Florida CME Requirements for Physician Assistants

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 100 hours is the total CME requirement. Florida also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 100-hour total.

Legal / risk[1]

2 hrs

Biennial

2 hours on prevention of medical errors every biennium. Must cover root-cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety. Approval scope: any state or federal government agency, nationally affiliated professional association, or any provider of Category I or II AMA CME. One hour may be satisfied via a two-hour course provided by a facility licensed under Chapter 395, F.S., for its employees. The five-most-misdiagnosed-conditions content requirement in MD rule 64B8-13.005(1)(c) does NOT apply to PAs. Counts within the 100-hour total.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“Completion of two hours of continuing medical education relating to prevention of medical errors which includes a study of root cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety, and which is approved by any state or federal government agency, or nationally affiliated professional association, or any provider of Category I or II American Medical Association Continuing Medical Education. One hour of a two hour course which is provided by a facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 395, F.S., for its employees may be used to partially meet this requirement.”

Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(e)See source [1] in Primary Sources

Infectious disease[1]

1 hr

One-time

1 hour of Category I AMA CME required upon first renewal of licensure. Must cover modes of transmission (including healthcare-worker-to-patient and patient-to-healthcare-worker), infection control procedures including universal precautions, epidemiology, related infections including TB, clinical management, prevention, and Florida law on testing, confidentiality, and partner notification. Only Category I hours are accepted. Counts within the 100-hour total.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“Upon a licensee's first renewal of licensure, the licensee must document the completion of one (1) hour of Category I American Medical Association Continuing Medical Education which includes the topics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; the modes of transmission, including transmission from healthcare worker to patient and patient to healthcare worker; infection control procedures, including universal precautions; epidemiology of the disease; related infections including TB; clinical management; prevention; and current Florida law on AIDS and its impact on testing, confidentiality of test results, and treatment of patients. … Only Category I hours shall be accepted.”

Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(d)See source [1] in Primary Sources

Domestic violence[1]

2 hrs

Custom

A 2-hour continuing education course on domestic violence, required every third biennial relicensure (effectively once every six years), per Florida Statute § 456.031. The course curriculum must cover prevalence estimates for victims and perpetrators, screening procedures, and community resource referrals. Counts within the 100-hour total.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“As part of every third biennial renewal licensure period, all licensees shall complete two (2) hours of training in domestic violence which includes information on the number of patients in that professional's practice who are likely to be victims of domestic violence and the number who are likely to be perpetrators of domestic violence, screening procedures for determining whether a patient has any history of being either a victim or a perpetrator of domestic violence, and instruction on how to provide such patients with information on, or how to refer such patients to, resources in the local community…”

Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(c)See source [1] in Primary Sources

Human trafficking[2]

1 hr

One-time

A 1-hour board-approved course addressing both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, how to identify individuals who may be victims, reporting procedures, and available resources. One-time requirement by January 1, 2021. Practitioners must also post an 11x15 inch sign in conspicuous workplace locations displaying the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline (1-855-FLA-SAFE) by January 1, 2025. Counts within the 100-hour total.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“By January 1, 2021, each licensee must complete a board-approved 1-hour course addressing both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, how to identify individuals who may be victims, reporting procedures, and available resources.”

F.S. § 456.0341(1)See source [2] in Primary Sources

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Florida cycle automatically. Start tracking free →

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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]

10 hrs

Biennial

PAs with delegated prescribing authority under a supervisory protocol

View sourceVerbatim from source

“In addition to the requirements of subsection (2), above, all physician assistants with prescriptive privileges shall complete a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education in the specialty area(s) of the supervising physician(s), during the previous 2 years. Three of the 10 hours must consist of a continuing education course on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substance medications which is offered by a statewide professional association of physicians in this state accredited to provide educational activities for the American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award Category 1 credit, designated by the American Academy of Physician Assistants as a Category 1 credit, or designated by the American Osteopathic Association as a Category 1-A credit. These hours may be utilized to meet the general continuing education requirement.”

