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Puerto Rico Physician & PA CME Requirements

Overview

Puerto Rico's Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica (Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline) requires physicians to complete 60 CME hours every 3 years — one of the few jurisdictions with a triennial cycle. Puerto Rico has extensive mandatory topic requirements focused on tropical diseases endemic to the island (Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika) plus bioethics and chronic disease management. Some CME courses may need to be completed in Spanish. PAs follow a 2-year cycle with approximately 100 hours required.

Physician (MD/DO) Requirements

Puerto Rico physicians must complete 60 CME credits per 3-year cycle.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 60 credits per 3-year cycle
Category 1 Minimum 40 credits must be AMA PRA Category 1™
Category 2 Up to 20 credits allowed
Cycle Triennial (3 years)
Specialty focus At least half of Category 1 must relate to practice area

Mandatory Special Topics

Puerto Rico has extensive mandatory topic requirements:

Topic Hours Frequency
Bioethics/Professionalism 4 credits Per cycle
Disease Prevention & Health Promotion 10 hours Per cycle
Infectious Diseases (Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika) 2 credits Per cycle
Diabetes 1 credit Per cycle
Hypertension 1 credit Per cycle
HIV 1 credit Per cycle
Hepatitis 1 credit Per cycle

Emergency Department Physicians

Physicians working in emergency departments must complete life support and emergency-related courses in addition to standard CME requirements.

Spanish Language Requirement

Specialty Focus Requirement

At least half of your Category 1 credits must relate to your practice area or specialty. Plan your CME accordingly.

Physician Assistant Requirements

Puerto Rico PAs are regulated by the same board as physicians but follow a different renewal cycle.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME ~100 credits (verify with board)
Category 1 At least 50 credits must be Category 1
Cycle Biennial (2 years)
Specialty focus At least half of Category 1 must relate to practice area

Mandatory Special Topics (PAs)

Topic Details
Bioethics/Professionalism Required (with cultural competency focus)
Tropical Diseases Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika credits required
Chronic Conditions 1 credit each: Diabetes, Hypertension, HIV, Hepatitis
Spanish Language Some courses may require Spanish completion

Important Note

DO (Osteopathic) Physicians

Puerto Rico requirements for DO physicians are identical to MD requirements. Both must complete 60 hours every 3 years with the same mandatory topics.

Key Differences: MD vs PA

Aspect Physicians (MD/DO) Physician Assistants
Total hours 60 credits ~100 credits
Cycle 3 years 2 years
Annual rate 20 hrs/year ~50 hrs/year
Category 1 40 minimum 50 minimum
Licensing board JLDM JLDM (same board)

Documentation & Renewal

Requirement Details
Renewal notice Board provides 90-day notice before deadline
Documentation CME certificates required at renewal
Additional materials Notarized renewal form
Proof of malpractice insurance
Valid identification
ASUME certification (child support clearance)
Criminal background certificate

Tips for Puerto Rico Licensees

  1. 3-year cycle for physicians — Plan 20 hours per year average
  2. Extensive mandatory topics — Start early on tropical disease and bioethics credits
  3. Spanish language courses — Some board-sponsored CME requires Spanish
  4. Specialty focus — Half of Category 1 must relate to your practice area
  5. PAs: Verify with board — Requirements are evolving; confirm current hours
  6. 90-day renewal notice — Board will notify you before deadline
  7. Multiple documents needed — Gather malpractice insurance, background check, ASUME cert early

Contact Information

Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica (Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline)

Governing Regulations

  • Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica — Primary regulatory body
  • Puerto Rico Department of Health — Oversight agency

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