Michigan Task Force on Physician's Assistants (LARA) · PA

No general CE hours. Triennial cycle. Topic-specific mandates only.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MTFPA(~6 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated April 21, 2026

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 0 hours is the total CME requirement. Michigan also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 0-hour total.

Implicit Bias[1]
3 hrs
Triennial
1 hour per year of the license cycle — 3 hours total for Michigan's triennial PA renewal. Also requires 2 hours one-time within 5 years preceding initial licensure. Universal mandate; applies to all Michigan-licensed PAs.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Implicit Bias Training – Licensees and registrants are required to complete 1 hour of implicit bias training”
MI PA Licensing Guide (LARA, Rev. 1/26/2026) — Renewal Requirements ChecklistSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Human Trafficking[1]
Hrs vary
One-time
One-time universal mandate for all Michigan PAs. No minimum hour count is specified in the rule — the training must simply meet the standards established in Administrative Rule 338.6103. Once completed, this training does not need to be repeated at subsequent renewals.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Licensees seeking renewal must certify on their renewal application that prior to renewing their license they have completed a one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.6103.”
MI PA Licensing Guide (LARA, Rev. 1/26/2026) — Renewal Requirements Checklist; Admin. Rule 338.6103See source [1] in Primary Sources
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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/Substance Use[1]
Hrs vary
Triennial

PAs who are licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances in Michigan

View sourceVerbatim from source
“All controlled substance licensees or individuals who are licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances must certify on their renewal application prior to renewing their license that they have completed training in opioids and controlled substance awareness that meets the standards established in Administrative Rule 338.3135.”
MI PA Licensing Guide (LARA, Rev. 1/26/2026) — Renewal Requirements Checklist; Admin. Rule 338.3135See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Michigan 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
Board-approved credit
PAs only
Michigan does not require general CE hours for PA license renewal. Only topic-specific training requirements apply: implicit bias training (3 hours per triennial cycle), human trafficking identification (one-time), and opioids/controlled-substance awareness training at each CS license renewal (for prescribers only).SourcePA Licensing Guide FAQ (rev. 01/26/2026), Q2[2]
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

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Michigan.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Michigan PAs need?
Michigan does not require general continuing education hours for PA license renewal. The current LARA PA Licensing Guide renewal checklist enumerates only topic-specific trainings, with no general-CME line; an earlier LARA FAQ (rev. 09/16/2024) also stated outright that statute and administrative rules do not require CE for renewal, though LARA removed that FAQ question in the current (rev. 01/26/2026) revision.[2] PAs must still complete specific mandatory trainings: implicit bias training (1 hour per year of the cycle), human trafficking identification (one-time), and controlled substance awareness training (for prescribers). Some secondary sources incorrectly cite 50 hours per cycle; the official LARA documentation is the authoritative source.
Are there mandatory training topics for PAs in Michigan?
Yes, even though Michigan has no general CE requirement, PAs must complete implicit bias training (1 hour per year of the license cycle, totaling 3 hours per triennial renewal),[3] human trafficking identification training (one-time),[2] and opioids and controlled substances awareness training (every renewal, for PAs who prescribe or dispense controlled substances).[4] DEA-registered PAs must also complete the federal MATE Act 8-hour one-time training on substance use disorder treatment.
Where can I check my Michigan PA license renewal date?
Michigan's online licensing services portal at michigan.gov/lara provides license verification and renewal status. Search by name or license number to confirm your registration status and expiration date. PA licenses are now on a triennial (3-year) renewal cycle tied to the individual license expiration date, a change from the previous biennial cycle effective August 2024.[5]
Does Michigan require NCCPA certification for PA license renewal?
No. Michigan does not require NCCPA certification as a condition of state PA license renewal. This is unusual compared to many other states that either require NCCPA certification or accept it as an alternative to tracking CE hours. Michigan PAs may maintain NCCPA certification for national credentialing, hospital privileges, and other professional purposes, but it is not a state licensure requirement.
Does the Michigan pain management CE requirement apply to PAs?
No. The pain and symptom management CE that Michigan requires for physicians (3 hours per renewal under MCL 333.16204) is conditioned on continuing education being required for renewal. Since Michigan PAs have no general CE requirement for renewal, the pain management mandate does not appear to apply to PAs. This is a notable distinction from the physician side.

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Other roles in Michigan

Physician Assistants CME requirements in other states

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. https://www.michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bpl/Health/HP_Licensing_Guides/Physicians-Assistant-Licensing-Guide.pdf
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “Implicit Bias Training – Licensees and registrants are required to complete 1 hour of implicit bias training”MI PA Licensing Guide (LARA, Rev. 1/26/2026) — Renewal Requirements Checklist
    “Licensees seeking renewal must certify on their renewal application that prior to renewing their license they have completed a one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.6103.”MI PA Licensing Guide (LARA, Rev. 1/26/2026) — Renewal Requirements Checklist; Admin. Rule 338.6103
    “All controlled substance licensees or individuals who are licensed to prescribe or dispense controlled substances must certify on their renewal application prior to renewing their license that they have completed training in opioids and controlled substance awareness that meets the standards established in Administrative Rule 338.3135.”MI PA Licensing Guide (LARA, Rev. 1/26/2026) — Renewal Requirements Checklist; Admin. Rule 338.3135
  2. Task Force on Physician's Assistants FAQ — Michigan LARA (Rev. 09/16/2024; this FAQ question was removed in the current rev. 01/26/2026)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Do I need to complete continuing education? No. Currently Michigan statute and administrative rules do not require continuing education for renewal. A licensee is responsible for maintaining their competence in the profession but does not have to demonstrate the ways he or she is doing that as a condition for renewal.”PA Licensing Guide FAQ Q2 (rev. 09/16/2024, since removed)
  3. Mich. Admin. Code R 338.7004 — Implicit Bias Training Standards
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “An individual applying for licensure or registration renewal, reregistration, or relicensure under article 15 of the code, MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838, except those licensed under part 188 of the code, MCL 333.18801 to 333.18838, shall have completed a minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant's license or registration cycle. Unless prohibited by the code or rules, this training may be used to satisfy other training or continuing education requirements for license renewal.”Mich. Admin. Code R 338.7004(2)
  4. Mich. Admin. Code R 338.3135 — Opioids and Controlled Substances Awareness Training
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “An individual who is applying for or renewing a controlled substance license shall complete a training in opioids and controlled substances awareness before applying for the license or renewal. The training must meet the following standards: (a) Training content must cover both of the following topics: (i) Utilizing the MAPS. (ii) State and federal laws regarding prescribing and dispensing controlled substances.”Mich. Admin. Code R 338.3135(1)
  5. New Three-Year PA License — Michigan Academy of Physician Associates
    Secondary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
  6. Michigan Task Force on Physician's Assistants — LARA Homepage
    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 Michigan Task Force on Physician's Assistants (LARA), 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 medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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