New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions · PA

No general CE hours. Mandated trainings only. Every three years.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from NYSED(OP~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 0 hours is the total CME requirement. New York also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 0-hour total.

Infectious disease[1]
Hrs vary
Quadrennial
Infection control and barrier precautions training required at initial licensure, then every 4 years. Seven core elements jointly approved by NYSED/DOH (including HIV/HBV transmission prevention). Must be from NYSED- or DOH-approved provider. Universal mandate. 4-year cycle independent of 3-year registration. Hours not specified — tracked as hours: 0 with hoursUnspecified: true per Decision 4.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Physician assistants must complete training in accordance with Section 239 of the Public Health Law at the time of their initial licensure/registration and every four years thereafter.”
PHL § 239See source [1] in Primary Sources
Abuse Reporting[2]
2 hrs
One-time
Child abuse identification and reporting training per Social Services Law 413. PAs are mandated reporters. Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2021 added updated curriculum on ACEs, implicit bias, and virtual identification (deadline April 1, 2025). Chapter 25 of Laws of 2024 added protocols for children with intellectual/developmental disabilities (deadline November 17, 2026). Universal mandate, one-time with updates.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Two hours of coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment must be completed upon initial licensure application.”
Social Services Law § 413See 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 / controlled substances[3]
3 hrs
Triennial

PAs registered with the DEA to prescribe controlled substances

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Prescribers licensed under New York Education Law Title 8 who have DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances must complete training. Prescribers are required to complete at least three (3) hours of course work or training in pain management, palliative care, and addiction by July 1, 2017, and once every three (3) years thereafter.”
NY Education Law Title 8See source [3] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, New York 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
Board-approved credit
PAs only
NYSED does not impose a general PA CE hour requirement — only topic-specific mandated trainings. Mandated trainings must come from NYSED-approved or DOH-approved providers.SourceNYSED Mandated Training (PA)[4]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers is commonly used to deliver mandated topic coursework.SourceNYSED Mandated Training (PA)[4]
AAPA Category 1
PAs only
AAPA Category 1 CME credit satisfies NCCPA certification maintenance (the separate national obligation).SourceNYSED Mandated Training (PA)[4]
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 without DEA registration are exempt from the 3-hour controlled substance prescriber education requirement and the 8-hour federal MATE Act training.[3]

PAs in non-patient-contact roles may apply to the DOH Bureau of Healthcare-Associated Infections for exemption from the infection control training requirement.[1]

FAQ
How many CE hours do New York PAs need?
New York does not impose a minimum number of general continuing education hours on PAs for state license renewal.[4] Instead, the state requires completion of specific mandated trainings: infection control and barrier precautions (every 4 years), controlled substance prescriber education (3 hours every 3 years for DEA-registered PAs), and child abuse identification and reporting (one-time). This makes New York one of the least burdensome states for PA CE compliance at the state level, though most employers and hospitals require significant CME independently.
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in New York?
Yes, though they are mandated trainings rather than a general CE hour requirement. PAs with DEA registration must complete 3 hours on pain management, palliative care, and addiction every three years.[3] All PAs must complete infection control and barrier precautions training every four years from an approved provider.[1] PAs must also complete a one-time child abuse identification and reporting course.[2] The federal MATE Act additionally requires 8 hours of one-time substance use disorder training for all DEA-registered practitioners.
Where can I check my New York PA license renewal date?
You can check your license status and renewal date through the NYSED Online Verification Search at op.nysed.gov.[5] PA registrations in New York renew every three years based on the individual license expiration date. NYSED mails renewal applications approximately four months before expiration. Online renewal is available at eservices.nysed.gov.
Does New York require NCCPA certification for PA license renewal?
No. New York does not require current NCCPA certification as a condition of state license renewal. NCCPA certification maintenance, which requires 100 CME hours per two-year cycle and the PANRE examination every 10 years, is a separate national certification requirement. However, most hospitals, health systems, and employers in New York require NCCPA certification and documented CME as a condition of credentialing and employment, even though the state licensing authority does not.

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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. Infection Control Training for PAs — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “Physician assistants must complete training in accordance with Section 239 of the Public Health Law at the time of their initial licensure/registration and every four years thereafter.”PHL § 239
  2. Mandated Training Related to Child Abuse — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “Two hours of coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment must be completed upon initial licensure application.”Social Services Law § 413
  3. NYSDOH Mandatory Prescriber Education (PAs) — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
    Show verbatim text
    “Prescribers licensed under New York Education Law Title 8 who have DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances must complete training. Prescribers are required to complete at least three (3) hours of course work or training in pain management, palliative care, and addiction by July 1, 2017, and once every three (3) years thereafter.”NY Education Law Title 8 · Effective 2017-07-01
  4. Mandated Training for Physician Assistants — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16
  5. Physician Assistants — NYSED Office of the Professions
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-16

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 New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of the Professions, 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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