Hawaii MD CME requirements

At a glance: MD (medical doctor)

Hours

40 hours every 2 years

Renewal cycle

Every 2 years

Deadline

January 31 of even-numbered years (a license not renewed by then is forfeited; it can be restored within two years)

Required topics

None

Hours carry over

No

First renewal

HAR 16-85-33(2): a licensee first licensed in the second year of the biennium needs no CME for the first renewal. The Board's audit memo says a licensee first licensed in the first year of the biennium needs 20 category 1 or 1A hours for the first renewal; everyone else needs 40.

Reporting

You certify compliance on the renewal application (HAR 16-85-37). The Board may audit at random (HRS 453-6(c)); for MDs, audit letters go out in October of odd-numbered years, and audited physicians cannot renew online — they mail the renewal application, fee and CME documentation together. The statute gives 60 days from notification to document compliance; failing to do so forfeits the license. You keep your own CME records (HAR 16-85-35(b)); the rules set no retention period. A false certification is grounds for discipline (HAR 16-85-38). A waiver or modification can be requested with a notarized affidavit for isolated practice or hardship (HAR 16-85-39).

Board

Hawaii Medical Board

HRS 453-6(b): every physician renews no later than January 31 of each even-numbered year; the Board's page says all licenses, whatever the issue date, renew then (current period February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2028). HAR 16-85-33: the CME is completed in the two calendar years before the renewal date (for January 31, 2028: calendar years 2026 and 2027). The hours may be earned any time in those two years. Physician-government (MDG) licenses renew every year and are not covered here.

Deadline

• January 31, 2028

Find your Hawaii MD deadline and add it to your calendar

Required topics

No required topics in our Hawaii MD requirement data.

Credit that counts

• AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™HRS 453-6(c): category 1 credit in a program accredited by the American Medical Association. HAR 16-85-34(b): category 1 hours from activities of an organization accredited by the ACCME.
• AOA Category 1-AHRS 453-6(c): category 1 or 1A credit in a program accredited by the American Osteopathic Association counts for any physician.
• AOA Category 1-B Confirm with your BoardThe statute and the Board's audit memos name only category 1 and 1A. AOA Category 1-B is not mentioned; confirm with the Board before counting it.
• AAFP Prescribed credit Confirm with your BoardNot named in HRS 453-6, HAR 16-85 or the Board's memos. HAR 16-85-34(b) counts activities of ACCME-accredited organizations as category 1, and the AAFP is ACCME-accredited, but the Board has not said AAFP Prescribed credit counts; confirm with the Board.