlines, managing continuing education, and handling state-specific regulations. These services help physicians stay on track with their license renewal, including the Arizona state medical license, saving time, reducing stress, and ensuring compliance, allowing them to focus on providing excellent patient care.
Get in touch with Credidocs team as we are here to help you.
With more than 566,000 active physicians in the United States as of January 2025, holding an active medical license is more important than ever. The renewal process varies from state to state, and physicians within the state of Arizona renew their licenses biennially. If you’re a practicing doctor in the state, understanding the ins and outs of Arizona medical license renewal is essential to ensure uninterrupted practice and compliance with the law.
Renewal of the license is not only a routine process. It is important in maintaining professional standards and public confidence. Here are the reasons why it is really important to maintain your Arizona medical license renewal:
1. It's a Legal Requirement
The Arizona Medical Board requires physician licenses to be renewed every two years, prior to your birthday. Failure to meet the deadline will result in penalties or automatic suspension of your license.
2. Professional Credibility
Having an active Arizona medical license guarantees patients, hospitals, and institutions that you are up to state standards. Letting your license expire may lose you hospital privileges, insurance authorization, or the privilege to practice.
3. Continued Learning Through CM
Arizona mandates the taking of Continuing Medical Education (CME) by licensees in an attempt to be current with modern medical developments. This will guarantee that practitioners are in their optimal levels of practice.
4. Public Safety
Renewals also provide a platform for the Medical Board to examine a physician's file and set any disciplinary issues, thereby ensuring public safety and responsibility.
5. Avoiding Disruptions
A suspension of your Arizona medical license can result in you being unable to practice and potentially lose business. Staying current prevents such disruptions.
To enjoy a smooth process, ensure that you take these key steps:
1. Renew Early Enough Before Expiration Date
Arizona sends reminders of renewals around 60 days prior to expiry date, but don't wait for reminders. Remind yourself and arrange beforehand in order not to procrastinate or face technical issues at the last minute.
2. Update Your Information
Ensure that all contact data, residence and work addresses, email address, telephone numbers, and specialty area updates are up-to-date. Outdated information might delay or deny your renewal.
3. Answer Honestly and Read
You will be questioned regarding disciplinary action, malpractice, or criminal history. Untrue or misleading replies can result in drastic measures like denial of renewal.
4. See a Lawyer if Necessary
If unsure whether to report some information (e.g., previous discipline), consult an attorney. They can assist with completing your case correctly and professionally.
5. Ask for Guidance if Lost
In case you are lost as to requirements or are having trouble filling out the form, call the Arizona Medical Board. There are also third-party services such as CrediDocs that may assist with a simple application process without any hassle.
As with dos, there also are don'ts that you must avoid:
1. Do Not Give False Information
Minor differences, whether deliberate or inadvertent, can prompt investigations and slow down the renewal process.
2. Never Leave Out Disclosures
Leaving out legal or disciplinary problems can result in fines or suspension. Tell the truth at all times.
3. Don't Forget to Update Your Email
If your personal information changes, particularly your email, let the board know. An old email may result in lost notices and missed deadlines.
4. Do Not Attend Unprepared
In case of being called for hearing or review, do not attend unprepared. Pack your relevant documents and get legal counsel to project professionalism and readiness.
Renewing your Arizona medical license is not only a requirement but it's your duty to hold on to your right to practice medicine and provide good quality care. By following these instructions on do's and don'ts, you'll be able to have a smooth renewal process.
Missing deadlines or even careless errors can cost you your professional career. If you require professional assistance with renewing your medical license smoothly, consider hiring the services of firms like CrediDocs that can streamline and facilitate the process for you.
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.
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