Arkansas State Medical Board · PA

20 hours. Every year. Tied to your birth month.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from ASMB~4 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 3, 2026

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 20 hours is the total CME requirement. Arkansas also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 20-hour total.

Opioid/Substance Use[1]
1 hr
Annual
Universal — applies to all PAs regardless of prescribing status. Counts within the 20-hour annual total, not as an additional hour on top of it.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Each year, each physician assistant shall obtain at least one (1) hour of CME credit specifically regarding the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines. The one hour may be included in the twenty (20) credit hours per year of continuing medical education required and shall not constitute an additional hour of CME per year.”
Rule 24 § 9(g); accord Rule 17 § C ('each physician and physician assistant') — both ASMB rules, adopted under A.C.A. § 17-80-104See source [1] in Primary Sources
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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.

ConditionalPain Management[2]
5 hrs
One-time

PAs authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products (reclassified from Schedule III to Schedule II as of October 6, 2014)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“physician assistant who is authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products reclassified from Schedule 3 to Schedule 2 as of October 6, 2014, must complete at least five (5) continuing education hours in the area of pain management.”
Rule 24 § 9(f)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Arkansas 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
'CME hours do not have to be a particular category.' AMA PRA Category 1 Credit is accepted without a category minimum for PAs.SourceASMB PA FAQ[3]
AAPA Category 1
PAs only
AAPA Category 1 CME Credit accepted. PA-specific credit type naturally available under the 'any category' rule.SourceASMB PA FAQ[3]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1-A accepted without minimum under the 'any category' rule.SourceASMB PA FAQ[3]
Category 2 self-directed activities
Board FAQ explicitly states PA CME hours 'do not have to be a particular category,' so Category 2 / self-study / other accrediting organization credit is accepted. AAFP Prescribed credit is customarily accepted on this basis.SourceASMB PA FAQ[3]
Documentation & audit

The renewal cycle is annual, based on the PA's birth month.[3] The CME reporting period runs from birth month of the previous year through birth month of the current year.

Waivers & exemptions

The Board may grant an extension for illness, military service, medical or religious missionary activity, residence in a foreign country, or other extenuating circumstances upon written application.[2]

License renewal fees are waived for active-duty military personnel. This fee waiver is customary Board practice; Rule 24 § 9 authorizes extensions but does not itself prescribe fee waivers.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Arkansas PAs need?
Arkansas physician assistants must complete 20 hours of continuing medical education each year.[3][2] The renewal cycle is annual and tied to the PA's birth month, with the reporting period running from birth month of the previous year through birth month of the current year. Unlike physicians, who must have at least 50% of their hours in Category 1 in their primary area of practice, PA CME hours do not have to be a particular category.[3] This gives Arkansas PAs flexibility in choosing courses across all credit types.
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Arkansas?
Yes. Every PA must complete at least 1 hour of CME per year specifically regarding the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.[2] This hour counts within the 20-hour annual total. PAs authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products must also complete 5 hours of CE in pain management.[2]
Where can I check my Arkansas PA license renewal date?
Arkansas PA license renewal is managed through the Arkansas State Medical Board at armedicalboard.adh.arkansas.gov.[4] Renewal is online only and is due annually by the last day of the PA's birth month. The Board performs random monthly audits, and audited PAs must submit certificates of completion.[3] CME records should be retained for at least 3 years from the end of the reporting period.[2]

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Other roles in Arkansas

Physician Assistants CME requirements in other states

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. Arkansas Medical Practices Act Statutes and Rules (Revised 8/19/2025) -- Arkansas State Medical Board
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-07-03
    Show verbatim text
    “A physician assistant who holds an active license to practice in the State of Arkansas shall complete 20 credit hours per year continuing medical education. … Each year, each physician assistant shall obtain at least one (1) hour of CME credit specifically regarding the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines. The one hour may be included in the twenty (20) credit hours per year of continuing medical education required and shall not constitute an additional hour of CME per year. … Each year, each physician and physician assistant shall obtain at least one (1) hour of CME credit specifically regarding the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.”ASMB MPA (rev. 8/19/2025), Rule 24 § 9 / Rule 17 § C
    “Each year, each physician assistant shall obtain at least one (1) hour of CME credit specifically regarding the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines. The one hour may be included in the twenty (20) credit hours per year of continuing medical education required and shall not constitute an additional hour of CME per year.”Rule 24 § 9(g); accord Rule 17 § C ('each physician and physician assistant') — both ASMB rules, adopted under A.C.A. § 17-80-104
  2. Rule 24 (239.02.23 Ark. Code R. 007) -- Rules Governing Physician Assistants
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “A physician assistant who holds an active license to practice in the State of Arkansas shall complete 20 credit hours per year continuing medical education. … Continuing medical education records must be kept by the licensee in an orderly manner. All records relative to continuing medical education must be maintained by the licensee for at least three years from the end of the reporting period. … Failure to complete continuing education hours as required or failure to be able to produce records reflecting that one has completed the required minimum medical education hours shall be a violation and may result in the licensee having his license suspended and/or revoked. … physician assistant who is authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products reclassified from Schedule 3 to Schedule 2 as of October 6, 2014, must complete at least five (5) continuing education hours in the area of pain management. … Each year, each physician assistant shall obtain at least one (1) hour of CME credit specifically regarding the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.”Rule 24 § 9
    “physician assistant who is authorized to prescribe Schedule II hydrocodone combination products reclassified from Schedule 3 to Schedule 2 as of October 6, 2014, must complete at least five (5) continuing education hours in the area of pain management.”Rule 24 § 9(f)
  3. Physician Assistant FAQ -- Arkansas State Medical Board
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “20 hours per renewal period. Reference Rule 24 in the Arkansas Medical Practices Acts & Regulations. CME hours must be from birth month of previous year through birth month of current year. CME hours do not have to be a particular category. Random audits are performed monthly. If audited, certificates of CME completion are required to be submitted.”ASMB PA FAQ
  4. Physician Assistant Licensing -- Arkansas State Medical Board
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-07-03

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 Arkansas State Medical Board, 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 medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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