What changed

14 changes, newest first.

• New requirementTexas MD and DOEffective September 3, 2026

  Forensic evidence and nutrition CME added to §161.35

  Amendments to 22 TAC §161.35, effective September 3, 2026, add two requirements:

  • Forensic evidence collection, 2 credits (Occupations Code §156.057, HB 47) for physicians who treat patients in an emergency room setting, from courses approved by the Governor's Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force. The Board says no approved course exists yet, so it begins with licenses expiring February 28, 2027.
  • Nutrition and metabolic health, 1 credit (§156.061, SB 25) for every MD and DO, based on the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee's guidelines. The Board says it applies to licenses expiring on or after May 30, 2027.

  3 sources

  1. Texas Register, August 28, 2026 — §161.35 amendments adopted without changes, effective September 3, 2026
  2. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 156 — Registration of physicians and CME (§§156.051–156.061)
  3. Texas Medical Board — Continuing Education Requirements for Physicians

  Last verified October 8, 2026Read the Texas guide

• Requirement changedTexas MD and DOEffective September 1, 2026

  CE Broker now required before you can renew

  From September 1, 2026, the Texas Medical Board requires CE Broker: you cannot open the online renewal until CE Broker shows your CE as complete, and you report completed coursework there yourself (a Basic account is free). At renewal you still attest that the required CME is done.

  Source

  1. Texas Medical Board — Continuing Education Tracking (CE Broker, required from September 1, 2026)

  Last verified October 8, 2026Read the Texas guide

• Requirement changedWashington DOEffective August 30, 2026

  Maintenance of certification can replace the 150 hours

  Since August 30, 2026 (WSR 26-16-042), WAC 246-853-080 lets an osteopathic physician meet the CME requirement by meeting the maintenance of certification requirements of an ABOMS or ABMS member board at renewal, instead of 150 hours every three years. The other alternatives — certification or recertification within six years, an AOA certificate of excellence in CME, or a current AMA Physician's Recognition Award — still apply.

  2 sources

  1. WAC 246-853 — Osteopathic physicians and surgeons (sections 065, 070, 075, 080, 090, 685, 990)
  2. WSR 26-09-112 — Proposed amendment to WAC 246-853-080 (maintenance of certification pathway)

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the Washington guide

• Requirement changedColorado MD and DOEffective August 12, 2026

  Law orders repeal of the 2-hour substance use training rule

  SB26-138 (effective August 12, 2026) requires the Colorado Medical Board to repeal Rule 1.29 — at least 2 hours each renewal period on opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing, substance use disorders and the PDMP — by July 1, 2027. The Board proposed the repeal at an August 27, 2026 hearing, but Rule 1.29 was still in the code when we checked. Until it is repealed, plan on the 2 hours and confirm with the Board whether it applies to your April 30, 2027 renewal.

  2 sources

  1. SB26-138 — repeal of the substance use training rule requirement (C.R.S. 12-30-114)
  2. 3 CCR 713-1 Colorado Medical Board rules, version effective July 15, 2026 (Rules 1.29 and 1.33)

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the Colorado guide

• Requirement changedFlorida MD and DOEffective July 1, 2026

  Controlled substance course now covers sickle cell pain

  Since July 1, 2026 (CS/SB 844, Chapter 2026-6), the 2-hour controlled substance prescribing course required of DEA-registered physicians must also cover the treatment of pain for patients with sickle cell disease. It is not a separate course. The course still counts only from the providers named in the Board rule.

  2 sources

  1. CS/SB 844 (2026), Chapter 2026-6, Laws of Florida — sickle cell content added to the controlled substance course
  2. Section 456.0301, Florida Statutes (2026) — controlled substance prescribing course

  Last verified October 6, 2026Read the Florida MD guideRead the Florida DO guide

• Requirement changedWest Virginia MD and DOEffective July 1, 2026

  Controlled substance course now only after initial licensure

  The 3-hour Board-approved course on Risk Assessment and Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances is no longer required every renewal. Under W. Va. Code § 30-1-7a(b) (amended 2023) and the Boards' rules effective July 2026, it is required within one year of receiving an initial West Virginia license, and waived if you do not prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances. The Board of Medicine's CME web page still described the old every-renewal requirement when we checked; confirm with your Board.

  3 sources

  1. W. Va. Code § 30-1-7a — Continuing education (controlled substance training within one year of initial license)
  2. 11 CSR 6 — rule record and filings (amended rule effective July 1, 2026; Board's statement of changes)
  3. 24 CSR 1 — final rule effective July 2, 2026 (PDF)

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the West Virginia guide

• New requirementMissouri MD and DOEffective June 30, 2026

  One hour on the health benefits of nutrition

  20 CSR 2150-2.125(1), amended effective June 30, 2026, requires at least 1 of the 50 hours to pertain to the health benefits of nutrition. The rule took effect partway through the January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 reporting period and the Board has not published separate guidance, so plan to complete it by December 31, 2027 and confirm with the Board.

