Mandatory topics
Minnesota has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 50-hour total.
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Minnesota cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Minnesota 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 system | Notes |
|---|---|
AAPA Category 1 PAs only | All 50 hours must be Category 1 equivalent — Minnesota does not allow Category 2 or informal learning toward the PA requirement. AAPA Category 1 is the standard PA pathway.SourceMinn. Stat. 147A.24 Subd. 2[1] |
AMA PRA Category 1 | AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers is accepted.SourceMinn. Stat. 147A.24 Subd. 2[1] |
AOA Category 1-A | AOA Category 1-A credit is accepted.SourceMinn. Stat. 147A.24 Subd. 2[1] |
Board-approved credit PAs only | Current NCCPA certification satisfies the CE requirement entirely — PAs with an active PA-C do not need to separately track 50 state CE hours. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada credit and organizations with reciprocal AMA Physician's Recognition Award arrangements are also accepted.SourceMinn. Stat. 147A.24 Subd. 1[1] |
Documentation & audit
Waivers & exemptions
PAs who maintain current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) satisfy the CE requirement entirely and do not need to track 50 hours separately. This is a statutory alternative under Minn. Stat. 147A.24, Subd. 1.[1]
FAQ
How many CE hours do Minnesota PAs need?
Minnesota PAs must complete 50 contact hours of Category 1 continuing education within the two years immediately preceding license renewal, or maintain current NCCPA certification as an alternative.[1] All 50 hours must be Category 1 credit from AAPA, AMA, AOA, RCPSC, or equivalent accredited providers. The license renews annually based on the PA's birth month, but the CE requirement uses a rolling 2-year lookback window.
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Minnesota?
No. Minnesota does not currently impose recurring topic-specific CE mandates on PA license renewal. The state previously required 2 hours of opioid prescribing education under Minn. Stat. 214.12, Subd. 6, but that requirement expired January 1, 2023 and was not replaced.[2] Some secondary sources still reference a pain management hour requirement for PAs, but this could not be confirmed in the current statute or Board of Medical Practice guidance.
Where can I check my Minnesota PA license renewal date?
Minnesota PA licenses renew annually on the last day of the licensee's birth month.[3] You can verify your license status through the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice online lookup at bmp.hlb.state.mn.us. The annual renewal fee is $115. Failure to submit a complete renewal application by the deadline results in removal from the authorized practice list until reinstatement.[4]
Can NCCPA certification substitute for Minnesota PA CE requirements?
Yes. Minnesota's PA CE statute accepts PAs who maintain current certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants as satisfying the continuing education requirement entirely.[1] This means NCCPA-certified PAs (those holding the PA-C credential) do not need to separately track or report 50 hours of CE to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. Since NCCPA certification maintenance already requires 100 CME credits per two-year cycle with 50 Category 1, NCCPA-certified PAs will inherently exceed the Minnesota state requirement.
How does Minnesota's PA renewal cycle work?
Minnesota PA licenses renew annually on the last day of the licensee's birth month, following a 2020 statutory change from biennial to annual renewal.[3] The CE requirement, however, uses a rolling 2-year lookback window: PAs must have 50 hours accumulated in the 24 months preceding each annual renewal.[1] This hybrid structure means a single CE activity can count toward two consecutive annual renewals if it falls within overlapping lookback periods.