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Alabama Physician & PA CME Requirements

Overview

The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners requires physicians to complete 25 hours of Category 1 CME annually — one of the few states with an annual (not biennial) cycle. PAs must complete 50 Category 1 hours every 2 years. Alabama conducts random audits with serious consequences including reporting to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).

Physician (MD/DO) Requirements

Alabama physicians must complete 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits (or AOA Category 1-A equivalent) every calendar year.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 25 hours per calendar year
Credit type Category 1 only (AMA PRA or AOA 1-A)
Cycle Annual (January 1 – December 31)
Rollover No — credits don't carry over
Record retention 3 years following the year earned

Mandatory Special Topics

Topic Hours Frequency
Professional Boundaries 2 hours By December 31, 2025 (one-time, free course)
Controlled Substances (ACSC holders) 2 hours Every 2 years
Collaboration/Supervision (if supervising PAs or collaborating with NPs) Per Board Effective January 1, 2025

Professional Boundaries Course (New for 2025)

All actively licensed physicians must complete a free 2-hour on-demand course by December 31, 2025. New licensees must complete within 12 months of licensure.

Controlled Substance CME

Physicians with Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC) must complete 2 Category 1 credits every 2 years covering:

  • Controlled substance prescribing practices
  • Recognizing signs of abuse/misuse
  • Chronic pain management

No pre-approval needed — any program in these areas is acceptable.

Supervision/Collaboration CME

Physicians who supervise PAs or collaborate with nurse practitioners must obtain prescribed CME. Note: If you do both, you only need to take one of the courses, not both.

Physician Assistant Requirements

Alabama PAs must complete 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits every 2 years.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 50 hours Category 1 every 2 years
Credit type Category 1 only
Cycle 2 years
Record retention 3 years

QACSC Requirements (Controlled Substances)

PAs with Qualified Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (QACSC) have additional requirements:

Initial QACSC (within 12 months):

  • "Prescribing and Pharmacology of Controlled Drugs" course (8 credits)
  • Plus 4 credits from Board-approved advanced pharmacology course
  • Total: 12 credits

QACSC Renewal:

  • 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits every 2 years through Board-approved course

Professional Boundaries (Mandatory)

Same as physicians — 2-hour free course required by December 31, 2025. New licensees must complete within 12 months.

Audit Policy

Audit Process

  • Selected licensees receive letter requesting documentation
  • Must provide certificates of attendance/completion
  • Physician Recognition Award alone is NOT sufficient
  • Discipline is public record

Exemptions

Alabama offers several CME exemptions:

Exemption Details
Non-resident, non-practicing Don't reside or practice in Alabama
Retired with waiver Must have received retirement waiver from Board
Initial license year Licensed in current calendar year
Disability waiver Applied for and received from Board
Residency/Fellowship Enrolled during any part of calendar year
Military deployment Exemption for calendar year of deployment only

Important: If retired without a waiver, you're still subject to CME requirements.

Documentation

Requirement Details
Submission at renewal No — only if audited
Record retention 3 years following year earned
Tracking Licensee Gateway (encouraged)
Do NOT send Don't send certificates with renewal unless requested

DO (Osteopathic) Physicians

Alabama requirements for DO physicians are identical to MD requirements. Both are classified equally and hold the same type of medical license. AOA Category 1-A credits are accepted as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1.

Key Differences: MD vs PA

Aspect Physicians (MD/DO) Physician Assistants
Total hours 25 hours 50 hours
Cycle Annual 2 years
Annual rate 25 hrs/year 25 hrs/year
Controlled substances 2 hrs/2yr (ACSC) 12 hrs initial, 4 hrs/2yr (QACSC)
Professional boundaries 2 hrs (by end 2025) 2 hrs (by end 2025)

Tips for Alabama Licensees

  1. Annual cycle — Plan for 25 hours every calendar year
  2. Complete Professional Boundaries by 12/31/2025 — It's free and mandatory
  3. Keep records 3 years — Random audits have serious consequences
  4. QACSC holders: Initial 12 credits — Plan for more the first year
  5. Retirement doesn't auto-exempt — Must apply for retirement waiver
  6. Use Licensee Gateway — Upload documentation proactively

Contact Information

Alabama Board of Medical Examiners & Medical Licensure Commission

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