  2 sources

  1. Missouri Code of State Regulations, 20 CSR 2150-2 (current through May 31, 2026) — includes 2150-2.001 definitions, 2.050 annual registration and 2.125 Continuing Medical Education as amended effective June 30, 2026
  2. Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance — Proposed amendment to 20 CSR 2150-2.125 (one hour on the health benefits of nutrition), filed November 14, 2025

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the Missouri guide

• New requirementWest Virginia MD and DOEffective June 12, 2026

  Nutrition CME added (2 hours)

  HB 4951 (in effect June 12, 2026) says the CME requirement for MDs and DOs "shall include completion of medical education in nutrition." The Board of Medicine's emergency rule (effective August 11, 2026) requires at least 2 of the 50 hours, Category I by the AMA or AAFP, on nutrition. The Board of Osteopathic Medicine's emergency rule (effective August 18, 2026) requires at least 2 of the 32 hours. Both are temporary rules while permanent ones are adopted, so which renewal they first apply to is not settled; confirm with your Board.

  3 sources

  1. HB 4951 (2026), enrolled — nutrition CME for MDs (§ 30-3-12) and DOs (§ 30-14-10), in effect June 12, 2026
  2. 11 CSR 6 — Continuing Education for Physicians and Podiatric Physicians, emergency rule effective August 11, 2026 (nutrition)
  3. 24 CSR 1 — Licensing Procedures for Osteopathic Physicians, emergency rule effective August 18, 2026 (nutrition) (PDF)

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the West Virginia guide

• New requirementColorado MD and DOEffective January 1, 2026

  30 hours of CME now required for each renewal

  C.R.S. 12-240-130.5 (HB24-1153) requires 30 CME credit hours in the 24 months before renewal, for renewals on or after January 1, 2026. Board Rule 1.33 applies it to each two-year cycle, with prorated hours for new licensees. Licenses expire April 30 of odd-numbered years, so April 30, 2027 is the first renewal with documented CME. It applies to active licenses, not to renewing an inactive one.

  3 sources

  1. HB24-1153 — Physician Continuing Education (C.R.S. 12-240-130.5)
  2. 3 CCR 713-1 Colorado Medical Board rules, version effective July 15, 2026 (Rules 1.29 and 1.33)
  3. Colorado Medical Board — Colorado Physician CME

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the Colorado guide

• Requirement endedIndiana MD and DOEffective July 1, 2025

  Opioid CME for the Controlled Substance Registration ended

  The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency says the two-hour opioid continuing education requirement for a Controlled Substance Registration (IC 35-48-3-3.5) expired July 1, 2025. Indiana sets no CME requirement for renewing an MD or DO license, so Indiana itself now asks for none. Hospitals, specialty boards, other states and the DEA (the one-time 8-hour MATE Act training) may still require CME.

  Source

  1. Indiana Professional Licensing Agency — Controlled Substances Registration: opioid continuing education requirement expired July 1, 2025 (IC 35-48-3-3.5)

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the Indiana guide

• New requirementNew Jersey MD and DOEffective July 1, 2025

  Two credits on sexual misconduct prevention each renewal

  From the biennial period that began July 1, 2025, N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.15(e) requires two Category I credits that together cover seven listed topics: forms of sexual misconduct; informed consent for sensitive examinations; interacting with patients who have been sexually abused or harassed; power dynamics in health care; what to do after unwelcome sexual contact; bystander intervention and the duty to report; and identifying and reporting human trafficking. The credits come out of the 40 Category I credits within the 100 required.

  Source

  1. N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.15 — Continuing medical education (current text, amended effective 5/5/2025; via Cornell LII)

  Last verified October 6, 2026Read the New Jersey guide

• Requirement changedNorth Dakota MD and DOEffective April 1, 2024

  CME is now 40 hours every two years (was 60 every three)

  Since April 1, 2024, N.D. Admin. Code 50-04-01-01 requires every licensed physician to complete at least 40 hours of Board-approved CME every two years, at one hour of credit per clock hour. This replaced the old rule of 60 hours every three years, which older summaries still quote.

  2 sources

  1. N.D. Admin. Code chapter 50-04-01 — Continuing medical education standards (amended April 1, 2024)
  2. North Dakota Board of Medicine: Continuing Medical Education

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the North Dakota guide

• Requirement endedMinnesota MD and DOEffective January 1, 2023

  Two-hour opioid prescribing CME expired

  Minn. Stat. § 214.12, subdivision 6 required prescribers to complete two hours on best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances. The subdivision itself said, "This subdivision expires January 1, 2023," and the current statute lists it as expired. Minnesota now has no required CME topics; the 75 hours of Category 1 credit every three years still apply.

  2 sources

  1. Minn. Stat. § 214.12 — Continuing education (subd. 6 opioid requirement expired)
  2. Minn. Stat. § 214.12, 2019 edition — subd. 6 opioid CME text, expired January 1, 2023

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the Minnesota guide

• Requirement endedKentucky MD and DOEffective June 24, 2015

  HIV/AIDS course no longer required

  The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure's CME page says the HIV/AIDS course has not been required since June 24, 2015. Some course catalogs still list it as a Kentucky requirement; it is not.

  Source

  1. Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure — Continuing Medical Education

  Last verified October 7, 2026Read the Kentucky guide

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