Florida Board of Medicine · MD

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

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from FBM~7 min read
Licensed as a DO instead? Florida has a separate osteopathic board. See Florida DO CME requirements →

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

Mandatory topics

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

Domestic violence[1]
2 hrs
Custom
2 hours domestic violence training every third biennial renewal cycle (every 6 years). Must be approved by state/federal agency, nationally affiliated professional association, or AMA CME Category I or II provider. Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(a).
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, such as domestic violence centers and other advocacy groups, that provide legal aid, shelter, victim counseling, batterer counseling, or child protection services, 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.”
Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
General CME[1]
1 hr
Custom
1 hour HIV/AIDS CME at first renewal only. Must be AMA Category I. Must include Florida law on HIV/AIDS testing, confidentiality, and treatment. Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(b).
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.”
Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Legal / risk[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 hours medical error prevention every biennial cycle — root cause analysis, error reduction, patient safety, and the board's five most mis-diagnosed conditions. Approved by state/federal agency, nationally affiliated association, or AMA Category I or II provider. Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(c).
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.”
Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(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. Required by Florida Statute 456.0341; 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 40-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“By January 1, 2021, the licensees or certificateholders shall complete a board-approved 1-hour continuing education course addressing both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, how to identify individuals who may be victims of human trafficking, reporting procedures, and the resources available for these victims.”
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]
2 hrs
Biennial

DEA-registered physicians 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 64B8-13.005(1)(d); F.S. § 456.0301See 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
AMA PRA Category 1
SourceRule 64B8-13.005(5)(a)[1]
AMA_PRA_CATEGORY_2
Category II is accepted specifically for the domestic violence and medical errors mandatory topics — not for general CME credit toward the 40-hour total.SourceRule 64B8-13.005(1)(a)/(c)[1]
ACGME_POSTGRADUATE
Any postgraduate training program accredited by the ACGME.SourceRule 64B8-13.005(5)(b)[1]
ACEP_CATEGORY_1
American College of Emergency Physicians, Category I.SourceRule 64B8-13.005(5)(c)[1]
AAFP Prescribed
American Academy of Family Physicians prescribed credit.SourceRule 64B8-13.005(5)(c)[1]
ACOG_COGNATES
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cognates.SourceRule 64B8-13.005(5)(c)[1]
SPECIALTY_BOARD_RECERTIFICATION
Study courses required by specialty certification boards approved by the Board for sitting for specialty recertification examinations.SourceRule 64B8-13.005(5)(c)[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

First-time renewal physicians follow a slightly different course requirement set, including the one-time HIV/AIDS course; subsequent renewals follow the standard biennial schedule.[1]

