Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine · OSTEOPATHIC

40 hours biennially. 20-hour AOA Category I-A floor. HIV/AIDS course at first renewal.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from FBOM~1 min read
Licensed as an MD instead? Florida regulates MDs through a separate board. See Florida MD CME requirements →

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

Mandatory topics

For osteopathic physicians, 40 hours is the total CME requirement. Florida also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 40-hour total.

Legal / risk[1]
1 hr
Biennial
1-hour course in Florida Laws and Rules / Professional and Medical Ethics required every biennial renewal (Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(a)). Florida Laws and Rules means Chapters 456 and 459, F.S., and rule Title 64B15, F.A.C. May be obtained in distance-learning format if the format includes ability to interact with the presenter. Counts within the 40-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“For each biennial renewal, a licensee shall complete a one (1) hour continuing medical education course in Florida Laws and Rules/Professional and Medical Ethics, and a two (2) hour course in Prevention of Medical Errors. For purposes of this rule, Florida Laws and Rules means Chapters 456 and 459, F.S., and rule Title 64B15, F.A.C.”
Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Legal / risk[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2-hour course in Prevention of Medical Errors required every biennial renewal (Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(a)). Course must cover root-cause analysis, error reduction, patient safety, system failures, and the five most mis-diagnosed conditions listed in the rule (inappropriate controlled-substances prescribing, reproductive-related conditions, wrong site/patient surgery, spine-related conditions, cancer-related conditions) per Rule 64B15-13.001(3)(b). Counts within the 40-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“For each biennial renewal, a licensee shall complete a one (1) hour continuing medical education course in Florida Laws and Rules/Professional and Medical Ethics, and a two (2) hour course in Prevention of Medical Errors.”
Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Domestic violence[1]
2 hrs
Custom
2-hour Domestic Violence course required as part of every THIRD biennial renewal of licensure (Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(c)), i.e. effectively once every 6 years. Counts within the 40-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee shall complete a two (2) hour Domestic Violence Course as part of every third biennial renewal of licensure.”
Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(c)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Infectious disease[1]
1 hr
One-time
1-hour HIV/AIDS course required no later than upon first biennial renewal of licensure (Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(d)). One-time requirement. Counts within the 40-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee shall complete a one (1) hour HIV/AIDS course no later than upon first biennial renewal of licensure.”
Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(d)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Human trafficking[2]
1 hr
One-time
1-hour board-approved course addressing sex and labor trafficking identification, reporting, and resources. Required under F.S. § 456.0341 (which applies to Chapter 459 DOs). One-time by January 1, 2021. Counts within the 40-hour total.
View detailsEditorial summary
F.S. § 456.0341See source [2] in Primary Sources
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Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalInfectious disease[1]
1 hr
One-time

DOs at their first biennial renewal after initial Florida licensure

View detailsEditorial summary
1-hour HIV/AIDS course required no later than upon first biennial renewal of licensure (Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(d)). This is the only first-renewal-specific mandate in Rule 64B15-13.001. Also tracked in mandatoryTopics above with periodType ONE_TIME for clarity.
Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(d)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial

DOs registered with the DEA and authorized to prescribe controlled substances

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee who is registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and is authorized to prescribe controlled substances is required to complete a 2-hour course on prescribing controlled substances at each biennial renewal of licensure as required by Section 456.0301, F.S.”
Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(e)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Florida 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
AOA Category 1-A
DOs onlymin 20 hrs
'At least twenty (20) of the forty (40) hours of the continuing medical education required under this rule shall be American Osteopathic Association approved Category I-A continuing education related to the practice of osteopathic medicine or under osteopathic auspices.' This is an express regulatory minimum for DO renewal, not merely an accepted credit type.SourceRule 64B15-13.001(2)[1]
Board-approved credit
DOs only
'forty (40) hours of continuing medical education courses approved by the Board.' Beyond the 20-hour AOA Category I-A floor, the remaining 20 hours may be any board-approved CME. Home-study CME is capped at 8 hrs/biennium (Rule 64B15-13.001(5)). Up to 6 hrs/biennium may be earned by attending the disciplinary portion of Board meetings (Rule 64B15-13.001(3)(a)).SourceRule 64B15-13.001[1]
Documentation & audit

CE Broker is NOT explicitly referenced in F.S. § 459.008 or Rule 64B15-13 for DOs. Rule 64B15-13.003 requires each DO to maintain proof of CME hours for 4 years after the close of the renewal period and authorizes board audits[4] — but does not codify CE Broker as the reporting channel. CE Broker functions as a de facto tracking tool; the legal obligation is licensee documentation retention.

