Mandatory topics
For Podiatrists, 20 hours is the total CME requirement. No mandatory topics are listed for Podiatrists in Arkansas. Confirm topic requirements with Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine before the renewal cycle.
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Accepted credit
Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine accepts AMA PRA Category 1 toward the CME requirement for Podiatrists.
| Credit system | Notes |
|---|---|
CPME / APMA Approved | CME approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association (CPME / APMA-approved).SourceAR Board of Podiatric Medicine — CE Requirements, ¶2(A) (Art. VIII)[1] |
State Podiatric Medical Association Meeting | Hours obtained at official meetings presented by any State Podiatric Medical Association.SourceAR Board of Podiatric Medicine — CE Requirements, ¶2(B) (Art. VIII)[1] |
AMA PRA Category 1 | Hours from meetings approved by the AMA Council on Medical Education are accepted as long as the hours pertain to the practice of podiatric medicine.SourceAR Board of Podiatric Medicine — CE Requirements, ¶2(C) (Art. VIII)[1] |
AOA Approved (podiatry-relevant) | Hours from meetings approved by the AOA Council on Osteopathic Medical Education, where the hours pertain to podiatric medicine.SourceAR Board of Podiatric Medicine — CE Requirements, ¶2(C) (Art. VIII)[1] |
Hospital Lectures | Hospital lectures pertaining to the practice of podiatric medicine.SourceAR Board of Podiatric Medicine — CE Requirements, ¶2(D) (Art. VIII)[1] |
Documentation & audit
Podiatrists are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.
Waivers & exemptions
Article VII(5): A full exemption from continuing education requirements is allowed for a deployed uniform service member or spouse until 180 days following the date of the uniformed service member's return from deployment.
FAQ
Which board licenses podiatrists in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine, a dedicated licensing authority established under Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-96-101 et seq. It is administratively housed within the Arkansas Department of Health (healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/podiatric-medicine-board) but is structurally separate from the Arkansas State Medical Board.
How many CE hours do Arkansas podiatrists need?
Twenty (20) hours per year, on an annual renewal cycle. Article VIII of the Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine Rules requires "twenty hours of approved continuing medical education within the year prior to the license renewal date." Reinstatement after lapse requires 20 hours per inactive year, capped at 100 hours.
Are APMA-approved credits accepted in Arkansas?
Yes — and APMA/CPME-approved CME is the primary accepted credit type. Article VIII(2)(A) recognizes "the Council on Podiatric Medical Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association" as the gold-standard approved source. State Podiatric Medical Association meetings, AMA-approved CME, AOA-approved CME, and hospital lectures all count if the content pertains to podiatric medicine.
Are there mandatory CE topics for DPM renewal in Arkansas?
No. Article VIII contains no mandatory topic carve-outs — no opioid CE, no abuse reporting, no human trafficking, no jurisprudence requirement at the state-board level. Arkansas does, however, impose strict PDMP-check rules on prescribing (Article X) and codifies the CDC chronic-pain guideline as a disciplinary standard (Article IX). The federal MATE Act adds a one-time 8-hour SUD training for all DEA registrants.
Where can I check my Arkansas podiatry license renewal date?
The Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine maintains licensee information at healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/podiatric-medicine-board, and Arkansas Department of Health license verification tools list active DPMs with their renewal status. Renewal applications are accepted annually; CE proof is filed alongside.