Iowa · MD and DO
Iowa: Chronic pain management (CDC opioid prescribing guidelines)
MD: 2 hours, once every 5 years · DO: 2 hours, once every 5 years.
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
- Once every 5 years
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 2 years; licenses expire on 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.
- Board
- Iowa Board of Medicine
- The rule
- 481 IAC 654.3(1)(d): physicians who prescribed opioids in the prior license period complete two hours of category 1 credit on the CDC guidelines for opioid prescribing every five years; you may opt out at renewal if you did not prescribe opioids in the previous cycle. Counts toward the 40 hours.
DO (osteopathic physician)
- Hours
- 2 hours
- How often
- Once every 5 years
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 2 years; licenses expire on 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.
- Board
- Iowa Board of Medicine
- The rule
- 481 IAC 654.3(1)(d): physicians who prescribed opioids in the prior license period complete two hours of category 1 credit on the CDC guidelines for opioid prescribing every five years; you may opt out at renewal if you did not prescribe opioids in the previous cycle. Counts toward the 40 hours.
What to do next
Other states that require it
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts and 13 more. Every state that requires it
Sources
- 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))
MD facts last verified October 8, 2026 · DO facts last verified October 8, 2026.