Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners · PA

100 hours (via NCCPA). Annual renewal. Tied to your birth month.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from LSBME~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 20, 2026

Mandatory topics

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

Legal / risk[1]
Hrs vary
One-time
One-time 'Laws and Rules for Physician Assistants' course required before first license renewal per LSBME Board Orientations page. Universal mandate. Layer 1 does not specify an hour count — tracked as hours: 0 with hoursUnspecified: true per Decision 4. Available on CE Broker.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Laws and Rules Courses — All licensees except CEPs and Perfusionists must take a Laws and Rules course before first renewal”
LSBME Board OrientationsSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Louisiana 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.

ConditionalCustom[2]
1 hr
Quadrennial

PAs practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, or gynecology

View sourceVerbatim from source
“The board shall require physicians and physician assistants practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, and gynecology to complete a minimum of one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health every four years.”
La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(b)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalCustom[2]
1 hr
One-time

PAs practicing emergency medicine (initial one-time requirement)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“The board shall require physicians and physician assistants practicing emergency medicine to complete an initial one-hour continuing education course on the treatment of sickle cell disease.”
La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(a)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalCustom[2]
1 hr
Triennial

PAs practicing emergency medicine (ongoing refresher after initial course)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Thereafter, a physician and physician assistant practicing emergency medicine shall complete a one-hour refresher course at regular intervals no less frequently than every three years.”
La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(a)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[3]
3 hrs
One-time

Authorized Prescribers holding a Louisiana Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) license

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Such CME shall include instruction relating to drug diversion training, best practices regarding prescribing of CDS, appropriate treatment for addiction and, for physicians, the treatment of chronic pain.”
LAC 46:XLV-4005(A)See source [3] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Louisiana 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 only
Louisiana's PA CE requirement is tied to NCCPA certification maintenance. AAPA Category 1 CME counts toward the NCCPA standard that the state adopts by reference.SourceLAC 46:XLV-1517(B)(3)[4]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers counts toward NCCPA certification maintenance (the operative LA PA CE framework) and the CDS-CME requirement when board-approved.SourceLAC 46:XLV-1517(B)(3)[4]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1 credit accepted toward NCCPA maintenance.SourceLAC 46:XLV-1517(B)(3)[4]
AAFP Prescribed
AAFP Prescribed credit accepted toward NCCPA maintenance.SourceLAC 46:XLV-1517(B)(3)[4]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
NCCPA certification itself is the operative LA PA CE framework. LSBME tracks compliance via CE Broker. Current NCCPA certification satisfies LAC 46:XLV-1517(B)(3).SourceLAC 46:XLV-1517(B)(3)[4]
Documentation & audit

PA licenses renew annually, due by the last day of the licensee's birth month.[4] Initial licenses expire on the last day of the calendar year in which they were issued.

Waivers & exemptions

PAs may elect inactive status by written notice to the board. Excused from renewal fees but cannot practice in Louisiana.[4]

CDS CME exemption for PAs who certify they have not prescribed, administered, or dispensed any controlled dangerous substance during the year covered by the expiring license. Verified via Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program.[3]

FAQ
How many CE hours do Louisiana PAs need?
Louisiana does not impose a standalone state CE hour requirement for PAs. Instead, the state requires PAs to maintain current NCCPA certification, which itself requires 100 CME credits per 2-year cycle with at least 50 in Category 1. Louisiana adopts this national standard by reference under LAC 46:XLV.1517(B)(3), which requires 'confirmation of the completion of such continuing education as is required to maintain current NCCPA certification.'[4] Beyond the NCCPA requirement, Louisiana mandates a one-time 3-hour CDS prescriber training[3] and a one-time Laws and Rules course before first renewal.[1]
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana requires a one-time 3-hour board-approved CME course on controlled dangerous substance prescribing before a PA's first license renewal.[3] The course must cover best practices for prescribing CDS, drug diversion training, appropriate treatment for addiction, and treatment of chronic pain. PAs who certify they have not prescribed, administered, or dispensed any CDS during the year may claim an exemption. Effective January 1, 2026, Act 463 (SB 14, 2025) adds two specialty-gated CME requirements:[2] PAs practicing in 18 enumerated specialties (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, or gynecology) must complete 1 hour of nutrition and metabolic health CME every 4 years, and PAs practicing emergency medicine must complete an initial 1-hour sickle cell disease treatment course with a 1-hour refresher at least every 3 years thereafter.
Where can I check my Louisiana PA license renewal date?
Louisiana PA licenses renew annually by the last day of your birth month.[4] You can check your license status and manage renewals through the LSBME's LaMED Dashboard portal at lsbme.la.gov. Since January 2021, CE Broker tracking has been required, and you cannot complete your renewal if CE Broker does not show proper credit completion.[5]
Does Louisiana require PAs to maintain NCCPA certification?
Yes. NCCPA PA-C certification is mandatory for both initial licensure and license renewal in Louisiana under LAC 46:XLV.1507 and 1517.[4] Because the state ties its CE requirement to NCCPA certification maintenance, the two obligations are effectively unified. PAs who let their NCCPA certification lapse cannot renew their Louisiana license.

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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. Board Orientations and Online Courses -- LSBME
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “Laws and Rules Courses — All licensees except CEPs and Perfusionists must take a Laws and Rules course before first renewal”LSBME Board Orientations
  2. Louisiana Act 463 (SB 14, 2025) -- Nutrition / Sickle Cell CME
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-20
    Show verbatim text
    “The board shall require physicians and physician assistants practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, and gynecology to complete a minimum of one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health every four years.”La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(b) · Effective 2026-01-01
    “The board shall require physicians and physician assistants practicing emergency medicine to complete an initial one-hour continuing education course on the treatment of sickle cell disease.”La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(a) · Effective 2026-01-01
    “Thereafter, a physician and physician assistant practicing emergency medicine shall complete a one-hour refresher course at regular intervals no less frequently than every three years.”La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(a) · Effective 2026-01-01
  3. LAC 46:XLV-4005 -- CME Requirement for CDS Prescribers
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “CME Requirement for Authorized Prescribers of CDS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Part, every authorized prescriber seeking the renewal of a license for the first time on and after January 1, 2019, shall, as part of the CME required by this Part, and as a condition prerequisite to licensure renewal, successfully complete three hours of CME approved by the board on CDS prescribing practices (the CME requirement). Such CME shall include instruction relating to drug diversion training, best practices regarding prescribing of CDS, appropriate treatment for addiction and, for physicians, the treatment of chronic pain.”LAC 46:XLV-4005 · Effective 2019-01-01
    “Such CME shall include instruction relating to drug diversion training, best practices regarding prescribing of CDS, appropriate treatment for addiction and, for physicians, the treatment of chronic pain.”LAC 46:XLV-4005(A)
  4. LAC 46:XLV-1517 -- Expiration of Licensure; Renewals; Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “Every license issued by the board under this Chapter shall be renewed annually on or before the last day of the month in which the licensee was born, by submitting to the board an application for renewal in a format approved by the board, together with: 1. satisfactory verification of current certification by the National Commission on Certificate of Physician Assistants or its successors; and 2. the applicable fee as provided in Chapter 1 of these rules. 3. confirmation of the completion of such continuing education as is required to maintain current NCCPA certification. A physician assistant shall maintain a record of certification of attendance for at least four years from the date of completion of the continuing education activity.”LAC 46:XLV-1517
  5. Renewals -- Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
    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 Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, 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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