Washington · MD and DO
Washington: Best practices in opioid prescribing and the opioid prescribing rules
MD: 1 hour, once · DO: 1 hour, once.
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
- 1 hour
- How often
- Once
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 4 years; licenses expire on your birthday, every two years; the 200 hours are reported at every second renewal (every four years).
- Board
- Washington Medical Commission
- The rule
- WAC 246-919-875: to prescribe an opioid in Washington, a physician licensed to prescribe opioids completes a one-time course of at least one hour on best practices in opioid prescribing or the Commission's opioid prescribing rules, by the end of the first full CE reporting period after initial licensure. It counts toward the 200 hours.
DO (osteopathic physician)
- Hours
- 1 hour
- How often
- Once
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 3 years; licenses expire on your birthday, every year; the 150 hours are counted over the 36 months before the renewal at which you report them.
- Board
- Washington Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
- The rule
- WAC 246-853-685: to prescribe an opioid in Washington, an osteopathic physician licensed to prescribe opioids completes a one-time course of at least one hour on best practices in opioid prescribing and the current opioid prescribing rules, by the end of the first full CE reporting period after initial licensure. It counts toward the 150 hours.
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
- Washington Medical Commission — Continuing Medical Education (CME) Requirements
- Washington Medical Commission — Physician (MD) CME Frequent Questions, DOH 657-127
- Washington Medical Commission — Renewals
- WAC 246-919 — Allopathic physicians (sections 421, 430, 435, 445, 460, 470, 875, 990)
- WAC 246-12 — Credentialed health care providers (Part 2 renewal, Part 7 continuing education, Part 15 health equity)
- Washington State Department of Health — Health Equity Continuing Education
- WSR 26-01-126 — Department of Health rules agenda, January 2026 (Medical Commission chapter review)
- Washington State Department of Health — Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon: Continuing Education
- WAC 246-853 — Osteopathic physicians and surgeons (sections 065, 070, 075, 080, 090, 685, 990)
- WSR 26-09-112 — Proposed amendment to WAC 246-853-080 (maintenance of certification pathway)
MD facts last verified October 7, 2026 · DO facts last verified October 7, 2026.