New Mexico physician (MD and DO) CME requirements for license renewal

This guide covers physicians licensed by the New Mexico Medical Board. The Board has licensed both MDs and DOs since SB 279 (2021) repealed the Osteopathic Medicine Act and moved the Board of Osteopathic Medicine's work to the Medical Board, effective July 1, 2022. Both degrees follow the same CME rule, 16.10.4 NMAC.

The short version

Requirement	Hours	How often	Who
Total CME	75	Every three-year renewal cycle	Every MD and DO
Review of the Medical Practice Act and Board rules (within the 75)	1	Every renewal	Every MD and DO
Pain management and controlled substance prescribing (within the 75)	5	Every renewal, and in the first year of licensure	Physicians with a DEA registration and a New Mexico controlled substances registration
License due	—	July 1 of your renewal year	Every MD and DO

How many hours, and what kind

16.10.4.8 NMAC requires 75 hours of CME during each triennial renewal cycle, earned "at any time during the licensing period, July 1 through June 30 immediately preceding the triennial renewal date." One credit hour equals one clock hour.

Under 16.10.4.11, the Board accepts:

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ courses, lectures or grand rounds from an accredited sponsor, in person or online;
clinical courses approved for CCME, AOA, AMA, ACCME, AAFP, AACOM or AAPS category 1-A or 1-B. This covers AAFP Prescribed credit and AOA Category 1-A and 1-B credit for every physician, MD or DO;
New Mexico-specific CME certified by the New Mexico Medical Society (up to 40 credits per three years);
postgraduate training (up to 75 credits per three years) and advanced degrees (40 credits per academic year);
teaching (up to 40), precepting (up to 30), papers and publications (10 each, up to 30) and expert review for the Board (up to 10), per three-year period;
ACLS, PALS, ATLS, NALS and ALSO courses.

16.10.4.10 also lists, as acceptable "fulfillment of CME requirements," certification or recertification by an ABMS or osteopathic specialty board during the cycle, active AOA membership, and passing the COMVEX or SPEX. The rule does not say whether these replace all 75 hours, so confirm with the Board before relying on one of them alone.

CME is not required for federal emergency, telemedicine, postgraduate training, public service, temporary teaching or youth camp or school licenses.

A note for DOs

Older summaries describe a separate DO rule: 30 AOA credits within the 75 and a review of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act. That rule (16.17.3 NMAC) was written under the Osteopathic Medicine Act, which was repealed on July 1, 2022. The Board now lists 16.10.4 NMAC as the CME rule for MD and DO applicants. If you are unsure which applies to you, confirm with the Board.

When your license is due

You renew on or before July 1 of your renewal year (16.10.7.9). Your first license runs to the July 1 after it is issued (one to 13 months; 24 to 35 months if New Mexico is your first state of licensure), and renewals after that are every three years. If you renew after July 1 you pay a late fee. Your license stays temporarily active until September 30, after which the Board may suspend it for non-renewal.

The mandatory topics

Review of the Medical Practice Act and Board rules — 1 hour, every renewal

One of the 75 hours must be earned by reviewing the New Mexico Medical Practice Act and the Board's rules. You certify that you completed the review when you submit your renewal application (16.10.4.8(B)).

Pain management and controlled substances — 5 hours, every renewal

If you hold both a federal DEA registration and a New Mexico controlled substances registration, 5 of your 75 hours each triennial cycle must cover pain management and controlled substances (16.10.14.11(B) and 16.10.4.8(D)). Courses must cover:

the pharmacology and risks of controlled substances;
a basic awareness of abuse, addiction and diversion;
state and federal rules for prescribing controlled substances;
management of the treatment of pain.

They may also include a review of 16.10.14 NMAC. New licensees with both registrations must complete these 5 hours in their first year of licensure (16.10.14.11(E)), and those hours can count toward the next renewal.

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). It is a federal requirement, separate from New Mexico's rules.

Your first renewal

The rules do not say how many hours you need when your first renewal comes only a few months after licensure. Prescribers must still complete the 5 pain management hours in the first year. Plan on the full 75, and confirm with the Board how many hours apply at your first renewal.

Reporting and audits

At renewal you attest that you completed the required hours. The Board selects renewals for audit and can audit CME records at any time. Keep your records for one year after the renewal cycle in which you earned the hours (16.10.4.13). If you cannot provide documentation, the Board may offer a settlement, such as a letter of reprimand and a $500 fine. Not responding to an audit can lead to fines, reprimand, suspension or revocation.

If you cannot finish in time, you can ask in writing, by July 1 of the renewal year, for an emergency deferral of up to 90 days (16.10.4.15). Physicians practicing or living outside the United States do not need CME for the time they are away, if they tell the Board before the license expires.

Checklist before you renew

Find your renewal year; your CME window is the three years ending June 30 before your July 1 renewal date.
Count 75 hours of AMA PRA Category 1, AOA, AAFP or other accepted credit.
Include the 1-hour review of the Medical Practice Act and Board rules.
If you hold DEA and New Mexico controlled substances registrations, include 5 hours on pain management and controlled substances.
Keep records for one year after the cycle, then renew online by July 1.

Requirements change. This guide was checked against the sources below on October 7, 2026; confirm with the Board before you rely on it.