FAQ
How many CME hours do Florida physicians need?
Florida physicians must complete 40 hours of continuing medical education every two years to renew their license.[3] For MDs, Rule 64B8-13.005(5) lists the Board-approved credit types: AMA PRA Category I, any ACGME-accredited postgraduate training, ACEP Category I, AAFP Prescribed credit, ACOG cognates, and study courses required for specialty recertification.[1] AMA Category II is accepted specifically for the domestic violence and medical errors mandatory topics.[1] DOs are licensed by the separate Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine under Chapter 459, F.S., and Florida Administrative Code Rule 64B15-13.001(2) expressly requires at least 20 of the 40 biennial hours to be AOA Category I-A credit related to the practice of osteopathic medicine or under osteopathic auspices.
Are there mandatory CME topics in Florida?
Yes. Every Florida physician must complete 2 hours of medical errors prevention CME each biennium, including the five most misdiagnosed conditions identified by the board.[1] DEA-registered physicians must also complete 2 hours of controlled substance prescribing CME each cycle.[4] Domestic violence CME (2 hours) is required every third renewal cycle (every 6 years).[5] At first renewal, newly licensed Florida physicians must also document 1 hour of HIV/AIDS training as a one-time requirement.[1]
Where can I check my Florida medical license renewal date?
The Florida Department of Health maintains a license verification search at mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us. You can search by name, license number, or location to confirm your registration status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions. CE Broker also displays the same renewal information for any physician registered in the system.
What is CE Broker and why does it matter for Florida physicians?
CE Broker is the official third-party CME tracking system Florida uses to monitor physician compliance. Florida physicians do not submit certificates directly to the Board of Medicine; instead, accredited providers report each course completion to CE Broker, and the board reviews compliance from that data. Out-of-state providers do not always report to CE Broker, so Florida physicians who take CME outside the state must verify reporting and, if necessary, manually upload their certificates to ensure their record is complete before renewal.
Do DOs in Florida have different CME requirements than MDs?
Yes. The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine regulates DOs separately from the Board of Medicine under Chapter 459, F.S., and Florida Administrative Code Rule 64B15-13.001 implements F.S. § 459.008(4). DOs must complete 40 hours every two years, with at least 20 of those hours from AOA Category I-A credit 'related to the practice of osteopathic medicine or under osteopathic auspices.' Every biennium, DOs must also complete 1 hour of Florida Laws and Rules / Professional and Medical Ethics and 2 hours of Prevention of Medical Errors. Domestic Violence (2 hours) is required every third biennium. At first renewal — and only at first renewal — DOs must also complete 1 hour of HIV/AIDS education. DEA-registered DOs must complete 2 hours of controlled substance prescribing CME every biennium.
Do Florida MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
Yes. Florida licenses DOs through the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine under Chapter 459, F.S., separately from the Board of Medicine that regulates MDs. Both require 40 hours of CME per biennial cycle and share Chapter 456 cross-cutting mandates (medical errors, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and controlled-substance prescribing for DEA holders). The key structural difference is the AOA Category I-A floor: Rule 64B15-13.001(2) expressly requires at least 20 of the 40 biennial hours to be AOA-approved Category I-A credit related to osteopathic medicine or under osteopathic auspices — a requirement the MD Board of Medicine does not impose. Every biennium DOs additionally complete a 1-hour Florida Laws and Rules / Professional and Medical Ethics course, and an 8-hour/biennium home-study cap applies to DOs. See [DO board requirements](/cme-requirements/florida/osteopathic) for the complete osteopathic requirements.

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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 Rule 64B8-13.005 — Continuing Education for Biennial Renewal (MD)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-18
    Show verbatim text
    “Every physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 458, F.S., shall be required to complete 40 hours of continuing medical education courses approved by the Board in the 24 months preceding each biennial renewal period as established by the Department.”Rule 64B8-13.005 · Effective 2026-03-19
    “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, such as domestic violence centers and other advocacy groups, that provide legal aid, shelter, victim counseling, batterer counseling, or child protection services, 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.”Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(a)
    “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.”Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(b)
    “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.”Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(c)
    “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 64B8-13.005(1)(d); F.S. § 456.0301
  2. Florida Statute § 456.0341 — Requirements for Instruction on Human Trafficking
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “By January 1, 2021, the licensees or certificateholders shall complete a board-approved 1-hour continuing education course addressing both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, how to identify individuals who may be victims of human trafficking, reporting procedures, and the resources available for these victims.”F.S. § 456.0341 · Effective 2021-01-01
  3. Florida Statute § 456.013 — Department; General Licensing Provisions
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “The Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Chiropractic Medicine, and Podiatric Medicine require licensees to complete at least 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years for renewal.”F.S. § 456.013(6)
  4. Florida Statute § 456.0301 — Requirement for Instruction on Controlled Substance Prescribing
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “Each board, or the department if there is no board, shall require a licensee to complete a board-approved 2-hour continuing education course on prescribing controlled substances as part of biennial license renewal.”F.S. § 456.0301
  5. Florida Statute § 456.031 — Requirement for Instruction on Domestic Violence
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “Each person licensed or certified under chapters [specified] shall be required to complete a 2-hour continuing education course, approved by the board, on domestic violence, as defined in s. 741.28, as part of every third biennial relicensure or recertification.”F.S. § 456.031

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 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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