Pennsylvania · MD and DO
Pennsylvania: Child abuse recognition and reporting (Act 31)
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 December 31 of even-numbered years.
- Providers
- Only courses from providers named in the Board rule count.
- Board
- Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
- The rule
- 49 Pa. Code §16.108(b): 2 hours each biennial renewal, counted within the 100. Only courses approved by the Bureau in consultation with the Department of Human Services count, and the provider must report completion electronically (allow up to 7 days). Required even when other CME is waived (first renewal, active-retired). Exemptions are narrow and must be requested in writing. Applicants for an initial license need 3 hours of approved training before licensure (§16.108(a)). Since January 1, 2025 the Department of Human Services "is no longer accepting new Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training Curricula for review and approval", so only already-approved providers' courses count.
DO (osteopathic physician)
- Hours
- 2 hours
- How often
- Every renewal
- Who
- Every licensee
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 2 years; licenses expire at October 31 of even-numbered years.
- Providers
- Only courses from providers named in the Board rule count.
- Board
- Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine
- The rule
- 49 Pa. Code §25.417(b): 2 hours each biennial renewal, counted within the 100. Only courses approved by the Bureau in consultation with the Department of Human Services count, and the provider must report completion electronically (allow up to 7 days). Required even when other CME is waived (first renewal, active-retired). Exemptions are narrow and must be requested in writing. Applicants for an initial license need 3 hours of approved training before licensure (§25.417(a)). Since January 1, 2025 the Department of Human Services "is no longer accepting new Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training Curricula for review and approval", so only already-approved providers' courses count.
What to do next
Other states that require it
Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York. Every state that requires it
Sources
- State Board of Medicine — CME requirements for (MD) Physician and Surgeon License (PDF)
- State Board of Medicine — Renewal Information
- 49 Pa. Code §16.19 — Continuing medical education (amended effective April 25, 2026)
- 49 Pa. Code §16.15 — Biennial registration
- 49 Pa. Code §16.108 — Child abuse recognition and reporting, mandatory training
- Act 124 of 2016 — adds section 9.1 to the ABC-MAP Act (opioid education)
- Pennsylvania Department of State — Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Continuing Education Providers (Act 31)
- Pennsylvania DHS — Mandated reporter training (no new curricula accepted since January 1, 2025)
- State Board of Osteopathic Medicine — CME requirements for Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon License (PDF)
- State Board of Osteopathic Medicine — Renewal Information
- State Board of Osteopathic Medicine — 2026 Renewal Guide (PDF, rev. 7/2026)
- 49 Pa. Code §25.271 — Requirements for renewal (amended effective April 25, 2026)
- 49 Pa. Code §25.417 — Child abuse recognition and reporting, mandatory training
MD facts last verified October 8, 2026 · DO facts last verified October 8, 2026.