Alabama Board of Medical Examiners · MD

25 hours. Every year. Tied to your calendar year.

A source-verified guide to Alabama's CME requirements for physicians — hours, mandatory topics, audit rules, and exemptions.

Updated April 2026Sourced from ABME~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 17, 2026

Mandatory topics

For physicians, 25 hours is the total CME requirement. Alabama also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 25-hour total.

Professional Boundaries[1]
2 hrs
One-time
All actively licensed physicians, PAs, and anesthesiologist assistants were required to complete the 2-hour 'Navigating Professional Boundaries in Medicine' course provided free by PBI Education by December 31, 2025. New licensees must complete within 12 months of initial licensure.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Beginning in 2025, all actively licensed physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants are required to complete the two-hour on-demand course provided to Alabama licenses for free by PBI Education entitled "Navigating Professional Boundaries in Medicine." The course must be completed by December 31, 2025.”
ALBME CME Requirements PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Alabama cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial

Physicians who hold an Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC) to prescribe, administer, or authorize Schedule II-V controlled substances

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Two (2) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits or equivalent every two years in the areas of: Controlled substance prescribing practices, Recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances, or Controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management.”
ALBME CME Requirements Page — ACSC RequirementSee source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalCustom[1]
Hrs vary
Custom

Physicians in a collaborative practice with a CRNP/CNM or in a supervisory practice with a PA

View sourceVerbatim from source
“In 2021, the Board added a requirement for collaborating/supervising physicians and assistants to physicians to obtain continuing medical education (CME) prescribed by the Board... Additionally, because many practitioners have already earned this CME, the look-back period has been extended from 48 months to 60 months.”
ALBME CME Requirements Page — Collaborative/Supervisory PracticesSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Alabama Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
AMA PRA Category 1
Credits from ACCME-accredited providers or programs sponsored/conducted by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.SourceALBME CME Requirements Page[1]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1-A credits from AOA-accredited providers are accepted as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1.SourceALBME CME Requirements Page[1]
AAFP Prescribed
AAFP 'prescribed hours' designated by AAFP-accredited organizations accepted as equivalent.SourceALBME CME Requirements Page[1]
ABMS Maintenance of Certification
Successful completion of an ABMS board certification or MoC process; credit accrues to the year of completion.SourceALBME CME Requirements Page[1]
AOA Maintenance of Certification
DOs only
AOA board certification and MoC process accepted as equivalent.SourceALBME CME Requirements Page[1]
ACOG cognates and board-designated programs
ACOG-designated cognates on OB/GYN subjects; documented attendance at grand rounds; programs designated equivalent by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners.SourceALBME CME Requirements Page[1]
Advanced life support courses
max 2 hrs
Nationally recognized advanced life support/resuscitation certification courses not otherwise accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit, for a maximum of two (2) Category 1 credits per course. Basic life support (BLS) courses are excluded. Effective January 1, 2014.Source540-X-14-.02(3)(e)[2]
Documentation & audit

Alabama does NOT allow the rollover of credits from one calendar year to the next. Every calendar year is a fresh 25-hour cycle regardless of prior-year overage.[1]

Waivers & exemptions

Physicians who do not reside in or practice in Alabama are exempt from the annual CME requirement.[1]

Physicians who received initial Alabama licensure during the current calendar year are exempt for that first calendar year.[1]

Physicians in approved residency or fellowship training during the year are exempt.[1]

Retired physicians with Board approval, physicians with an approved disability waiver, and physicians deployed in active U.S. military service are exempt.[1]

FAQ
How many CME hours do Alabama physicians need?
Alabama physicians licensed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners must complete 25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits (or AOA Category 1-A equivalents) every calendar year.[1] The cycle runs from January 1 through December 31, and credits earned in excess of 25 hours in one year cannot be rolled over into the next. A physician who is active for ten years needs to complete 250 hours over that span, not a lump sum every few years at renewal.
Are there mandatory CME topics for Alabama physicians?
There is no universal topic mandate that applies to every Alabama physician, but there are targeted rules. Physicians who hold an Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate must complete 2 Category 1 credits every two years on controlled substance prescribing, abuse recognition, or chronic pain management.[1] Every actively licensed physician was required to complete a one-time 2-hour course on professional boundaries in medicine by December 31, 2025.[1] Alabama SB 14 (2025) directed the Board to begin rulemaking by June 20, 2025 on a 1-hour-per-biennium nutrition and metabolic health CME requirement for physicians in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and OB/GYN; as of the October 2024 Admin Code revision no implementing rule has been published. Physicians in the affected specialties should monitor the Board's rulemaking notices.
Can Alabama physicians roll over extra CME hours?
No. Alabama does not allow the rollover or carryover of CME credits from one calendar year to the next.[1] Each January 1 begins a fresh 25-hour requirement, and any hours earned in excess of 25 during the prior year simply don't count toward the new cycle. This is one of the stricter rules in the country and makes consistent year-over-year tracking especially important.
Where can I check my Alabama medical license renewal status?
The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners provides license status and renewal information through albme.gov.[1] Renewal notices are sent to the address of record, but licensees remain responsible for tracking their own renewal deadlines and CME compliance. Random audits are conducted each year, and audited physicians must provide documentation of all claimed credits within the Board's response window.
What credit types does Alabama accept?
The Alabama Board accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits from ACCME-accredited providers, AOA Category 1-A credits, AAFP Prescribed credits, and ACOG cognates.[1] Board certification and Maintenance of Certification activity from ABMS or AOA boards also counts, as does attendance at approved grand rounds. Nationally recognized advanced life support and resuscitation courses (not BLS) count for up to two credits per course, effective January 1, 2014.[2] A full list of accepted credit types is maintained on the Board's CME requirements page.
Do Alabama MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Alabama does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and subject to the same CME requirements (25 hours per renewal cycle).[1]

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. Continuing Medical Education Requirements for Licensees — Alabama Board of Medical Examiners
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Physicians must obtain twenty-five (25) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, AOA Category 1-A credits or equivalent annually (calendar year). Credits must be earned Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of each year.”ALBME CME Requirements Page
    “Beginning in 2025, all actively licensed physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants are required to complete the two-hour on-demand course provided to Alabama licenses for free by PBI Education entitled "Navigating Professional Boundaries in Medicine." The course must be completed by December 31, 2025.”ALBME CME Requirements Page
    “Two (2) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits or equivalent every two years in the areas of: Controlled substance prescribing practices, Recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances, or Controlled substance prescribing for chronic pain management.”ALBME CME Requirements Page — ACSC Requirement
    “In 2021, the Board added a requirement for collaborating/supervising physicians and assistants to physicians to obtain continuing medical education (CME) prescribed by the Board... Additionally, because many practitioners have already earned this CME, the look-back period has been extended from 48 months to 60 months.”ALBME CME Requirements Page — Collaborative/Supervisory Practices
  2. Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 540-X-14 — Continuing Medical Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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