Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine / Board of Osteopathic Licensure (Joint Rule) · PA

100 hours. Every 2 years. Tied to your birth month.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MBLM/BOL(R~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

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

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
3 hrs
Biennial
Universal mandate for all Maine PAs. Counts within the 100-hour total. NCCPA certification satisfies the general 100-hour requirement but does NOT satisfy this opioid prescribing requirement — it must be completed separately.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Physician assistants must complete 3 hours of Category 1 credit CME every two years on the prescribing of opioid medication as required by Board Rule Chapter 21 'Use of Controlled Substances for Treatment of Pain.'”
02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(D)See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Maine 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 1. AAPA is an explicitly named approved sponsor for Category 1 credit.Source02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(A)(1)[1]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA Council on Medical Education and ACCME-accredited programs are accepted as Category 1.Source02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(2)(A)(1)[1]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA-accredited programs count as Category 1. The Maine Osteopathic Association (MOA) is also an accepted sponsor.Source02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(2)(A)(1)[1]
AAFP Prescribed
AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted as Category 1.Source02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(2)(A)(1)[1]
Category 2 self-directed activities
PAs onlymax 50 hrs
Up to 50 hours may be Category 2, which includes non-accredited programs, medical teaching, authoring papers or books, journal reading, peer review, and self-assessment.Source02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(A)(3), (2)(B)[1]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
Current NCCPA certification at renewal satisfies the 100-hour general CE requirement. It does NOT satisfy the 3-hour opioid prescribing requirement, which must still be completed separately.Source02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(1)(C)[1]
Documentation & audit

Renewal is birth-month anchored with even/odd year parity: PAs born in even years renew in even years; PAs born in odd years renew in odd years.[2] Renewal deadline is the last day of the birth month in the applicable year.

Waivers & exemptions

CME is prorated for first-time licensees based on how much of the biennial cycle the PA was licensed.[1]

CME requirements are stayed for PAs called to active military duty.[1]

Extension of time or deferment available for prolonged illness, undue hardship, or other extenuating circumstances at board discretion.[1]

Inactive status license issued if CME is not complete at renewal; PA may request extension for good cause.[1]

FAQ
How many CE hours do Maine PAs need?
Maine PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years, with at least 50 hours in Category 1 credit.[1] The remaining 50 hours may come from Category 2 activities such as non-accredited programs, medical teaching, or self-directed study. Within the 100-hour total, 3 hours of Category 1 credit on opioid prescribing are required. PAs who maintain current NCCPA certification can use it to satisfy the 100-hour general requirement, but they must still complete the 3-hour opioid prescribing training separately.
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Maine?
Yes. Maine requires 3 hours of Category 1 CME every two years on prescribing opioid medication, as specified by Board Rule Chapter 21 (Use of Controlled Substances for Treatment of Pain).[1] This is the only state-mandated topic. The 3 hours count within the 100-hour total. Importantly, NCCPA certification does not satisfy this requirement. Even PAs who rely on NCCPA certification for the general CE total must complete the opioid training separately.
Where can I check my Maine PA license renewal date?
Maine PA licenses renew biennially, tied to your birth month with even/odd year parity.[2] If you were born in an even-numbered year, you renew in even years; if born in an odd year, you renew in odd years. The deadline is the last day of your birth month in the applicable year. You can check your license status through the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine website at maine.gov/md.
Can NCCPA certification satisfy Maine's CE requirement?
Partially. Current NCCPA certification at the time of renewal satisfies the 100-hour general CE requirement.[1] However, it does NOT satisfy the 3-hour opioid prescribing requirement, which must be completed separately as Category 1 credit. The Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine FAQ explicitly confirms this distinction.[3]
Does it matter which Maine board licenses me?
No. Maine PAs can be licensed by either the Board of Licensure in Medicine (BOLIM) or the Board of Osteopathic Licensure (BOL). Both boards follow the identical Chapter 2 Joint Rule Regarding Physician Assistants, so the CE requirements, renewal process, and fees are the same regardless of which board holds your license.[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. 02-383 CMR Ch. 2, Section 11 -- Uniform CME Requirements and Definitions
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “Each physician assistant who possesses an active license shall complete, during each biennial licensing period, a minimum of one hundred (100) credit hours of continuing medical education subject to the following: (1) At least fifty (50) hours must be in Category 1 (as defined by this rule); (2) The total one hundred (100) hours may be in Category 1. (3) Fifty (50) credit hours may be in Category 2 (as defined by this rule). … Proof of current NCCPA certification at the time an application for renewal is submitted satisfies CME requirements. … Physician assistants must complete 3 hours of Category 1 credit CME every two years on the prescribing of opioid medication as required by Board Rule Chapter 21 'Use of Controlled Substances for Treatment of Pain.'”02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11
    “Physician assistants must complete 3 hours of Category 1 credit CME every two years on the prescribing of opioid medication as required by Board Rule Chapter 21 'Use of Controlled Substances for Treatment of Pain.'”02-383 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 11(D)
  2. Physician Associates License -- Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
  3. License FAQ -- Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine
    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 Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine / Board of Osteopathic Licensure (Joint Rule), 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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