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Florida.

FAQ
How many CME hours do Florida DOs need?
Florida DOs must complete 40 hours of board-approved CME per biennium.[3][1] At least 20 of those hours must be AOA-approved Category I-A CME 'related to the practice of osteopathic medicine or under osteopathic auspices.'[1] Recurring mandates within the 40-hour total include 1 hour of Florida Laws and Rules / Professional and Medical Ethics and 2 hours of Prevention of Medical Errors each biennium,[1] plus 2 hours of Domestic Violence every third biennium.[1] Home-study content is capped at 8 hours per biennium.[1]
How is the Florida DO rule different from the MD rule?
Both Florida boards require 40 hours per biennium, and both apply the Chapter 456 cross-cutting mandates (medical errors, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, controlled-substance prescribing, human trafficking). Three structural differences sit in the osteopathic rule: (a) the 20-hour AOA Category I-A floor; (b) the 1-hour Florida Laws and Rules / Professional and Medical Ethics course required at every biennium; and (c) the 8-hour-per-biennium home-study cap.[1] The Florida Board of Medicine imposes none of these on MDs. Both boards are separate agencies within the Florida Department of Health.
What does Florida require at a DO's first renewal?
A 1-hour HIV/AIDS course is required no later than the first biennial renewal after initial licensure — a one-time mandate that counts within the 40-hour total.[1] Prior KB claims that Florida imposes additional first-renewal obligations for DOs (risk management, ethics, laws, controlled substances at first renewal) are not in primary-source Rule 64B15-13 and have been removed. The 1-hour human trafficking course is similarly a one-time requirement (by January 1, 2021) but is not first-renewal-anchored.[2]

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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. Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B15-13.001 — Continuing Education for Biennial Renewal
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-18
    Show verbatim text
    “Every person licensed pursuant to Chapter 459, F.S., except those licensed as physician assistants pursuant to Section 459.022, F.S., shall be required to complete forty (40) hours of continuing medical education courses approved by the Board in the twenty-four (24) months preceding each biennial renewal period as established by the Department. … (2) At least twenty (20) of the forty (40) hours of the continuing medical education required under this rule shall be American Osteopathic Association approved Category I-A continuing education related to the practice of osteopathic medicine or under osteopathic auspices. … (5) Home study hours up to a maximum of eight (8) hours per biennium may be utilized toward continuing education requirements for renewal.”Rule 64B15-13.001 · Effective 2025-06-01
    “For each biennial renewal, a licensee shall complete a one (1) hour continuing medical education course in Florida Laws and Rules/Professional and Medical Ethics, and a two (2) hour course in Prevention of Medical Errors. For purposes of this rule, Florida Laws and Rules means Chapters 456 and 459, F.S., and rule Title 64B15, F.A.C.”Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(a)
    “For each biennial renewal, a licensee shall complete a one (1) hour continuing medical education course in Florida Laws and Rules/Professional and Medical Ethics, and a two (2) hour course in Prevention of Medical Errors.”Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(a)
    “A licensee shall complete a two (2) hour Domestic Violence Course as part of every third biennial renewal of licensure.”Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(c)
    “A licensee shall complete a one (1) hour HIV/AIDS course no later than upon first biennial renewal of licensure.”Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(d)
    “A licensee who is registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and is authorized to prescribe controlled substances is required to complete a 2-hour course on prescribing controlled substances at each biennial renewal of licensure as required by Section 456.0301, F.S.”Rule 64B15-13.001(1)(e)
  2. F.S. § 456.0341 — Requirements for Instruction on Human Trafficking
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-18
  3. F.S. § 459.008 — Renewal of Licenses and Certificates (DO)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-18
    Show verbatim text
    “The board shall, by rule, prescribe continuing education programs and courses, not to exceed 40 hours biennially, as a condition for renewal of a license. Such programs and courses must build on the basic educational requirements for licensure as an osteopathic physician and must be approved by the board.”F.S. § 459.008(4)
  4. Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B15-13.003 — Proof of Completion of Continuing Medical Education Hours
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-18
    Show verbatim text
    “Each physician shall be responsible for maintaining proof of C.M.E. hours for the biennium in which the hours were earned for renewal and for a period of at least four (4) years after the close of the renewal period for which the physician is submitting the hours.”Rule 64B15-13.003(1)
  5. Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B15-13.002 — Continuing Education Requirements for Reactivation
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-18

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 Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine, 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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