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West Virginia Physician & PA CME Requirements

Overview

The West Virginia Board of Medicine requires physicians to complete 50 hours of CME plus a mandatory 3-hour controlled substance course every 2 years. PAs have a higher requirement of 100 hours per cycle. Both professions must complete the recurring controlled substance training unless they attest to not prescribing during the period.

Physician (MD/DO) Requirements

West Virginia physicians must complete 50 CME hours plus 3 mandatory controlled substance hours per 2-year cycle.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 50 hours per 2-year cycle
Specialty hours 30 hours minimum in physician's area(s) of specialty
Controlled substance 3 hours mandatory (in addition to 50)
Cycle Biennial (July 1 to June 30)
Teaching credit Up to 20 hours from medical student teaching/preceptorship

Mandatory Controlled Substance Training

Requirement Details
Hours 3 hours
Topics Risk Assessment, Responsible Prescribing, Drug Diversion Training, Best Practice Prescribing
Frequency Recurring every 2-year cycle
Waiver Available if physician attests they did not prescribe controlled substances during period
New licensees One year from initial licensure to complete (if licensed after July 1, 2024)

Alternative Pathways

These satisfy all CME requirements EXCEPT the 3-hour controlled substance training:

Pathway Details
ABMS Certification Pass ABMS board exam during reporting period
MOC Program Active participation in ABMS Maintenance of Certification
ACGME Training Complete one full year of ACGME-approved postgraduate training

Physician Assistant Requirements

West Virginia PAs have higher CME requirements than physicians — 100 hours per 2-year cycle.

CME Breakdown

Requirement Details
Total CME 100 hours per 2-year cycle
Category I Minimum 50 hours (AMA, AAPA, or AAFP designated)
Category II Maximum 50 hours
Controlled substance 3 hours mandatory (included in the 100)
Cycle Biennial (typically April 1 to March 31 or July 1 to June 30)
Board WV Board of Medicine (same as physicians)

Mandatory Controlled Substance Training

Same as physicians:

  • 3 hours in Risk Assessment, Responsible Prescribing, Drug Diversion Training
  • Recurring every 2-year cycle
  • Waiver available if PA attests to not prescribing during period
  • New licensees (after April 1, 2024) have one year to complete

Alternative Pathway

Pathway Details
NCCPA Recertification Pass NCCPA recertification exam during reporting period

Limited Exception (2025 Only)

New PA licensees with initial license after April 1, 2023 AND Master's degrees received after April 1, 2024 may be exempt for the 2025 renewal cycle only.

DO (Osteopathic) Physicians

West Virginia requirements for DO physicians are identical to MD requirements. Both must complete 50 hours plus the 3-hour controlled substance training.

Tips for West Virginia Licensees

  1. Controlled substance training is recurring — Not one-time; required every 2-year cycle
  2. Waiver available — If you didn't prescribe controlled substances, you can attest and waive
  3. Teaching counts — Up to 20 hours from medical student preceptorship
  4. Specialty focus — 30 of 50 hours must be in your specialty area(s)
  5. PAs need more hours — 100 vs 50 for physicians
  6. New licensees — One year grace period for controlled substance training

Contact Information

West Virginia Board of Medicine

  • Address: 101 Dee Drive, Suite 103, Charleston, WV 25311
  • Phone: (304) 558-0960
  • Website: wvbom.wv.gov

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