Rule 64B8-30.005(6); F.S. § 458.347(4)(e)4See 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 system	Notes
AAPA Category 1 PAs onlymin 50 hrs	'courses recognized and approved by the boards, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, or the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education.' Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b) requires a minimum of 50 Category I hours. The prior KB-reported 40/60 split was not source-accurate.Source`Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b)`[1]
AMA PRA Category 1 min 50 hrs	AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers. Explicitly accepted per Florida Statute § 458.347(2)(c) and Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b), which requires a minimum of 50 Category I hours.Source`Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b)`[1]
AOA Category 1-A	AOA-accepted courses per Florida Statute § 458.347(2)(c) and Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b), which lists the 'American Osteopathic Association Council on Continuing Medical Education' as an approved Category I source.Source`Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b)`[1]
Board-approved credit PAs only	courses recognized by the Florida Board of Medicine or the Board of Osteopathic Medicine. Board-approved programs (including the mandatory Florida topic courses under Chapter 456) satisfy the requirement. Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b) specifies a minimum of 50 Category I hours and permits the remaining 50 hours as Category II.Source`Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b)`[1]

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

Newly licensed PAs are generally exempt from the full CE requirement for their first renewal cycle if licensed less than a certain period before the renewal date. However, mandatory topic courses (medical errors, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, human trafficking) must still be completed. Customary practice; not verbatim in Layer 1 statute text.

Active-duty military PAs and their spouses may receive extensions and waivers under Florida Statute § 456.024. Rule 64B8-30.005(10) also grants military spouses an exemption from all licensure renewal provisions for any period they are absent from Florida due to the spouse's duties.

PAs who place their license on inactive or retired status are exempt from CE but cannot practice. Reactivation requires completing all outstanding CE.

FAQ

How many CE hours do Florida PAs need?

Florida PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license,[3] which also allows current NCCPA certification as an alternative to the 100-hour pathway.[3] Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b) specifies a minimum of 50 hours of Category I CME (approved by AAPA, ACCME, AMA, AOA Council on CME, or AAFP) with the remaining 50 hours eligible as Category II.[1] Within the 100-hour total, Florida mandates: 2 hours on prevention of medical errors each biennium,[1] 1 hour HIV/AIDS Category I CME at first renewal,[1] 2 hours domestic violence every third biennium,[1] and 1 hour human trafficking one-time.[2] PAs with delegated prescribing authority must complete 10 hours of specialty-practice CME with 3 of those hours on controlled-substance safe prescribing;[1] the generic 2-hour DEA-prescriber rule does not apply additionally because its carve-out exempts licensees whose practice act already mandates at least 2 hours of CS CE.

Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Florida?

Yes. Florida has more mandatory topic requirements for PAs than most states. Every Florida PA must complete 2 hours on prevention of medical errors each biennium and 2 hours on domestic violence every third biennium.[1][4] PAs with delegated prescribing authority must complete 10 hours of specialty-practice CME with 3 of those hours on controlled-substance safe prescribing.[1][3] A 1-hour Category I HIV/AIDS CME course is required at first renewal,[1][5] and a one-time 1-hour human trafficking course is required.[2] Rule 64B8-30.005 does not contain a Florida laws and rules CE requirement; prior KB research citing such a requirement was not source-accurate. All mandatory topic hours count within the 100-hour total.

Where can I check my Florida PA license renewal date?

The Florida Department of Health maintains a license verification search at mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us. Search by name, license number, or location to confirm your registration status, expiration date, and any outstanding items. CE Broker also displays renewal information for any PA registered in the system. Florida PA licenses expire on a date set by the Department of Health, and renewal notices are sent before expiration.

Does Florida require PAs to maintain NCCPA certification?

No — not at routine renewal. Florida Statute § 458.347(6)(c) and Rule 64B8-30.005(2)(b) treat NCCPA certification as an alternative pathway to the 100-hour biennial CME requirement: PAs may renew by completing 100 hours of CME (with at least 50 Category I hours) OR by documenting current NCCPA certification.[3][1] However, NCCPA recertification IS separately required under Rule 64B8-30.005(7)(c)(1) when reactivating from two or more consecutive biennia of inactive status if the licensee has not practiced for 2 of the prior 4 years, and under Rule 64B8-30.005(11)(d) when reactivating from retired status of more than five years.[1] PAs choosing the 100-hour CE pathway must still complete Florida's mandatory topic courses under Chapter 456 (medical errors every biennium, HIV/AIDS one-time at first renewal, domestic violence every third biennium, human trafficking one-time). PAs with delegated prescribing authority must additionally complete 10 hours of specialty-practice CME with 3 of those hours on safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances.

What is CE Broker and why does it matter for Florida PAs?

CE Broker is the official third-party CE tracking system Florida uses to monitor PA compliance. PAs do not submit certificates directly to the Council on Physician Assistants; instead, accredited providers report each course completion to CE Broker, and the Council reviews compliance from that data. Out-of-state CE providers do not always report to CE Broker, so Florida PAs who take courses outside the state must verify reporting and, if necessary, manually upload their certificates to ensure their record is complete before renewal.

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

Never miss a Florida CME deadline.

Sources & Citations