Georgia Composite Medical Board · PA

40 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birthday.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from GCMB~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 17, 2026

Mandatory topics

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

Custom[1]
10 hrs
Biennial
Counts toward the 40-hour total. In effect since the 2009-2010 biennium. Universal mandate — applies to all PAs regardless of prescribing status.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“at least ten (10) hours shall be directly related to the specialty of the Board approved primary supervising physician”
Rule 360-5-.07See source [1] 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.

ConditionalPharmacology[1]
3 hrs
Biennial

PAs with prescriptive authority

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Physician assistants who are authorized to issue prescription drug orders shall be required as a part of the number of hours of continuing education required herein, to complete a minimum of three (3) hours in practice specific pharmaceuticals in which the physician assistant has prescription order privileges.”
Rule 360-5-.07(1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Georgia 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
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers is accepted.SourceRule 360-5-.07[1]
AAPA Category 1
PAs only
AAPA Category 1 credit is recognized.SourceRule 360-5-.07[1]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1 credit is recognized.SourceRule 360-5-.07[1]
AAFP Prescribed
AAFP Category I credit is recognized.SourceRule 360-5-.07[1]
Board-approved credit
Rule 360-5-.07 also recognizes AAAA Category 1 credit (primarily applicable to anesthesiologist assistants, which the GCMB also licenses).SourceRule 360-5-.07[1]
Documentation & audit

Licenses renew biennially on the last day of the licensee's birth month.[1]

Waivers & exemptions

PAs initially licensed in Georgia are exempt from the 40-hour CE requirement during their first renewal cycle, though the 3-hour pharmaceutical requirement still applies if they issue prescriptions.[1]

The Board may waive CE requirements (except the 3-hour pharmaceuticals requirement) for documented hardship, disability, illness, service in the U.S. Congress or Georgia General Assembly, military service, or other appropriate circumstances. Waiver requests must be submitted at least 60 days before license expiration.[1]

PAs may place their license on inactive status and are not required to meet CE requirements while inactive.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Georgia PAs need?
Georgia PAs licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board must complete 40 hours of board-approved continuing education every two years.[1] The renewal cycle is based on the PA's birthday, with licenses expiring on the last day of the birth month every two years. Acceptable credit includes AMA PRA Category 1, AAPA Category 1, AOA Category 1, AAFP Category I, and AAAA Category 1. At least 10 of the 40 hours must relate to the supervising physician's specialty area.[1]
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Georgia?
Yes. All Georgia PAs must complete at least 10 hours in their supervising physician's specialty area each biennium.[1] PAs with prescriptive authority must complete 3 hours in practice-specific pharmaceuticals every two years, and this requirement cannot be waived even under hardship provisions.[1] PAs who prescribe hydrocodone or oxycodone must complete an additional 1 hour biennially on appropriate ordering and use of these substances. All mandatory topic hours count toward the 40-hour total.
Where can I check my Georgia PA license renewal date?
The Georgia Composite Medical Board maintains a public license verification tool at medicalboard.georgia.gov.[2] Georgia also uses CE Broker for CME compliance tracking, and PAs can log in at cebroker.com/ga to see their current CE record alongside license status and expiration date. PA licenses expire on the last day of the PA's birth month every two years, and renewal notices are sent to the address of record.
Does NCCPA certification satisfy Georgia's PA CE requirement?
No. Georgia is one of the few states where NCCPA certification and state CE obligations run concurrently and neither satisfies the other. Georgia requires current NCCPA certification as a condition of licensure, but NCCPA certification does NOT satisfy or waive the state's separate 40-hour biennial CE requirement.[1] PAs in Georgia must meet both obligations independently — NCCPA certification maintenance (100 CME hours per 2-year cycle) and Georgia's 40-hour biennial state CE with its mandatory topic requirements, including the supervising physician specialty and pharmaceuticals hours.
Are newly licensed PAs exempt from CE in Georgia?
Partially. PAs initially licensed in Georgia are exempt from the 40-hour CE requirement during their first renewal cycle.[1] However, PAs with prescriptive authority must still complete the 3-hour pharmaceuticals requirement even during the first cycle. The Board can also waive CE for documented hardship, disability, illness, or military service, but the 3-hour pharmaceuticals requirement is never waived.[1]

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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. GA Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 360-5 — Physician Assistants (Rule 360-5-.07)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Physician assistants who are authorized to issue prescription drug orders shall be required as a part of the number of hours of continuing education required herein, to complete a minimum of three (3) hours in practice specific pharmaceuticals in which the physician assistant has prescription order privileges. … at least ten (10) hours shall be directly related to the specialty of the Board approved primary supervising physician.”Rule 360-5-.07
    “at least ten (10) hours shall be directly related to the specialty of the Board approved primary supervising physician”Rule 360-5-.07
    “Physician assistants who are authorized to issue prescription drug orders shall be required as a part of the number of hours of continuing education required herein, to complete a minimum of three (3) hours in practice specific pharmaceuticals in which the physician assistant has prescription order privileges.”Rule 360-5-.07(1)
  2. Physician & Anesthesiologist Assistant (PAs and AAs) — Georgia Composite Medical Board
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21

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 Georgia Composite Medical Board, 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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