Massachusetts · MD and DO
Massachusetts: Opioid education and pain management training
MD: 3 hours, every renewal · DO: 3 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
- 3 hours
- How often
- Every renewal
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 2 years; licenses expire on your birthday every second year (which years depends on when you were first licensed).
- Board
- Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
- The rule
- 243 CMR 2.06(6)(d): renewing licensees who prescribe controlled substances (M.G.L. c. 94C) need 3 credits each renewal, including identifying patients at high risk for substance abuse and counseling patients on side effects, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal of prescription medicines. M.G.L. c. 94C §18(e) requires the training as a condition of obtaining or renewing the license and adds its content: effective pain management including non-opioid alternatives and how to refer or prescribe them; the risks of misuse and addiction of opioids; identifying patients at risk for substance misuse; counseling on side effects, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal; appropriate quantities for higher-risk medications, including the patient's option to partially fill a Schedule II prescription; and opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments. May be applied to the risk management credits.
DO (osteopathic physician)
- Hours
- 3 hours
- How often
- Every renewal
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 2 years; licenses expire on your birthday every second year (which years depends on when you were first licensed).
- Board
- Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine
- The rule
- 243 CMR 2.06(6)(d): renewing licensees who prescribe controlled substances (M.G.L. c. 94C) need 3 credits each renewal, including identifying patients at high risk for substance abuse and counseling patients on side effects, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal of prescription medicines. M.G.L. c. 94C §18(e) requires the training as a condition of obtaining or renewing the license and adds its content: effective pain management including non-opioid alternatives and how to refer or prescribe them; the risks of misuse and addiction of opioids; identifying patients at risk for substance misuse; counseling on side effects, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal; appropriate quantities for higher-risk medications, including the patient's option to partially fill a Schedule II prescription; and opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments. May be applied to the risk management credits.
What to do next
Other states that require it
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine and 13 more. Every state that requires it
Sources
- 243 CMR 2.06, License Renewals (Cornell LII copy; last amended eff. January 7, 2020)
- 243 CMR 2.01, Definitions — risk management study (Cornell LII copy)
- Board of Registration in Medicine Policy 2017-05, A CME Pilot Program (amended December 19, 2019; copy hosted by the Massachusetts Medical Society)
- M.G.L. c. 112, s. 2 — birthday renewal, EHR proficiency, Alzheimer's training
- M.G.L. c. 112, s. 264 — domestic and sexual violence training
- M.G.L. c. 119, s. 51A(k) — child abuse and neglect training
- FSMB — Continuing Medical Education Board-by-Board Overview (updated August 2026)
- Massachusetts Medical Society — CME requirements for physician license renewal in Massachusetts
- M.G.L. c. 94C §18 — Issuance of registration; prescriber education
- Massachusetts DPH — Criteria and application for DPH-approved domestic and sexual violence training (Chapter 260)
MD facts last verified October 8, 2026 · DO facts last verified October 8, 2026.