North Carolina MD CME requirements

At a glance: MD (medical doctor)

Hours

60 hours every 3 years

Renewal cycle

Every 3 years

Deadline

Your birthday every year (annual registration is due no later than 30 days after your birthday)

Required topics

1

Hours carry over

No

First renewal

There is no first-renewal waiver, but your first three-year CME cycle only starts on the first birthday after your license is issued, so the 60 hours are due by the end of that cycle. Residents holding a residency training license are exempt until the first birthday after they finish training.

Reporting

At each annual renewal you report, in whole hours, your CME compliance or exemption on the Board's renewal form (21 NCAC 32R .0104). Do not send certificates unless asked; keep records for six years for a possible Board audit. Physicians in ABMS, AOA or RCPSC maintenance of certification, or who earn initial board certification during the cycle, are deemed to meet the 60 hours but still owe the 3 controlled substance hours if they prescribe (21 NCAC 32R .0103).

Board

North Carolina Medical Board

The license is registered every year by your birthday (G.S. 90-13.2), but CME is counted over a three-year cycle that begins on the first birthday after your license was issued (21 NCAC 32R .0101(c)). You report your hours at each annual renewal; there is no yearly minimum. Hours do not carry over to the next cycle.

Deadline

In North Carolina, the date depends on your license: your birthday every year (annual registration is due no later than 30 days after your birthday).

Find your North Carolina MD deadline and add it to your calendar

Required topics

• Controlled substance prescribing3 hours · Every renewal · Only some physicians — see the rule note
  21 NCAC 32R .0101(b): every physician who prescribes controlled substances needs at least 3 of the 60 Category 1 hours in each three-year CME cycle on controlled substance prescribing practices and prescribing for chronic pain management; CME on recognizing abuse or misuse of controlled substances, or on non-opioid treatment options, also qualifies. Completing the federal MATE Act training satisfies it for the cycle in which you complete it.

Credit that counts

• AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™21 NCAC 32R .0101(b) and .0102: all 60 hours must be Category 1, relevant to your current or intended specialty or area of practice, from a Category 1 provider (ACCME-accredited and reciprocating organizations, AOA, AMA, a state medical society, ABMS/AOA/RCPSC specialty boards, or Joint Accreditation).
• AAFP Prescribed creditThe Board's CME FAQ: 'Yes, the AAFP Prescribed credit is equivalent to AMA Physician's Recognition Award (PRA) Category 1 credit, which is acceptable category 1 for the NC Medical Board.'
• AOA Category 1-AThe AOA is a Category 1 provider under 21 NCAC 32R .0102(a)(2).
• AOA Category 1-B Confirm with your BoardThe rule accepts Category 1 CME presented, offered or accredited by the AOA, but does not separate AOA 1-A from 1-B. Confirm before counting 1-B hours.