Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure · PA

100 hours. Every two years. Annual renewal May through June.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MSBML~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 21, 2026

Mandatory topics

Mississippi has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 100-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Mississippi 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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
5 hrs
Biennial

PAs with controlled substance prescriptive authority

View sourceVerbatim from source
“All physician assistants authorized to prescribe controlled substances must show proof of completing 100 hours of CME each cycle, 50 hours of which must be Category 1, as defined by the ACCME, AAPA, AMA, or AOA, and 5 hours of which must be related to the prescribing of medications with an emphasis on controlled substances.”
Miss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPain management & end-of-life care[1]
5 hrs
Biennial

PAs with approved prescriptive authority who practice in a pain management medical practice

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Physician assistants with approved prescriptive authority must obtain the normal hours required in Pt. 2615, R.1.10 Continuing Education plus an additional 5 hours of Category 1 CME related to prescribing and pain management for every two year CME cycle the physician assistant is practicing in a pain management medical practice”
Miss. Admin. Code Part 2640, Rule 1.14.K.2See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[2]
10 hrs
One-time

PAs applying for initial controlled substance prescriptive authority

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Physician assistants must acquire at least 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) every two years, 50 hours of which must be Category 1. Physician assistants certified by the NCCPA may meet this requirement by providing evidence of current NCCPA certification. As part of the 50 Category 1 hours, physician assistants authorized to prescribe controlled substances must complete at least 5 hours of CME every two years related to controlled substance prescribing.”
MSBML PA Licensure page; Miss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Mississippi 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 biennial hours must be Category 1 credit. AAPA Category 1 is the standard PA Category 1 pathway.SourceMiss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9[1]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers counts toward the 50-hour Category 1 minimum.SourceMiss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9[1]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1-A Credit counts toward the Category 1 minimum.SourceMiss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9[1]
Category 2 continuing education
PAs onlymax 50 hrs
Up to 50 of the 100 hours may be Category 2 / non-Category 1 CME.SourceMiss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9[1]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
PAs who hold current NCCPA certification may satisfy the 100-hour CME requirement by providing evidence of current certification. Complete alternative to hour-by-hour tracking.SourceMiss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9[1]
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

PAs who hold current NCCPA certification may satisfy the 100-hour CME requirement by providing evidence of current certification.[1] This is a complete alternative to hour-by-hour CE tracking.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Mississippi PAs need?
Mississippi PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years, with at least 50 of those hours as Category 1 credit from ACCME, AAPA, AMA, or AOA-accredited providers.[1] This is significantly higher than the 40-hour biennial requirement for Mississippi physicians. PAs with current NCCPA certification may use that certification to satisfy the entire CME requirement.[1]
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Mississippi?
Yes. PAs with controlled substance prescriptive authority must complete 5 hours of Category 1 CME related to controlled substance prescribing every biennial cycle.[1] PAs applying for initial controlled substance authority must complete a one-time 10 hours of Category 1 CME on prescribing controlled substances.[2] PAs practicing in pain management settings must complete an additional 5 hours of Category 1 CME on prescribing and pain management every biennial cycle.[1]
Where can I check my Mississippi PA license renewal date?
Mississippi PA licenses renew annually between May 1 and June 30 through the Mississippi Enforcement and Licensure System (MELS) online portal at gateway.msbml.ms.gov.[3] The annual renewal fee is $150. While licenses renew every year, CME compliance is assessed on a biennial cycle.
Can NCCPA certification substitute for Mississippi PA CE requirements?
Yes. PAs who hold current NCCPA certification may satisfy the 100-hour CME requirement by providing evidence of current certification to the Board.[1] This is a complete alternative to tracking and reporting individual CE hours. Since NCCPA certification maintenance requires 100 CME credits per two-year cycle with 50 Category 1, NCCPA-certified PAs will meet or exceed the Mississippi state threshold.
What extra CE do Mississippi PAs in pain management need?
PAs with approved prescriptive authority who practice in a pain management medical practice must complete an additional 5 hours of Category 1 CME related to prescribing and pain management every biennial cycle.[1] This is in addition to the standard 100-hour requirement and the 5-hour controlled substance prescribing mandate, making the effective total for pain management PAs 110 hours per biennium.

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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. Mississippi Administrative Code Part 2615, Chapter 1, Rule 1.9 — The Practice of Physician Assistants (Continuing Education)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-19
    Show verbatim text
    “Each licensed physician assistant must show proof of completing not less than 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) over a two-year cycle, 50 hours of which must be Category 1, as defined by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), American Medical Association (AMA), or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), as a condition precedent to renewing his or her license. Physician assistants who are certified by the NCCPA may meet this requirement by providing evidence of current NCCPA certification. For the purposes of this regulation, the two-year period begins July 1, 2022, and every two years thereafter. All physician assistants authorized to prescribe controlled substances must show proof of completing 100 hours of CME each cycle, 50 hours of which must be Category 1, as defined by the ACCME, AAPA, AMA, or AOA, and 5 hours of which must be related to the prescribing of medications with an emphasis on controlled substances.”Miss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9
    “All physician assistants authorized to prescribe controlled substances must show proof of completing 100 hours of CME each cycle, 50 hours of which must be Category 1, as defined by the ACCME, AAPA, AMA, or AOA, and 5 hours of which must be related to the prescribing of medications with an emphasis on controlled substances.”Miss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Ch. 1, Rule 1.9
    “Physician assistants with approved prescriptive authority must obtain the normal hours required in Pt. 2615, R.1.10 Continuing Education plus an additional 5 hours of Category 1 CME related to prescribing and pain management for every two year CME cycle the physician assistant is practicing in a pain management medical practice”Miss. Admin. Code Part 2640, Rule 1.14.K.2
  2. Physician Assistant Licensure — Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Physician assistants must acquire at least 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) every two years, 50 hours of which must be Category 1. Physician assistants certified by the NCCPA may meet this requirement by providing evidence of current NCCPA certification. As part of the 50 Category 1 hours, physician assistants authorized to prescribe controlled substances must complete at least 5 hours of CME every two years related to controlled substance prescribing.”MSBML PA Licensure
  3. Renewals — Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Annual license renewal is open May 1 through June 30 each year. Renewals completed after June 30 may be subject to late fees or additional requirements as established by Board regulation.”MSBML Renewals

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 Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure, 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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