How many CME hours do Alaska physicians need?
Alaska physicians need 50 hours of approved continuing medical education per biennial renewal cycle. The regulation expresses this as "an average of 25 credit hours... during each year of the previous license period," which works out to 50 hours across the two-year cycle. At least two of those hours must specifically address pain management and opioid use and addiction for any physician who holds a federal DEA registration. The same 50-hour total applies to MDs, DOs, and podiatrists, all of whom are regulated by the Alaska State Medical Board under a single CME rule.
Are there mandatory CME topics in Alaska?
Yes, but only one. Alaska requires at least two hours of education in pain management and opioid use and addiction per biennial cycle. The requirement applies to any licensee who holds a DEA registration. Physicians without an active DEA number can check a waiver box on the renewal form certifying that fact, which suspends the two-hour rule until they later apply for a DEA registration. Beyond this single content area, Alaska does not mandate specific topics. There are no separate ethics, cultural competency, or suicide-prevention hours.
Where can I check my Alaska medical license renewal date?
Every Alaska physician license expires on the same day: December 31 of even-numbered years. You can verify your current status, expiration date, and any open conditions through the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing public license search, or by logging into the MY LICENSE self-service portal that the division uses for renewals. The board mails or emails one renewal notice at least 30 days before expiration, but failure to receive that notice does not extend the deadline. The responsibility to renew on time is on the licensee, and there is no grace period after December 31.
Does an Alaska physician without a DEA registration still have to take opioid CME?
No, not while they remain without DEA registration. The two-hour pain management and opioid education requirement is waived on request for any licensee who certifies on the renewal form that they do not currently hold a valid federal DEA registration. The renewal application includes a dedicated checkbox for this waiver. The moment a physician applies for a DEA number, however, the two-hour requirement takes effect and must be satisfied in the cycle in which the DEA registration becomes active.
Do Alaska residents and board-certified physicians get any CME credit without taking courses?
Yes. Alaska regulation treats several activities as equivalent to the Category 1 CME requirement in full. Participation in an accredited residency program during the licensing period counts, as does initial board certification or recertification by an AMA- or AOA-recognized specialty board during the period, and holding a current Physician's Recognition Award from the AMA or AOA. Any of these pathways can substitute for the 50-hour obligation entirely, which is particularly useful for residents holding an active Alaska license and for physicians who happen to recertify during an even-year renewal window.
Do Alaska MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Alaska does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Alaska State Medical Board and subject to the same CME requirements (50 hours per renewal cycle).