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Texas Physician & PA CME Requirements

Overview

The Texas Medical Board (TMB) oversees CME requirements for both physicians and physician assistants in Texas. Requirements differ between the two professions, with physicians needing 48 hours and PAs needing 40 hours per biennial cycle.

Physician (MD/DO) Requirements

Texas physicians must complete 48 hours of CME every 24 months to renew their license.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 48 hours per 24-month cycle
Formal (Category 1) Minimum 24 hours
Informal (Category 2) Up to 24 hours
Renewal cycle 24 months (biennial)
Rollover Yes — up to 48 excess hours (2-year limit)

Accepted Informal Activities

Up to 24 hours may come from informal self-study activities including:

  • Hospital lectures and grand rounds
  • Case conferences
  • Self-directed learning
  • Teaching activities

Mandatory Topics for Physicians

Topic Hours Frequency
Medical Ethics/Professional Responsibility 2 hours Every renewal
Pain Management & Opioid Prescribing 2 hours Every renewal
Human Trafficking Prevention 1 hour First renewal, then every 3rd renewal

Documentation & Audits

Texas conducts random audits to verify CME compliance. You are not required to submit documentation with your renewal, but must maintain records available upon request.

Exemptions (Physicians)

Several exemptions exist for Texas physicians:

  • First renewal: Newly licensed physicians exempt
  • Board certification/recertification: Presumed compliance for 36 months (covers all CME including ethics)
  • MOC participation: Exempts from formal/informal hours, but NOT from ethics, pain management, or human trafficking requirements
  • Residency/fellowship training: Exempt from most CME, but NOT pain management or human trafficking
  • Military service: Case-by-case basis (written request required 30+ days prior)
  • Medical hardship/catastrophic illness: Must request in writing
  • Retired status: Exempt from CME
  • Voluntary charity care: Reduces informal requirements

Physician Assistant Requirements

Texas PAs must complete 40 hours of CME every 24 months, which is separate from NCCPA requirements.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 40 hours per 24-month cycle
Formal (Category I) Minimum 20 hours
Informal (Category II) Up to 20 hours
Renewal cycle 24 months (biennial)
Rollover Yes — up to 80 hours total (40 per category)

Important: Texas PA CME requirements are tracked separately from NCCPA requirements. You must maintain compliance with both systems.

Accepted Informal Activities (PAs)

Up to 20 hours may come from informal Category II activities including:

  • Self-study and independent learning
  • Hospital lectures and grand rounds
  • Case conferences
  • Teaching activities

Mandatory Topics for PAs

Topic Hours Frequency
Pain Management & Opioid Prescribing 2 hours Every renewal
Human Trafficking Prevention Required Every renewal

Exemptions (PAs)

  • First renewal: PAs with pro-rated initial registration under 12 months are exempt from CME requirements

Important Differences: MD vs PA

Aspect Physicians (MD/DO) Physician Assistants
Total hours 48 hours 40 hours
Formal minimum 24 hours 20 hours
Ethics requirement 2 hours Not required
Max rollover 48 hours 80 hours
Human trafficking Every 3rd renewal Every renewal

DO (Osteopathic) Physicians

Texas requirements for DO physicians are identical to MD requirements. Both are regulated by the Texas Medical Board with the same 48-hour biennial requirement.

Approved CME Providers

Texas accepts CME from organizations accredited by:

  • Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
  • American Medical Association (AMA)
  • American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
  • American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
  • State medical societies with approved CME programs

Tips for Texas Licensees

  1. Track dual requirements: PAs must track Texas requirements separately from NCCPA
  2. Don't forget mandatory topics: Ethics, pain management, and human trafficking are easy to overlook
  3. Use your rollover wisely: Excess credits carry forward up to 2 years
  4. Keep records organized: Texas audits randomly, so maintain accessible documentation
  5. Check MOC participation: If actively participating in MOC, you may qualify for exemptions (but still need mandatory topics)

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