Colorado · MD and DO
Colorado: Substance use prevention training (opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing, recognizing and referring substance use disorders, the PDMP)
MD: 2 hours, every renewal · DO: 2 hours, every renewal.
Last verified against the sources below. Requirements change — confirm with your Board before you rely on this page. This is general information, not legal advice.
MD (medical doctor)
- Hours
- 2 hours
- How often
- Every renewal
- Who
- Every licensee
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 2 years; licenses expire at April 30 of odd-numbered years (next: April 30, 2027).
- Board
- Colorado Medical Board
- The rule
- Confirm with your Board Rule 1.29 and C.R.S. 12-30-114: at least 2 cumulative hours each renewal period on opioid prescribing best practices, the harm of inappropriately limiting prescriptions to chronic pain patients, benzodiazepine prescribing, recognizing and referring substance use disorders, and the state PDMP. Exempt: physicians who hold national board certification requiring equivalent training, or who attest that they do not prescribe opioids. Training may be CME, self-study, peer review, teaching or conference attendance; accredited courses also count toward the 30 hours (Rule 1.33(E)). SB26-138 (signed June 2026, effective August 12, 2026) requires the Board to repeal this rule by July 1, 2027, and the Board proposed the repeal at an August 27, 2026 hearing. Rule 1.29 was still in the code when this was checked; confirm with the Board whether it applies to your 2027 renewal.
DO (osteopathic physician)
- Hours
- 2 hours
- How often
- Every renewal
- Who
- Every licensee
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 2 years; licenses expire at April 30 of odd-numbered years (next: April 30, 2027).
- Board
- Colorado Medical Board
- The rule
- Confirm with your Board Rule 1.29 and C.R.S. 12-30-114: at least 2 cumulative hours each renewal period on opioid prescribing best practices, the harm of inappropriately limiting prescriptions to chronic pain patients, benzodiazepine prescribing, recognizing and referring substance use disorders, and the state PDMP. Exempt: physicians who hold national board certification requiring equivalent training, or who attest that they do not prescribe opioids. Training may be CME, self-study, peer review, teaching or conference attendance; accredited courses also count toward the 30 hours (Rule 1.33(E)). SB26-138 (signed June 2026, effective August 12, 2026) requires the Board to repeal this rule by July 1, 2027, and the Board proposed the repeal at an August 27, 2026 hearing. Rule 1.29 was still in the code when this was checked; confirm with the Board whether it applies to your 2027 renewal.
Facts marked “Confirm with your Board” are unsettled in the sources; the note says what to check.
What to do next
Other states that require it
Arizona, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, Utah. Every state that requires it
Sources
- Colorado Medical Board — Colorado Physician CME
- Colorado Medical Board — Physician Licensing Requirements (licenses expire April 30 of odd-numbered years)
- Colorado Medical Board — Medical homepage (public notices: August 27, 2026 rulemaking hearing)
- 3 CCR 713-1 Colorado Medical Board rules, version effective July 15, 2026 (Rules 1.29 and 1.33)
- 3 CCR 713-1 rule history (Colorado Secretary of State)
- HB24-1153 — Physician Continuing Education (C.R.S. 12-240-130.5)
- SB26-138 — repeal of the substance use training rule requirement (C.R.S. 12-30-114)
- HB26-1044 — maternal health equity (Board to consider a CME topic)
- Colorado Medical Board — Notice of Permanent Rulemaking Hearing, August 27, 2026
MD facts last verified October 7, 2026 · DO facts last verified October 7, 2026.