Iowa Board of Medicine
Iowa MD license renewal deadline: depends on your license
Before the first day of your birth month in your renewal year (a penalty fee applies after; the license becomes inactive if not renewed within two months). Licenses renew every 2 years.
Find your deadline
In Iowa, the date depends on your license: the first day of your birth month, every two years — in even-numbered years if you were born in an even-numbered year, odd-numbered years if born in an odd-numbered year.
Reminders 90, 30 and 7 days before. No account needed.
What you need to renew
40 hours every 2 years
481 IAC 652.10(1) and 652.12(3): licenses expire on the first day of the licensee's birth month and renewals are issued for two years. 654.3(1)(a): 40 hours of category 1 credit for biennial renewal of a permanent or administrative medicine license, including up to 20 carryover hours. The rules moved from 653 IAC ch. 11 to 481 IAC ch. 654 in 2025.
- Child abuse identification and reporting Confirm with your Board2 hours · Some physicians · Every 3 years
- Dependent adult abuse identification and reporting Confirm with your Board2 hours · Some physicians · Every 3 years
- Chronic pain management (CDC opioid prescribing guidelines)2 hours · Some physicians · Every 5 years
- End-of-life care2 hours · Some physicians · Every 5 years
- Nutrition and metabolic health (listed specialties) Confirm with your Board1 hour · Some physicians · Every 4 years
What to do next
- Plan my Iowa MD renewalSee the hours and required topics you still need.
- Read the Iowa guideEvery requirement explained, with the Board's sources.
Email me my plan
One email with this plan and a link back to it. No account needed.
Sources
Last verified against these sources on October 8, 2026.
- Iowa Board of Medicine (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) — Continuing education for physicians
- 481 IAC chapter 654 — Continuing education and training requirements (formerly 653 IAC ch. 11; ARC 9114C, effective May 21, 2025; IAC 9/30/26)
- 481 IAC chapter 652 — Permanent and administrative medicine physician licensure (expiration and renewal, 652.10–652.14)
- Iowa Code § 272C.2 — Continuing education requirements
- Iowa Code § 232.69 — Mandatory reporters of child abuse; training
- Iowa Code § 235B.16 — Dependent adult abuse; training of mandatory reporters
- 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1129 (H.F. 2676) — nutrition and metabolic health CE (Iowa Code § 148.3(5))
A planning aid from the Iowa Board of Medicine's published rules, not legal advice. Confirm your date and requirements with your Board.