Iowa Board of Physician Assistants (administered by DIAL) · PA

100 hours. Every 2 years. Tied to your license expiration.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from IBPA(BD~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

Iowa has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 100-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Iowa 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

PAs who prescribed opioids during the renewal cycle

View detailsEditorial summary
Required for PAs who prescribed opioids during the renewal cycle. Must cover CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, including dosage limitations, prescription length, risk factors for abuse, and nonopioid/nonpharmacologic therapy options. Effective March 20, 2019 under IAC 481-782.3. Default is not required — applies only to PAs who prescribed opioids during the cycle. Counts within the 100-hour total.
IAC 481-782.3(3)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalAbuse Reporting[2]
2 hrs
Triennial

PAs who examine, attend, counsel, or treat children in Iowa

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee who, in the scope of professional practice or in the licensee's employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels or treats children in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of training in child abuse identification and reporting.”
IAC 481-780.9(4)(a)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalAbuse Reporting[2]
2 hrs
Triennial

PAs who examine, attend, counsel, or treat dependent adults in Iowa

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensee who, in the course of employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels or treats adults in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of training in dependent adult abuse identification and reporting.”
IAC 481-780.9(4)(b)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Iowa 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
AAPA Category 1
PAs onlymin 50 hrs
At least 50 of the 100 hours must be Category I. AAPA Category 1 is explicitly accepted toward this minimum.SourceIAC 481-782.3(2)(a)[1]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 credit from ACCME-accredited providers counts toward the 50-hour Category I minimum.SourceIAC 481-782.3(2)(a)[1]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Council on CME credits accepted toward the Category I minimum.SourceIAC 481-782.3(2)(a)[1]
AAFP Prescribed
AAFP Prescribed credit accepted toward the Category I minimum.SourceIAC 481-782.3(2)(a)[1]
NCCPA Category 2 credits
PAs onlymax 50 hrs
Up to 50 of the 100 biennial hours may come from NCCPA-accepted Category II sources.SourceIAC 481-782.2[3]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
Current NCCPA certification is an explicit alternative to documenting the 100-hour CE total — proof of certification satisfies the board's general CME requirement at audit or renewal.SourceIAC 481-782.3(2)(c)[1]
Documentation & audit

PAs should retain CE certificates for at least 4 years.[4] A percentage of licensees are randomly audited after each renewal cycle.

Waivers & exemptions

First-time licensees are exempt from CE requirements for their initial license renewal period.[3]

Military service waiver available for mandatory reporter training requirements.

Extension or exemption from some or all CE requirements for documented physical or mental disability or illness.

Hardship waiver available at board discretion for significant hardship in meeting training requirements.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Iowa PAs need?
Iowa PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing education every two years, with at least 50 hours in Category I credit from approved providers such as AAPA, AMA, ACCME, AOA, or AAFP.[3][1] The remaining 50 hours may come from Category I or Category II sources accepted by NCCPA. Alternatively, PAs who maintain current NCCPA certification can submit proof of that certification in lieu of documenting individual CE hours.[1]
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa PAs who prescribed opioids during the renewal cycle must complete 2 hours on CDC guidelines for opioid prescribing, including dosage limitations and nonopioid therapy options.[1] Additionally, PAs who treat children must complete 2 hours of child abuse mandatory reporter training every 3 years using the Iowa HHS-approved curriculum, and PAs who treat adults must complete 2 hours of dependent adult abuse mandatory reporter training every 3 years.[2] These are practice-based requirements, meaning they apply only to PAs whose scope includes the relevant populations.
Where can I check my Iowa PA license renewal date?
Iowa PA licenses renew on a biennial cycle running from October 1 through September 30.[2] You can check your license status and renewal date through the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) website at dial.iowa.gov.[4] Renewal opens 60 days before your license expiration date.
Can NCCPA certification satisfy Iowa's CE requirement?
Yes. Proof of current NCCPA certification at the time of renewal satisfies the 100-hour general CE requirement.[1] However, the mandatory reporter training obligations (child abuse and dependent adult abuse) and the opioid prescribing requirement are separate licensure conditions under the renewal rule and must be satisfied independently, even if you rely on NCCPA certification for the general CE total.[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. Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-782.3 -- CE Standards and NCCPA Alternative
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “The licensee will complete a minimum of 50 hours of credit designated as Category I by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association Council on Continuing Medical Education, the American Academy of Family Physicians or other organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). … Licensees who maintain certification by the NCCPA may show proof of meeting the board's CME requirements by providing proof of current certification by the NCCPA for the time period being reviewed or audited.”IAC 481-782.3 · Effective 2024-07-03
  2. Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-780.9 -- License Renewal
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “The biennial license renewal period for a license to practice as a physician assistant shall begin on October 1 and end on September 30 two years later. … A licensee who, in the scope of professional practice or in the licensee's employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels or treats children in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of training in child abuse identification and reporting. … A licensee who, in the course of employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels or treats adults in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of training in dependent adult abuse identification and reporting. … The course(s) shall be the curriculum provided by the Iowa department of human services.”IAC 481-780.9
    “A licensee who, in the scope of professional practice or in the licensee's employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels or treats children in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of training in child abuse identification and reporting.”IAC 481-780.9(4)(a)
    “A licensee who, in the course of employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels or treats adults in Iowa shall indicate on the renewal application completion of training in dependent adult abuse identification and reporting.”IAC 481-780.9(4)(b)
  3. Iowa Admin. Code r. 481-782.2 -- Continuing Education Requirements
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “The biennial continuing education compliance period will extend for a two-year period beginning on October 1 of each year and ending on September 30 two years later. Each biennium, each licensee will be required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of continuing education approved by the board. Licensees who complete continuing education hours in excess of the requirements for renewal may apply up to 50 percent of the required hours to the following renewal period. Licensees may apply a maximum of 50 hours from the previous renewal period.”IAC 481-782.2 · Effective 2025-06-18
  4. Physician Assistants -- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16

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 Iowa Board of Physician Assistants (administered by DIAL), 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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