Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery · MD

50 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license expiration.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from NBMS~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

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

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Nebraska 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]
3 hrs
Biennial

Physicians who prescribe controlled substances in Nebraska

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Beginning October 1, 2018, physicians prescribing controlled substances must complete at least three hours of continuing education biennially regarding prescribing opiates. At least one-half hour must address the prescription drug monitoring program.”
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-145See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Nebraska 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 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers per biennial cycle. Up to 25 hours of excess Category 1 CME may be carried into the next biennium per Neb. Admin. Code Tit. 172, Ch. 88 § 008.Source172 NAC 88 § 008[2]
AOA Category 1-A
DOs only
AOA Category 1-A Credit accepted. Nebraska jointly licenses MDs and DOs under the unified Board of Medicine and Surgery.Source172 NAC 88 § 008[2]
Board-approved credit
one full year of GME counts as 50 hours of CME.Source172 NAC 88 § 008[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

Opioid rule does not apply at initial licensure. The 3-hour opioid / 0.5-hour PDMP requirement begins at re-licensure, not at initial licensure.[3]

FAQ
How many CME hours do Nebraska physicians need?
Nebraska physicians licensed by the Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery must complete 50 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit every two years.[2] The reporting cycle is a fixed statewide biennium, and licenses expire October 1 of every even-numbered year. Both MDs and DOs follow the same rule because Nebraska uses a single unified board. Up to 25 hours of excess Category 1 credit may be carried forward into the next biennium.
Does Nebraska require opioid prescribing CME?
Yes, but only for controlled substance prescribers. Physicians who prescribe controlled substances must complete at least three hours of continuing education biennially on prescribing opiates, including at least a half hour specifically on the Nebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.[1] Physicians who do not prescribe controlled substances are not subject to this rule. The three hours count within the 50-hour total rather than stacking on top of it. The statute includes a sunset clause currently set to terminate the requirement on January 1, 2029 absent legislative extension.
When is the Nebraska CME deadline?
Nebraska uses a fixed statewide biennium. Licenses expire October 1 of every even-numbered year (the next deadline is October 1, 2026), and every Nebraska physician shares the same cycle regardless of initial licensure date.[2] This differs from birth-month anchored states and means Nebraska CME vendors typically see concentrated demand in the summer and early fall of even years.
Do residency and fellowship hours count toward Nebraska CME?
Yes. One full year of participation in an ACGME-approved graduate medical education program counts as 50 hours of CME, which effectively satisfies the entire biennial requirement for any physician whose residency or fellowship training covers the reporting period. This is particularly useful for physicians who hold an active Nebraska license during the final year of training or during a dual-state arrangement.
Do MDs and DOs follow the same rules in Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska has a single unified Board of Medicine and Surgery that regulates both allopathic and osteopathic physicians under identical CME rules, with no separate osteopathic board.[2] DOs may satisfy the requirement with AOA Category 1-A credit, AMA PRA Category 1 credit, or a combination, and the board does not impose a minimum ratio between the two.
Do Nebraska MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Nebraska does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery 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. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-145 — Continuing competency; requirements
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Beginning October 1, 2018, physicians prescribing controlled substances must complete at least three hours of continuing education biennially regarding prescribing opiates. At least one-half hour must address the prescription drug monitoring program.”Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-145 · Effective 2018-10-01
  2. Medicine and Surgery Licensure — Nebraska DHHS
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “To renew a license you must have earned 50 hours of Category 1 AMA approved continuing education.”
  3. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-146 — Continuing competency; waivers; audits
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17

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 Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery, 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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