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

This guide covers physicians licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, both MDs and DOs. Georgia has one board for both degrees, and the same rule, Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 360-15-.01, applies to every physician.

The short version

Requirement	Hours	How often	Who
Total CME	40	Every two-year license term	Every MD and DO, except at the first renewal
Controlled substance prescribing (within the 40)	3	One time	Physicians with an active DEA certificate who prescribe controlled substances
Professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct (within the 40)	2	One time	Every MD and DO
Pain management or palliative medicine (may count toward the 40)	20	Every two years	Physicians whose opioid pain patients are 50% or more of their practice, without pain or palliative certification

How many hours, and what kind

Rule 360-15-.01(1) requires physicians to "complete Board approved continuing education of not less than 40 hours biennially." The Board accepts:

• AMA Category 1 credit;
• AOA Category 1 credit;
• AAFP Prescribed credit;
• ACOG Cognates, Category 1;
• ACEP Category 1.

The rule says it is your responsibility to verify approval with the course provider, not with the Board, before you take the course. MDs may count AOA Category 1 credit and DOs may count AMA credit. The rule says AOA "Category 1" without separating 1-A and 1-B; Category 1-B is part of AOA Category 1, so it appears to count.

The Board waives one CME hour for every four hours of documented uncompensated work in places such as free clinics (up to 10 hours per two years; submit the documentation at renewal) and two hours for each investigative peer review done for the Board (up to 8 hours). Retired physicians with an active license who provide uncompensated care under Code Section 43-34-41 need 10 hours every two years. Residents and fellows in accredited programs, and licensees who are inactive, are exempt. The Board can grant exemptions for hardship, disability, illness, military service or legislative service if you ask in writing before the license expires. The rule has no carryover provision.

When your license expires

Under rule 360-15-.01, "the license will expire on the last day of the month in which the applicant's birthday falls," and it must be renewed every two years by that date. The 40 hours must be completed during the two-year term of the license.

The required topics

Controlled substance prescribing — 3 hours, one time

Since January 1, 2018, every physician who keeps an active DEA certificate and prescribes controlled substances must complete at least 3 hours of AMA/AOA PRA Category 1 CME on controlled substance prescribing practices, one time (rule 360-15-.01(4)). The course must cover controlled substance prescribing guidelines, recognizing signs of abuse or misuse, and prescribing for chronic pain management. You certify it at the first renewal after January 1, 2018, or the first renewal after licensure. The hours count as 3 of the 40. Holders of residency training permits are exempt, and so are physicians who already fall under the 20-hour pain-management rule below.

Professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct — 2 hours, one time

Since January 1, 2022, all physicians must complete one-time training of at least 2 hours on professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct (rule 360-15-.01(5)). The training must cover how to proceed with basic as well as sensitive or intimate examinations, and the communication with patients those examinations require. You certify it at the first renewal after January 1, 2022, or the first renewal after licensure. It counts as 2 of the 40 hours.

Pain management or palliative medicine — 20 hours every two years (some physicians)

If you do not hold a certification in pain management or palliative medicine, and opioid pain management patients make up 50% or more of your patient population, you must earn 20 hours of CME on pain management or palliative medicine every two years (rule 360-15-.01(3)). It must be AMA/AOA PRA Category 1, Board-approved or federally approved CME, and it may count toward the 40 hours.

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 Georgia's rules.

Your first renewal

Physicians "initially licensed by the Board and who have not renewed their licenses for the first time" are exempt from the 40 hours (rule 360-15-.01(1)(b)). The two one-time courses are different: certification of the professional boundaries course, and the controlled substance course if you prescribe with a DEA certificate, is due at the first renewal following licensure.

Reporting and audits

You attest to your CME when you renew. The Board audits a fixed percentage of randomly selected renewal applications (rule 360-15-.02). If you are audited, you must document the provider, program name, hours, completion date and evidence of AMA or AOA Category 1 credit. Keep attendance records and supporting documents for five years from the date of attendance. The Board partners with CE Broker for tracking; using it is optional.

Checklist before you renew

1. Find your expiration date: the last day of your birth month, every two years.
2. Count 40 hours of AMA Category 1, AOA Category 1, AAFP Prescribed, ACOG or ACEP Category 1 credit earned during this license term (none if this is your first renewal).
3. Make sure you have completed the one-time professional boundaries course and, if you prescribe controlled substances, the one-time 3-hour controlled substance course.
4. If opioid pain patients are half or more of your practice, check you have 20 hours on pain management or palliative medicine.
5. Keep records for five years and renew by the last day of your birth month.

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