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Vermont Physician & PA CME Requirements

Overview

The Vermont Board of Medical Practice requires physicians to complete 30 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME every 2 years — one of the lower state requirements. Vermont has multiple mandatory topic requirements including palliative care and controlled substance training for DEA registrants. DOs have an additional requirement that 40% must be osteopathic-specific. The Board audits 10-15% of licensees randomly.

Physician (MD) Requirements

Vermont MDs must complete 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits per 2-year cycle.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 30 hours per 2-year cycle
Category 1 All 30 hours must be Category 1 (100%)
Category 2 Not accepted
Cycle Biennial (expires December 31 of even-numbered years)
Rollover Yes — unused hours may carry over with documentation
Audit Random selection of 10-15% of licensees

Mandatory Training

Requirement Hours Applies To Frequency
Palliative/End-of-Life 1 hour minimum All physicians Every cycle
Controlled Substances 2 hours DEA registrants Every cycle
Opioid Use Disorder 8 hours DEA registrants with prescriptive authority Every cycle

Palliative care topics accepted: Hospice, Palliative Care, End-of-Life Issues

Accepted Credit Sources

  • AMA PRA Category 1
  • AOA Category 1A
  • Similar accredited credits from approved sources
  • Virtual/online CME from accredited providers

DO (Osteopathic) Physician Requirements

Vermont DOs have the same base requirement as MDs with an additional osteopathic-specific requirement.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 30 hours per 2-year cycle
Osteopathic-specific 40% minimum (~12 hours of 30)
Remaining General Category 1
Special topics Same as MDs (palliative, controlled substances, opioid)

Regulatory Note

DOs may be regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) rather than the Board of Medical Practice:

Physician Assistant Requirements

Vermont PAs must complete 100 CME credits per 2-year cycle — which aligns with NCCPA requirements.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 100 hours per 2-year cycle
Category 1 Minimum 50 hours
Category 2 Up to 50 hours
Cycle Biennial (2 years)
Board Vermont Board of Medical Practice

NCCPA Alternative

NCCPA certification maintenance (100 CME credits, 50 Category 1) satisfies both state and national requirements.

DEA Requirements for PAs

Requirement Details
Controlled Substances 2 hours (if DEA licensed)
Opioid Use Disorder Additional training if prescribing opioids

Collaboration Requirements

PAs must maintain valid collaboration agreement with supervising physician — may include continuing education requirements per Vermont regulations.

Tips for Vermont Licensees

  1. 100% Category 1 — No Category 2 accepted for physicians
  2. Rollover allowed — Carry excess hours to next cycle
  3. Palliative care required — 1 hour for all physicians every cycle
  4. DEA = additional requirements — 2 hrs controlled substances + 8 hrs opioid
  5. DOs: 40% osteopathic — About 12 hours must be osteopathic-specific
  6. Audit risk — 10-15% randomly selected; keep certificates
  7. December 31 deadline — Even-numbered years

Contact Information

Vermont Board of Medical Practice (MDs and PAs)

Office of Professional Regulation (DOs)

Governing Statutes

  • 26 V.S.A. § 1836 — Medical Practice Act
  • Vermont Board of Medical Practice regulations

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