How many CME hours do Connecticut physicians need?
Connecticut physicians must complete 50 contact hours of qualifying continuing medical education every two years as a condition of license renewal through the Department of Public Health. A contact hour is defined as at least 50 minutes of CME activity. At least 6 of the 50 hours must cover specific mandatory topic areas (one hour in each of six topics), though those topic hours are only required during the first renewal and then once every six years thereafter.
What are Connecticut's mandatory CME topics?
Connecticut requires at least one contact hour in each of six topic areas: cultural competency, domestic violence, infectious disease (including HIV/AIDS), risk management covering controlled substance prescribing and pain management, sexual assault, and behavioral health (which includes the assessment of veterans for PTSD, suicide risk, depression, and grief). These topics are required during the first renewal period and then once within every six-year period thereafter, not every two years.
How does Connecticut's six-year topic cycle work?
During a physician's first renewal period after initial licensure, they must complete 1 hour in each of the six mandatory topic areas. After that, they only need to repeat those topic areas once within each rolling six-year window. A physician who completed all six topics in 2024, for example, does not need to repeat them until 2030, regardless of how many biennial renewals happen in between. This long cycle is easy to miss, which is why tracking each topic area against its own clock is important.
Who is exempt from Connecticut CME requirements?
Three categories of physicians may be exempt. First-time renewal applicants are automatically exempt for their first renewal period. Physicians not engaged in active professional practice in any form may request an exemption through a notarized application. Physicians with a documented medical disability or illness may also request an exemption through a notarized application. All exemption applications must be submitted to the Department of Public Health before the registration period expires.
How long must Connecticut physicians keep CME records?
Connecticut requires licensees to retain records of attendance for at least six years following the year in which the CME activity was completed. Records should include the date, title, provider, and number of contact hours. Because the mandatory topic window is also six years, six-year retention protects both audit compliance and the ability to prove a topic has been satisfied in the current window.
Do Connecticut MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Connecticut does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Connecticut Medical Examining Board (Department of Public Health) and subject to the same CME requirements (50 hours per renewal cycle).