Podiatric Medical Board of California · DPM

California CME Requirements for Podiatrists (DPM)

50 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Updated April 2026Sourced from PMBC

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 9, 2026

Mandatory topics

For Podiatrists, 50 hours is the total CME requirement. California also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Orthopedics & MSK[1]
12 hrs
Biennial
Minimum of 12 hours per biennial renewal period in subjects related to the lower extremity musculoskeletal system. Counts within (not in addition to) the 50-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“required to complete 50 hours of approved continuing education, including a minimum of 12 hours in subjects related to the lower extremity muscular skeletal system, and one of the continuing competence pathways specified in Business and Professions Code Section 2496(a) through (h), during each two (2) year renewal period.”
16 CCR § 1399.669(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Podiatric Medical Board of California accepts AMA PRA Category 1 toward the CME requirement for Podiatrists.

Credit systemNotes
CPMA / APMA Approved
Programs approved by the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) or the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and their affiliated organizations.Sourcehttps://www.pmbc.ca.gov/licensees/cmeprog.shtml[2]
AMA PRA Category 1
Programs approved for AMA Category 1 credit, the California Medical Association, or their affiliated organizations.Sourcehttps://www.pmbc.ca.gov/licensees/cmeprog.shtml[2]
AOA Approved
Programs approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and their affiliated organizations.Sourcehttps://www.pmbc.ca.gov/licensees/cmeprog.shtml[2]
Accredited School/College Programs
Programs offered by approved colleges or schools of podiatric medicine, medicine, or osteopathic medicine.Sourcehttps://www.pmbc.ca.gov/licensees/cmeprog.shtml[2]
Residency/Fellowship (50 hr block)
50–50 hrs
Completion of an approved residency or fellowship program credits 50 hours of CME (single-cycle credit).Sourcehttps://www.pmbc.ca.gov/licensees/cmeprog.shtml[2]
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

Waiver under 16 CCR § 1399.678 available to a DPM who cannot comply during a 2-year period; waiver application required.

FAQ
Which board licenses podiatrists in California?
The Podiatric Medical Board of California (PMBC), a dedicated licensing authority within the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Statutory authority: Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 2460–2499.8. The PMBC is structurally separate from the Medical Board of California and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California.
How many CE hours do California podiatrists need?
Fifty (50) hours per biennial renewal cycle, including a minimum of 12 hours in subjects related to the lower extremity musculoskeletal system. 16 CCR § 1399.669(a) is the controlling rule. California previously also required a continuing-competence pathway under Bus. & Prof. Code § 2496(a)–(h), but that scheme was repealed effective January 1, 2024; no pathway requirement currently applies.
Are APMA-approved credits accepted in California?
Yes — APMA and California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) approved CME is the primary accepted credit type. The PMBC also accepts AMA Category 1 credit, California Medical Association credit, AOA-approved CME, and programs offered by accredited podiatric/medical/osteopathic colleges or schools. Completion of a residency or fellowship credits 50 hours of CME.
Are there mandatory CE topics for DPM renewal in California?
Yes — but only one. 16 CCR § 1399.669(a) requires at least 12 of the 50 biennial hours to be in lower-extremity musculoskeletal subjects, the highest podiatry-specific subspecialty CE floor in the U.S. There is no California opioid CE requirement at the PMBC level (the Medical Board's § 2190.5 pain CE applies to MDs, not DPMs). The federal MATE Act adds a one-time 8-hour SUD training for DEA-registered podiatrists. California no longer imposes a separate continuing-competence pathway requirement — that scheme (Bus. & Prof. Code § 2496(a)–(h)) was repealed effective January 1, 2024.
Where can I check my California podiatry license renewal date?
The California Department of Consumer Affairs maintains a license search at search.dca.ca.gov, which displays current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions for every California licensee — including DPMs. The Podiatric Medical Board of California's site (pmbc.ca.gov) also publishes renewal information and the link to the consumer-affairs license search.

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Other roles in California

CME requirements for Podiatrists (DPM) 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. Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 1399.669 — Continuing Competence Required
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “required to complete 50 hours of approved continuing education, including a minimum of 12 hours in subjects related to the lower extremity muscular skeletal system, and one of the continuing competence pathways specified in Business and Professions Code Section 2496(a) through (h), during each two (2) year renewal period.”16 CCR § 1399.669(a)
  2. Podiatric Medical Board of California — CME Programs
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30

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 Podiatric Medical Board of California, or any other state board of podiatry, licensing authority, or professional organization. Podiatrists are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state board of podiatry before relying on any information presented here.

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