Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners · PA

40 hours. Every 2 years. Tied to your license expiration.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from NSBME~5 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 9, 2026

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 40 hours is the total CME requirement. Nevada also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 40-hour total.

Ethics, Pain Management, or Addiction Care[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
Two hours in Ethics, Pain Management or Addiction Care (physician's choice of any one), per the Board's CME Requirements Summary — the topic label used here follows the rule text's 'medical ethics' framing where the summary's menu applies. Universal mandate. Counts within the 40-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All licensees must complete a minimum of 2 hours of Ethics, Pain Management or Addiction Care CME each biennium”
NSBME CME Requirements Summary — 'For all active Physician, Physician Assistant & Anesthesiologist Assistant licensees.'See source [1] in Primary Sources
Suicide Prevention[2]
2 hrs
Quadrennial
Evidence-based suicide detection, intervention, and prevention training. Required within 2 years of initial licensure, then every 4 years thereafter. Universal mandate.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“The Board shall require each holder of a license to practice medicine to receive as a portion of his or her continuing education at least 2 hours of instruction every 4 years on evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness”
NRS 630.253(5) — Nevada PAs are licensed by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners under NRS 630 (this file's own boardName); statute applies to 'each holder of a license to practice medicine' under the Board's jurisdictionSee source [2] 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[3]
2 hrs
Biennial

PAs registered to dispense controlled substances under NRS 453.231

View sourceVerbatim from source
“a physician assistant who is registered to dispense controlled substances pursuant to [NRS 453.231](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-453.html#NRS453Sec231) shall, during each period for biennial registration, complete at least 2 hours of continuing medical education relating specifically to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids.”
NAC 630.358See source [3] in Primary Sources
ConditionalCultural Competency & Health Equity[4]
2 hrs
Biennial

PAs supervised by a psychiatrist

View sourceVerbatim from source
“biennial completion by each psychiatrist and each physician assistant practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist of one or more courses of instruction that provide at least 2 hours of instruction relating to cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusion.”
NRS 630.253(2)(d) — the statute expressly names 'each physician assistant practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist.' Also referenced in the NSBME CME summary.See source [4] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Nevada 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 only
AAPA-recognized CME satisfies the 40-hour biennial requirement.SourceNAC 630.350[3]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers accepted.SourceNAC 630.350[3]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
NSBME-approved programs. 20 of the 40 hours must be within the licensee's scope of practice or specialty.SourceNAC 630.350[3]
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

Newly licensed PAs receive prorated CE requirements based on when during the biennial period the license was issued: 40 hours (first 6 months), 30 hours (second 6 months), 20 hours (third 6 months), 10 hours (fourth 6 months).[3] The scope-of-practice requirement is prorated proportionally.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Nevada PAs need?
Nevada physician assistants must complete 40 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit every two years, with at least 20 hours within the PA's scope of practice or specialty.[3] PA licenses run from July 1 of odd-numbered years through June 30 two years later. Newly licensed PAs receive prorated requirements based on when during the biennial period they were licensed, ranging from 40 hours down to 10 hours.[3]
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Nevada?
Nevada has several mandatory CE topics. All PAs must complete 2 hours per biennial period in ethics, pain management, and/or addiction care.[2] PAs registered to dispense controlled substances need an additional 2 hours on substance use disorders and opioid prescribing.[3] A 2-hour suicide prevention course is required within 2 years of initial licensure and every 4 years after that.[2] PAs supervised by psychiatrists must also complete 2 hours of cultural competency/DEI per biennium. Note: the prior 4-hour bioterrorism/WMD training requirement has been repealed by Nevada AB 56 (2025).[5]
Where can I check my Nevada PA license renewal date?
The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners manages PA licensing at medboard.nv.gov.[6] PA licenses expire on June 30 of odd-numbered years. The Board sends email renewal notifications at least 60 days before expiration. PAs who let their license lapse may reinstate within 2 years by paying double the biennial fee and submitting proof of all required CE.[3]
What is the scope-of-practice CE requirement in Nevada?
Of the 40 total CE hours required biennially, at least 20 must be within the PA's scope of practice or specialty area.[3] This means half of a Nevada PA's continuing education must be directly relevant to how they practice. The remaining 20 hours may come from any AMA PRA Category 1 activity. Newly licensed PAs have proportionally reduced scope-of-practice requirements matching their prorated total.

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Other roles in Nevada

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. NSBME CME Requirements Summary for MDs, PAs, and AAs
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “All licensees must complete a minimum of 2 hours of Ethics, Pain Management or Addiction Care CME each biennium”NSBME CME Requirements Summary — 'For all active Physician, Physician Assistant & Anesthesiologist Assistant licensees.'
  2. NRS 630.253 -- Active Licensees: Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “The Board shall require each holder of a license to practice medicine to receive as a portion of his or her continuing education at least 2 hours of instruction every 4 years on evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness”NRS 630.253(5) — Nevada PAs are licensed by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners under NRS 630 (this file's own boardName); statute applies to 'each holder of a license to practice medicine' under the Board's jurisdiction
  3. NAC 630.153 -- Physicians: Continuing Medical Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Each physician who is registered pursuant to NRS 630.267 must complete 40 hours of continuing medical education during the preceding 2 years, 2 hours of which must be in medical ethics and 20 hours of which must be in the scope of practice or specialty.”NAC 630.153(1)
    “a physician assistant who is registered to dispense controlled substances pursuant to [NRS 453.231](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-453.html#NRS453Sec231) shall, during each period for biennial registration, complete at least 2 hours of continuing medical education relating specifically to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids.”NAC 630.358
    “A physician assistant who is registered to dispense controlled substances pursuant to NRS 453.231 shall, during each period for biennial registration, complete at least 2 hours of continuing medical education relating specifically to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids.”NAC 630.358
  4. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-630.html
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “biennial completion by each psychiatrist and each physician assistant practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist of one or more courses of instruction that provide at least 2 hours of instruction relating to cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusion.”NRS 630.253(2)(d) — the statute expressly names 'each physician assistant practicing under the supervision of a psychiatrist.' Also referenced in the NSBME CME summary.
  5. Nevada AB 56 (2025) -- Enrolled
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-20
  6. Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners -- CE Requirements
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21

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 Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners, 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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