Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners · MD

20 hours. Every year. Tied to your birth month.

A source-verified guide to Louisiana's CME requirements for physicians — 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 physicians, 20 hours is the total CME requirement. Louisiana also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 20-hour total.

Legal / risk[1]
Hrs vary
One-time
All new licensees must complete the 'Laws and Rules for Physicians' course before first renewal, covering the Louisiana Medical Practice Act, Dispensing Permits, Supervising Physician Assistants, and Telemedicine (LSBME Board Orientations page). Universal mandate for first renewal. Layer 1 does not specify an hour count — tracked as hours: 0 with hoursUnspecified: true per Decision 4.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Laws and Rules for Physicians — covering the Louisiana Medical Practice Act, Dispensing Permits, Supervising Physician Assistants, and Telemedicine”
LSBME Board Orientations pageSee 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

Physicians 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); La. Acts 2025, No. 463 (SB 14)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalCustom[2]
1 hr
One-time

Physicians 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); La. Acts 2025, No. 463 (SB 14)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalCustom[2]
1 hr
Triennial

Physicians 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); La. Acts 2025, No. 463 (SB 14)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.”
La. Admin. Code tit. 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
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers satisfies the 20-hour annual requirement.SourceLa. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-437(1)[4]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA is an approved CME sponsor; AOA Category 1-A credit is accepted toward the annual 20-hour total.SourceLa. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-437(5)[4]
AAFP Prescribed
AAFP is an approved CME sponsor; AAFP Prescribed credit counts toward the annual 20-hour total.SourceLa. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-437(3)[4]
Board-approved credit
Also accepts credit from ABMS/AOA-recognized specialty boards, ACOG, and the Louisiana State Medical Society or any other ACCME-recognized state medical society.SourceLa. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-437(2),(4),(6)[4]
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

Physicians working exclusively for the federal government may be exempt upon request; documentation from the employer verifying the dates of employment is required along with a CME Exemption Request Form submitted at least 30 days before renewal.

Physicians in an ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship training program are generally considered to satisfy CME through training.

Newly licensed physicians have a prorated first cycle — CME accrual begins at initial licensure.

FAQ
How many CME hours do Louisiana physicians need?
Louisiana physicians licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners must complete 20 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit each year as a condition of annual license renewal.[5] All 20 hours must be Category 1, and Louisiana does not accept Category 2 activities toward the state requirement. On top of the annual cycle, new licensees must complete a one-time Board orientation course,[1] and physicians holding a Controlled Dangerous Substance license must complete a one-time 3-hour Board-preapproved course on CDS prescribing before their first renewal.[3]
What is the Louisiana CDS CME requirement?
Physicians who hold a Louisiana Controlled Dangerous Substance license must complete a 3-hour Board-preapproved CME course before their first license or permit renewal date.[3] The course must cover best practices for prescribing CDS, drug diversion training, appropriate addiction treatment, and the treatment of chronic pain. The course must come from the LSBME's preapproved list; a generic pain management CME will not satisfy the requirement.[6] It is a one-time obligation: once completed and recorded, it never has to be repeated.
Do Louisiana physicians have to use CE Broker?
Yes. The LSBME requires every licensee to create a free CE Broker account, and CE Broker is the authoritative system for CME compliance at renewal.[7] Physicians cannot complete their renewal if CE Broker does not show the required 20 hours of Category 1 credit. Most accredited providers report credits directly to CE Broker, but physicians remain responsible for confirming each credit has been recorded correctly and for manually entering credits from providers that do not report automatically.
Who is exempt from Louisiana CME requirements?
Physicians working exclusively for the federal government, such as VA physicians or active-duty military physicians in federal facilities, may request an exemption by submitting a letter from their employer and a CME Exemption Request Form to the LSBME no later than 30 days before renewal.[7] Residents and fellows in ACGME-accredited training programs are generally considered to satisfy CME through training. Newly licensed physicians begin CME accrual at the date of initial licensure with a prorated first cycle.
How often does Louisiana audit physicians for CME?
The LSBME conducts random audits averaging approximately 3 percent of licensees each year. Physicians selected for audit have 30 days to submit documentation, which typically includes CE Broker records and certificates of completion for each credit claimed. While 3 percent is not a high volume compared to states with more aggressive audit programs, the 30-day response window is short enough that physicians without organized records can struggle to respond on time.
Do Louisiana MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Louisiana does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and subject to the same CME requirements (20 hours per renewal cycle).[8]

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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 & Online Courses — LSBME
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Laws and Rules for Physicians — covering the Louisiana Medical Practice Act, Dispensing Permits, Supervising Physician Assistants, and Telemedicine”LSBME Board Orientations page
  2. La. Acts 2025, No. 463 (SB 14) — Nutrition/Metabolic Health & Sickle Cell CME
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-20
    Show verbatim text
    “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. 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. … 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); La. Acts 2025, No. 463 · Effective 2026-01-01
    “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); La. Acts 2025, No. 463 (SB 14) · 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); La. Acts 2025, No. 463 (SB 14) · 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); La. Acts 2025, No. 463 (SB 14) · Effective 2026-01-01
  3. La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-4005 — CME Requirement for Controlled Dangerous Substances
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “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… 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.”La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-4005(A)
    “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.”La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-4005(A)
  4. La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-437 — Approved CME Providers (Physicians)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Continuing medical education programs qualify for Category 1 CME if sponsored by: 1. an organization or entity accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME); 2. A member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or AOA-recognized specialty board; 3. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP); 4. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); 5. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA); 6. an organization or entity accredited by the Louisiana State Medical Society or any other ACCME recognized state medical society.”La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-437
  5. La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-435 — Continuing Medical Educational Requirement (Physicians)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “every physician seeking the renewal or reinstatement of licensure shall annually evidence and document, in a manner specified by the board, the successful completion of not less than 20 hours of board approved CME.”La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § XLV-435
  6. Board Approved CME Courses for CDS Requirements — LSBME
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  7. Renewals — Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  8. LSBME Annual CE Requirements by Practitioner Group (revised 4/6/2026)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17

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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