Georgia Composite Medical Board · MD

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

A source-verified guide to Georgia's CME requirements for physicians — 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 physicians, 40 hours is the total CME requirement. Georgia also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 40-hour total.

Professional Boundaries[1]
2 hrs
One-time
Rule 360-15-.01(5) requires all physicians to complete 'One-time education training, for a minimum of two hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct,' including content on examinations and patient communication. Once-per-career requirement (effective January 1, 2022). May count toward the 40-hour biennial CME total in the cycle in which it is completed.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“One-time education training, for a minimum of two hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct”
Rule 360-15-.01(5)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Georgia 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]
3 hrs
One-time

Physicians with an active DEA certificate

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Three or more hours of AMA/AOAPRA Category 1 CME...designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices”
Rule 360-15-.01(4)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPain management & end-of-life care[1]
20 hrs
Biennial

Physicians working in a pain clinic whose opioid patients comprise 50%+ of practice AND who are not certified in pain management or palliative medicine

View sourceVerbatim from source
“20 (twenty) hours of continuing medical education pertaining to pain management or palliative medicine”
Rule 360-15-.01(3)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
Rule 360-15 and the GCMB CME page verbatim: 'The Board recognizes AMA Category 1...credits.' AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers is fully accepted.SourceRule 360-15-.01[1]
AOA Category 1-A
Rule 360-15 and the GCMB CME page verbatim: 'AOA Category 1' is recognized. GCMB is a unified board — both MDs and DOs follow the same 40-hour biennial rule, and DOs may use AOA Category 1 credit toward the total.SourceRule 360-15-.01[1]
AAFP Prescribed
Rule 360-15 and the GCMB CME page verbatim: 'AAFP Prescribed' credit is recognized.SourceRule 360-15-.01[1]
Board-approved credit
Rule 360-15 and the GCMB CME page also recognize ACOG Cognates Category 1 and ACEP Category 1 credits. Specialty-society board-approved credit from ACOG and ACEP counts toward the 40-hour total.SourceRule 360-15-.01[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

Georgia's professional boundaries requirement is a once-per-career mandate and does not need to be repeated at each renewal.[1]

Rule 360-15-.01 exempts physicians in accredited residencies or fellowships, physicians in their first-renewal cycle after initial licensure, inactive or revoked license holders, and physicians with documented hardship/disability/military-service waivers.[1] Retired physicians providing uncompensated care have a reduced 10-hour biennial requirement in lieu of 40.

FAQ
How many CME hours do Georgia physicians need?
Georgia physicians licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board must complete 40 hours of board-approved continuing medical education every two years.[1] Both MDs and DOs follow the same rule under Georgia Composite Medical Board jurisdiction. Acceptable credit includes AMA PRA Category 1, AOA Category 1, AAFP Prescribed credit, ACOG Category 1, and ACEP Category 1,[2] so most physicians can satisfy the entire 40-hour requirement through their specialty society's annual meeting.
Are there mandatory CME topics in Georgia?
Yes, though most are once-per-career rather than recurring. Physicians with an active DEA registration must complete at least three hours of AMA or AOA PRA Category 1 CME on controlled substance prescribing, addressing prescribing guidelines, recognizing abuse or misuse, and chronic pain management.[1] All physicians must complete at least two hours of CME on professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct.[1] These are both once-per-career and count toward the 40-hour biennial total. Physicians who work in a pain clinic without board certification in pain management or palliative medicine must additionally complete 20 hours of pain management or palliative medicine CME every two years.[1]
Where can I check my Georgia medical license renewal date?
The Georgia Composite Medical Board maintains a public license verification tool at medicalboard.georgia.gov. Georgia also uses CE Broker for CME compliance tracking, and physicians can log in at cebroker.com/ga to see their current CME record alongside license status and expiration date. Renewal notices are sent to the address of record, but tracking the date is the licensee's responsibility.
How long do I need to keep my Georgia CME records?
Georgia Composite Medical Board rules require physicians to maintain records of attendance and supporting documents for five years from the date of attendance.[1] Records are not submitted at renewal, but they must be produced if the board selects the physician for audit. The required documentation includes the provider name, program name, hours completed, completion date, and verification of credit.
Do I need to repeat the professional boundaries training every renewal?
No. The Georgia Composite Medical Board's professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct training is a once-per-career requirement.[1] Physicians who have completed the training do not need to repeat it at each renewal, but they must retain documentation so the completion can be verified in an audit.
Do Georgia MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Georgia does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board and subject to the same CME requirements (40 hours per renewal cycle).[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. Rule 360-15-.01 — General Requirement
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-13
    Show verbatim text
    “Physicians licensed to practice medicine pursuant to O.C.G.A. 43-34-26 shall complete Board approved continuing education of not less than 40 hours biennially”Rule 360-15-.01
    “One-time education training, for a minimum of two hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct”Rule 360-15-.01(5) · Effective 2022-01-01
    “Three or more hours of AMA/AOAPRA Category 1 CME...designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices”Rule 360-15-.01(4) · Effective 2018-01-01
    “20 (twenty) hours of continuing medical education pertaining to pain management or palliative medicine”Rule 360-15-.01(3)
  2. Continuing Education and Other Required Training for Physicians — Georgia Composite Medical Board
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-13
    Show verbatim text
    “physicians licensed to practice medicine are required to complete Board approved continuing medical education of not less than 40 hours biennially.”GCMB CME page

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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