District of Columbia Board of Podiatry · DPM

50 hours. Every two years. On a fixed date cycle.

Below is exactly what District of Columbia Board of Podiatry requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from DCBP~7 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For Podiatrists, 50 hours is the total CME requirement. District of Columbia also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 50-hour total.

CPR / BLS[1]
3 hrs
Biennial
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification required at every renewal. Up to 3 of the 50 biennial CE hours may be CPR. Approved sponsors: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Safety and Health Institute, Ursus Lifesavers and Aquatics.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“For each licensure period beginning on or after April 1, 2012, an applicant for initial licensure or for renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license shall be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by successfully completing an authorized course.”
17 DCMR § 6811.1 (§ 6811 unchanged per dcregs listing, latest version 2011-10-07; ≤3-hr credit cap per § 6811.2; board newsletter Winter/Spring 2026 confirms 'The CME credits may include the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.')See source [1] in Primary Sources
Cultural Competency & Health Equity[2]
2 hrs
Biennial
Two hours of CME are required in cultural competence and appropriate clinical treatment specifically for LGBTQ individuals, at every biennial renewal. Counts within the 50-hour total. Universal — applies to all renewing podiatrists, not sub-population-gated.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Two (2) hours of CME are required in cultural competence and appropriate clinical treatment specifically for individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, queer, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.”
17 DCMR § 6806.4 (current, eff. 2019-09-27)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Public Health Priority Topics[2]
5 hrs
Biennial
At least 10% of the 50-hour total (5 hours) must be in subjects the Director of DC Health designates as public health priorities, redesignated every 5 years or less. This is a menu-based, rotating designation rather than a single fixed topic. Counts within the 50-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least ten percent (10%) of the total required CME shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District every five (5) years or less frequently as deemed appropriate by the Director with notice of the subject matter published in the D.C. Register.”
17 DCMR § 6806.4 (current, eff. 2019-09-27)See source [2] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, District of Columbia 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
Online CE (max 30 hrs)
max 30 hrs
Up to 30 of the 50 required CE hours may be completed online (17 DCMR § 6806.4, current rule eff. 2019-09-27).Source17 DCMR § 6806.4 (current, eff. 2019-09-27)[2]
CPME Approved
Programs administered or pre-approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) — 17 DCMR § 6807.3(c)(1).Sourcehttps://dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/Podiatry_DC_Municipal_Regulations_for_Podiatry.pdf[1]
Board-approved credit
Programs submitted to the Board for approval at least 60 days before the date of presentation (17 DCMR § 6807.3(c)(2)).Sourcehttps://dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/Podiatry_DC_Municipal_Regulations_for_Podiatry.pdf[1]
Business/IT & Practice Management (max 10 hrs)
max 10 hrs
Business or information-technology courses that relate to the practice of medicine and surgery are creditable; no more than 10 credits may be derived from practice-management courses.Source17 DCMR § 6807.6 (current, eff. 2019-09-27)[3]
Documentation & audit

Renewal is biennial with licenses expiring March 31 of even-numbered years (or birth-month if Director switches systems per 17 DCMR § 6801.2).

Waivers & exemptions

17 DCMR § 6806.2 — CE section does not apply to applicants for an initial license by examination, reciprocity, or endorsement, nor to applicants for the first renewal of a license granted by examination.

17 DCMR § 6806.11 — Board may grant a 60-day extension after expiration on a showing of good cause (serious and protracted illness of the applicant, or death/serious illness of an immediate family member).

FAQ
How many CE hours do DC podiatrists need?
Fifty (50) hours per biennial renewal cycle. Renewal is on a fixed biennial cycle that ends March 31 of even-numbered years (17 DCMR § 6801.1). Up to 30 hours may be online; up to 3 hours may be CPR certification; 5 hours (10%) must be in Director-designated public health priorities; 2 hours must be LGBTQ cultural competence; and 25 hours must be directly related to the practice of podiatric medicine. Practice-management courses are capped at 10 credits; business or IT courses that relate to the practice of medicine and surgery are otherwise creditable. New licensees and first-renewal applicants are exempt.
Are APMA-approved credits accepted in the District of Columbia?
Yes — programs administered or pre-approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME), which is the credentialing arm of the APMA, are pre-approved under 17 DCMR § 6807.3(c)(1). Other programs may be Board-approved on submission at least 60 days before presentation.
Are there mandatory CE topics for DPM renewal in the District of Columbia?
Yes — four of them. CPR certification at every renewal under 17 DCMR § 6811 (up to 3 hours of the 50-hour total may be the CPR course). Two hours of LGBTQ cultural competence at every renewal (17 DCMR § 6806.4; independently reinforced by D.C. Code § 3-1205.10(b)(5)). At least 5 hours (10%) in Director-designated public health priorities, redesignated every five years or less. And 25 of the 50 hours must be directly related to the practice of podiatric medicine. There is no state-imposed opioid CE, no abuse reporting course, no human trafficking requirement, and no jurisprudence hour. The federal MATE Act adds a one-time 8-hour SUD training for DEA-registered podiatrists.
Where can I check my District of Columbia podiatry license renewal date?
DC Health operates a license lookup at app.hpla.doh.dc.gov/Weblookup, displaying current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary history. The DC Health Podiatry Licensing page (dchealth.dc.gov/service/podiatry-licensing) links to renewal information and forms.

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Other roles in District of Columbia

Podiatrists (DPM) 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. 17 DCMR Chapter 68 — Podiatry Municipal Regulations
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “For each licensure period beginning on or after April 1, 2012, an applicant for initial licensure or for renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license shall be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by successfully completing an authorized course.”17 DCMR § 6811.1 (§ 6811 unchanged per dcregs listing, latest version 2011-10-07; ≤3-hr credit cap per § 6811.2; board newsletter Winter/Spring 2026 confirms 'The CME credits may include the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.')
  2. 17 DCMR § 6806 — Continuing Education Requirements (current official register text, eff. 2019-09-27; capture district-of-columbia/podiatrist/dcmr-17-6806-current)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-07-03
    Show verbatim text
    “Two (2) hours of CME are required in cultural competence and appropriate clinical treatment specifically for individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, queer, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.”17 DCMR § 6806.4 (current, eff. 2019-09-27)
    “At least ten percent (10%) of the total required CME shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District every five (5) years or less frequently as deemed appropriate by the Director with notice of the subject matter published in the D.C. Register.”17 DCMR § 6806.4 (current, eff. 2019-09-27)
  3. 17 DCMR § 6807 — Approved CE Programs and Activities (current official register text, eff. 2019-09-27; capture district-of-columbia/podiatrist/dcmr-17-6807-current)
    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 District of Columbia Board of Podiatry, 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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