Colorado Medical Board (Colorado DORA Division of Professions and Occupations) · MD

30 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license expiration.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from CMB(DDPO~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 18, 2026

Mandatory topics

For physicians, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. Colorado also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
At least 2 hours of substance use prevention training per biennial renewal period under 3 CCR 713-1.29(C) (CRS 12-30-114). Training is broadly defined — it includes formal CME courses, self-study of scholarly articles or guidelines, peer review involving opioid prescribing, volunteer service, conference attendance, teaching, or participation in a relevant presentation (Rule 1.29(D)). When satisfied via a formal CME course, that course must meet one of the approved credit types under Rule 1.33(D) to also count toward the 30-hour biennial total (Rule 1.33(E)(1)). Exemption available under CRS 12-30-114(1)(b) for physicians who do not prescribe controlled substances and do not treat substance use disorders.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Every physician and physician assistant is required to complete at least two cumulative hours of training per renewal period in order to demonstrate competency regarding the topics/areas specified in section 12-30-114(1)(a), C.R.S.”
3 CCR 713-1.29(C)See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Colorado 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
Programs accredited by the ACCME that qualify for AMA PRA Category 1 credit.Source3 CCR 713-1.33(D)(1)[2]
AAFP Prescribed
Programs qualifying for prescribed credit from the American Academy of Family Physicians.Source3 CCR 713-1.33(D)(3)[2]
AOA Category 1-A
Approved programs of the American Osteopathic Association. Rule 1.33(D)(4) does not restrict this to DO licensees — it applies to all physicians.Source3 CCR 713-1.33(D)(4)[2]
ABMS Maintenance of Certification
Programs required to maintain national board certification from an ABMS or AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists member board. Self-claimed or self-documented programs do not qualify.Source3 CCR 713-1.33(D)(2); CRS 12-240-130.5(2)(e)[2]
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

Physicians who certify that they do not treat substance use disorders and do not prescribe controlled substances may claim an exemption from the 2-hour substance use disorder training component.[1]

CME attestation requirement applies to renewals, reinstatements, or reactivations occurring on or after January 1, 2026. Proportional adjustment is provided for physicians whose first compliance period under the new law spans fewer than 24 months.[3]

Physicians unable to complete CME due to health, military service, or undue hardship may request a waiver approximately 3 months before license expiration. If the waiver is denied, the physician may renew once but must document 60 hours (double) to the Board by the end of the next renewal period.[2] Waiver requests are reviewed individually.

FAQ
How many CME hours do Colorado physicians need?
Beginning with the 2027 renewal cycle, Colorado physicians must complete 30 credit hours of continuing medical education in the 24 months immediately preceding each renewal.[2] This is a change from Colorado's prior rule, which did not require documented CME as a condition of license renewal. The 30-hour requirement was reinstated by House Bill 24-1153, signed into law on June 4, 2024 and effective August 7, 2024.[3]
Are there mandatory CME topics in Colorado?
Yes, one. At least two of the 30 biennial hours must address substance use prevention and treatment.[1] These two hours count toward the 30-hour total rather than being additive. Rule 1.29 defines training broadly — it includes formal CME courses as well as self-study of scholarly articles or guidelines, peer review involving opioid prescribing, volunteer service, conference attendance, teaching a relevant class, or participating in a relevant presentation. A narrow exemption exists for physicians who do not prescribe controlled substances and do not treat substance use disorders. For the remaining 28 hours, the rule gives physicians full discretion to self-select topics.[2] Colorado statute directed a stakeholder process to consider mandating CME in health disparities, reproductive/gender-based health care, and implicit/explicit bias — but the board resolved this by granting topic discretion to physicians.[3] These three areas are not mandatory CME topics.
When does the new Colorado CME requirement start being enforced?
The CME attestation requirement applies to all renewals, reinstatements, or reactivations occurring on or after January 1, 2026.[2] Physicians whose compliance period spans fewer than 24 months under the new law receive a proportional adjustment to the 30-hour requirement.[3] The Colorado Medical Board may randomly audit up to five percent of physician renewals annually.
What happens if I don't meet the Colorado CME requirement?
Failure to comply with the CME requirement, or to submit proof during a board audit without reasonable cause, constitutes unprofessional conduct under the Colorado Medical Practice Act.[2] A physician's license becomes inactive until the physician is reinstated by the Colorado Medical Board, which generally means completing the missing hours and providing documentation before resuming practice. Physicians unable to complete CME due to health, military service, or undue hardship may request a waiver approximately three months before license expiration; a denied waiver permits one renewal with the deficit but requires documenting 60 hours (double) by the end of the next renewal period.
Where can I check my Colorado medical license renewal date?
The Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations maintains a public license lookup at apps.colorado.gov.[4] Search by name or license number to confirm your status and expiration date. The board will send renewal notices to the physician's address of record, but the responsibility for tracking the renewal date rests with the licensee.
Do Colorado MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Colorado does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Colorado Medical Board (Colorado DORA Division of Professions and Occupations) and subject to the same CME requirements (30 hours per renewal cycle).

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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. 3 CCR 713-1.29 — Substance Use Prevention Training for License Renewal
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-20
    Show verbatim text
    “Every physician and physician assistant is required to complete at least two cumulative hours of training per renewal period in order to demonstrate competency regarding the topics/areas specified in section 12-30-114(1)(a), C.R.S.”3 CCR 713-1.29 · Effective 2023-07-15
  2. 3 CCR 713-1.33 — Rules Regarding Continuing Medical Education for Physicians (HB 24-1153 implementation)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-20
    Show verbatim text
    “In order to ensure the continuing competence of a licensed physician, a licensed physician must complete 30 credit hours of approved Continuing Medical Education (CME) during each biennial renewal cycle. A licensed physician must attest to completion of approved CME during renewal, reinstatement or reactivation of their license. Courses must be taken through a continuing education provider recognized by the Board.”3 CCR 713-1.33
  3. HB 24-1153 Signed Act — CRS 12-240-130.5 (full statutory text)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  4. Colorado Medical Board — DORA Division of Professions and Occupations
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-13

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 Colorado Medical Board (Colorado DORA Division of Professions and Occupations), 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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