Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts · MD

50 hours. Every two years. Tied to your calendar year.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MBRHA~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

Missouri has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 50-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Missouri cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Missouri 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
50 hours of CME biennially. AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers satisfies the requirement in full.Source20 CSR 2150-2.125(1)[1]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1-A credit accepted. Missouri jointly licenses MDs and DOs under the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.Source20 CSR 2150-2.125(1)[1]
AOA Category 2
DOs only
AOA Category 2-A credit accepted per Missouri rule.Source20 CSR 2150-2.125(1)[1]
AAFP Prescribed
AAFP Prescribed credit accepted as Category 1 equivalent.Source20 CSR 2150-2.125(1)[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

Physicians who received their initial license within the previous renewal period are exempt from the CME requirement for that first renewal.[1]

Physicians in an ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship training program are generally considered to satisfy CME through training.[1]

Physicians on active U.S. military duty during the renewal period may request an exemption.[1]

The board may waive CME compliance for physicians who have retired and discontinued the practice of medicine.[2][1]

FAQ
How many CME hours do Missouri physicians need?
Missouri physicians licensed by the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts must complete 50 hours of continuing medical education every two years.[1] The biennial cycle begins in even-numbered years (January 1 of an even year through December 31 of the following odd year), which is different from the anniversary-based biennial cycles used in most states. All 50 hours can be AMA PRA Category 1 Credit, AOA Category 1-A or 2-A, or AAFP Prescribed credit.
Does Missouri have mandatory CME topics?
No. Missouri is one of a small number of states without state-mandated topic-specific CME requirements for physicians. There is no state opioid training mandate, no suicide prevention requirement, no cultural competency rule, and no infectious disease mandate. Physicians have full flexibility to choose their 50 hours from any qualifying Category 1 provider covering any medically relevant subject. DEA-registered practitioners are still subject to the federal 8-hour one-time MATE Act training, but that is a federal requirement rather than a Missouri state requirement.
When does Missouri's CME cycle start and end?
Missouri's biennial cycle is calendar-anchored and starts in even-numbered years.[1] A physician renewing in 2026 is closing out a cycle that began January 1, 2024, and a physician renewing in 2028 closes out a cycle that began January 1, 2026. Unlike states that tie the cycle to the individual license anniversary, Missouri uses a shared statewide calendar, which means every physician in the state is tracking the same start and end dates.
Who is exempt from Missouri CME requirements?
Physicians who received their initial Missouri license within the previous renewal period are exempt for that first renewal.[1] Physicians in ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship training programs are generally considered to satisfy CME through training. Active-duty U.S. military physicians may request an exemption for the period of active duty. Missouri's exemption framework is otherwise narrow; physicians facing documented hardship should contact the Board directly about extensions.
What is the DEA MATE Act and does it apply in Missouri?
The DEA MATE Act is a federal requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners, including those in Missouri. It requires 8 hours of one-time training on treating and managing patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of FDA-approved medications for substance use disorder treatment. The MATE obligation is triggered at initial DEA registration or renewal on or after June 27, 2023. It is a federal requirement enforced by the DEA, not a Missouri state CME topic, but it effectively applies to every Missouri physician who prescribes controlled substances.
Do Missouri MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Missouri does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and subject to the same CME requirements (50 hours per renewal cycle).

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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. 20 CSR 2150-2.125 — Continuing Medical Education (Missouri Administrative Rule)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Physicians must complete at least fifty (50) hours of continuing medical education every two (2) years. Credits must be accredited by AOA (Category 1-A or 2-A), AMA (Category 1), or AAFP. The reporting period runs the twenty-four (24)-month period beginning January 1 of each even-numbered year and ending December 31 of each odd-numbered year.”20 CSR 2150-2.125(1)
  2. RSMo 334.075 — Renewal of Certificate; Minimum Continuing Education Requirement
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “The board shall not renew any certificate of registration unless the licensee shall provide satisfactory evidence that he has complied with the board's minimum requirements for continuing education. At the discretion of the board, compliance with the provisions of this section may be waived for licensed physicians who have discontinued their practice of medicine because of retirement.”RSMo 334.075

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 Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, 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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