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Requirements

West Virginia · MD and DO

West Virginia: Risk assessment and responsible prescribing of controlled substances

MD: 3 hours, once · DO: 3 hours, once.

Plan my West Virginia 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
Once
Who
Only some physicians — see the rule note
Renewal cycle
Renews every 2 years; licenses expire at June 30 (renew before July 1; the Board posts the exact deadline on its website).
Providers
Only courses from providers named in the Board rule count.
Board
West Virginia Board of Medicine
The rule
W. Va. Code § 30-1-7a(b) and 11 CSR 6 §3.1 and §7 (emergency rule effective August 11, 2026): within one year of receiving an initial West Virginia license, complete a 3-hour Board-approved course on Risk Assessment and Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances. Rule §2.18 lists the content: risk assessment and responding to diversion and drug-seeking behavior (assessment tools, West Virginia abuse statistics, MOUD and stigma), responsible prescribing (state and federal law, the West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program, chronic pain management, a case study, patients on multiple controlled substances) and prescribing and administering an opioid antagonist. Only courses on the Board's list count (§7): a sponsor asks in writing at least 30 days before the activity, and approval lasts one year. Waived if you do not prescribe, administer or dispense any controlled substance under a West Virginia license. It may count toward the CME for the period in which you took it. Since July 2026 this is no longer required every renewal: the statute (amended 2023) and the Board's rule now require it only after initial licensure. The Board's CME web page still says it "is not a one-time only requirement" for the 2026 renewals; the rule governs.

DO (osteopathic physician)

Hours
3 hours
How often
Once
Who
Only some physicians — see the rule note
Renewal cycle
Renews every 2 years; licenses expire on June 30, every two years (whether even or odd years depends on your license; see the expiration date on your Board dashboard).
Providers
Only courses from providers named in the Board rule count.
Board
West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine
The rule
W. Va. Code § 30-1-7a(b) and 24 CSR 1 §4.10: within one year of receiving an initial West Virginia license, complete a 3-hour Board-approved course on Risk Assessment and Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances (drug diversion, best-practice prescribing, opioid antagonist prescribing). Waived if you do not prescribe, administer or dispense any controlled substance under a West Virginia license. It may count toward the CME for the period in which you took it. Since July 2026 this is no longer required every renewal: the statute (amended 2023) and the Board's rule now require it only after initial licensure. The Board lists approved courses on its CME page.

What to do next

Other states that require it

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada and 6 more. Every state that requires it

Sources

  1. West Virginia Board of Medicine — Continuing Education, Medical Doctors
  2. 11 CSR 6 — Continuing Education for Physicians and Podiatric Physicians, emergency rule effective August 11, 2026 (nutrition)
  3. 11 CSR 6 — rule record and filings (amended rule effective July 1, 2026; Board's statement of changes)
  4. 11 CSR 6 — final filing with redline and statement of changes (PDF)
  5. 11 CSR 1A — Licensing of Physicians and Podiatric Physicians, emergency rule (renewal by last name, §10)
  6. W. Va. Code § 30-1-7a — Continuing education (controlled substance training within one year of initial license)
  7. HB 4951 (2026), enrolled — nutrition CME for MDs (§ 30-3-12) and DOs (§ 30-14-10), in effect June 12, 2026
  8. West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine — D.O. Renewal Application Instructions
  9. West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine — CME Approved Courses (controlled substance training)
  10. 24 CSR 1 — Licensing Procedures for Osteopathic Physicians, emergency rule effective August 18, 2026 (nutrition) (PDF)
  11. 24 CSR 1 — final rule effective July 2, 2026 (PDF)
  12. 24 CSR 1 — June 2025 proposal and statement of changes (PDF)

MD facts last verified October 8, 2026 · DO facts last verified October 7, 2026.