Delaware physician (MD and DO) CME requirements for license renewal

This guide covers physicians licensed by the Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, which licenses both MDs and DOs under the Medical Practice Act (24 Del. C. Chapter 17) and the same Board rule, 24 Del. Admin. Code 1700. A separate office, the Office of Controlled Substances, sets the CE that goes with a Delaware controlled substance registration.

The short version

Requirement	Hours	How often	Who
Total CME (AMA Category I or AOA equivalent)	40	Every two-year period ending March 31 of odd years	Every MD and DO
Child abuse, exploitation and domestic violence recognition and reporting	1	Before every renewal	Every MD and DO
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (within the 40)	2	The 2027 renewal, then once if not done before	Most MDs and DOs (exemptions below)
Controlled substance prescribing or chronic pain	2	Every two years	Holders of a Delaware controlled substance registration
Delaware controlled substance law course	1	Once, with a new registration	New Delaware controlled substance registrants

How many hours, and what kind

Rule 12.1 requires proof of "40 hours per registration period of continuing medical education in Category I courses approved by the American Medical Association (AMA) or equivalent courses approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)" since your last renewal. The Division of Professional Regulation's CE page describes it as 40 hours during each renewal period from April 1 through March 31 of odd-numbered years.

• MDs and DOs follow the same rule. Both AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and AOA Category 1-A credit count.
• Category 2 credit does not count; the rule asks for Category I.
• Physicians in approved residency or fellowship programs may be asked to show satisfactory participation instead of CME credits, and certification by the Medical Society of Delaware is accepted as proof.
• AAFP Prescribed credit is not named. The AMA accepts AAFP Prescribed credit as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, so it should count, but confirm with the Board if most of your hours are AAFP Prescribed. The rule also does not say whether AOA Category 1-B counts as an "equivalent course."

Hours do not carry over from one period to the next.

When your license expires

Every Delaware physician license is on the same two-year cycle and expires on March 31 of odd-numbered years. The current period runs April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2027. You renew online in DELPROS and attest to your CE on the application (Rule 7.2).

If you miss the date, your license expires and you may not practice. You can still renew within one year by meeting the renewal requirements, certifying that you did not practice in Delaware while expired, and paying a late fee. After one year you must apply again as a new applicant (Rules 7.3–7.5).

The mandatory topics

Child abuse, exploitation and domestic violence — 1 hour, before every renewal

24 Del. C. 1723(c) makes renewal depend on evidence of training on "the recognition of child sexual and physical abuse, exploitation and domestic violence, and the reporting obligations under the Medical Practice Act and § 903 of Title 16." The Board's Mandatory Training page says the training must last at least one hour: either a single one-hour course, or a 30-minute refresher plus a 30-minute advanced course. It must meet Child Protection Accountability Commission standards and include Delaware reporting information, and it is required before every renewal; without it, your renewal is delayed. Whether the hour also counts toward the 40 Category I hours depends on how the course is certified.

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias — 2 hours (new)

A recent amendment to 24 Del. C. 1713(d) requires, for licenses renewed in 2027, that at least 2 of the required hours be "dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, or care of patients with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias." For renewals after 2027 the same 2 hours are required, but you are exempt if you completed them in an earlier reporting period (you attest to that on a form from the Division).

You are also exempt, by sworn statement, if you do not provide health care to or interact directly with adults age 26 or older, or if you provide no health care in Delaware. Earlier dementia training used for another Delaware requirement, a professional certification or an institutional agreement may count after 2027.

The 2 hours come out of the 40, not on top of them. The Board's CE page did not yet mention this requirement when this guide was checked, so watch for instructions on the 2027 renewal application.

Controlled substances — 2 hours every two years (registrants)

If you hold a Delaware controlled substance registration, Uniform Controlled Substances Act Regulation 3.1.3 requires you to attest to "two hours of continuing education biennially in the areas of controlled substance prescribing practices, treatment of chronic pain, or other topics related to the prescribing of controlled substances." The Office of Controlled Substances says hours on these topics that you take for your medical license also count. The Office audits registrants at random.

New registrants also need a one-hour course on Delaware law, regulation and programs on prescribing and distributing controlled substances. The rule (3.1.2) says within the first year of registration; the Office's web pages describe a one-hour, two-part course to complete before you apply. Confirm the timing with the Office of Controlled Substances.

Federal requirement

The federal DEA requires a one-time 8-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders (the MATE Act) when you first register or renew a DEA registration. It is a federal requirement, separate from Delaware's rules.

Your first renewal

Rule 12.2 sets a reduced first-renewal requirement:

• licensed in Delaware for less than one year at your first renewal: no CME is due until the next renewal;
• licensed for more than one year: 20 hours of Category I CME instead of 40.

The child abuse and domestic violence training is still required before your first renewal.

Reporting and audits

You attest on the renewal application. Do not upload CME documents to DELPROS unless you are selected for audit; then upload certificates that show your name, the course name, the provider, the dates and the hours.

The Board's disciplinary guidelines (Rule 17.11.2) set the penalty for failing to meet the CME requirement: a $5,000 fine, 60 days to complete the missing CME, and suspension of the license until it is done. The Board may waive the requirement for good cause beyond your control (Rule 12.3).

Checklist before you renew

1. Your license expires March 31 of odd-numbered years; the next date is March 31, 2027.
2. Count 40 hours of AMA Category I or AOA-equivalent credit earned since April 1, 2025.
3. Make sure 2 of them are on Alzheimer's disease or other dementias (2027 renewal), unless an exemption applies.
4. Complete the one-hour child abuse and domestic violence training.
5. If you hold a Delaware controlled substance registration, complete 2 hours on controlled substance prescribing or chronic pain.
6. Keep your certificates in case you are audited.

Requirements change. This guide was checked against the sources below in October 2026; confirm with the Board before you rely on it.