New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Medicine · MD

0 hours. Every three years. Tied to your license expiration.

A source-verified guide to New York's CME requirements for physicians — mandated topics, renewal cycle, and exemptions.[4]

Updated April 2026Sourced from NYSEDOPSBM~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

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

Abuse Reporting[1]
2 hrs
One-time
NY Education Law § 6507 (administered by NYSED) requires 2 hours of coursework or training in identifying and reporting child abuse and maltreatment at initial licensure. Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2021 added curriculum on implicit bias, adverse childhood experiences, and virtual identification (compliance deadline April 1, 2025). Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2024 added curriculum on identifying abuse in children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (compliance deadline November 17, 2026). Universal mandate, one-time.
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.”
NY Educ. Law § 6507See source [1] in Primary Sources
Infectious disease[2]
Hrs vary
Quadrennial
NY Public Health Law § 239 requires physicians, PAs, and specialist assistants to complete NYSED-approved course work or training in infection control and barrier precautions at initial licensure and every four years thereafter. The statute does not specify a fixed number of hours; completion of a NYSED-approved course is what counts. Universal mandate. Tracked as hours: 0 with hoursUnspecified: true.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All physicians, physician assistants, and specialist assistants must complete course work or training in accordance with Section 239 of the Public Health Law at the time of their initial licensure/registration and every four years thereafter.”
NY Pub. Health Law § 239See 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

Physicians registered with the DEA to prescribe controlled substances

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Prescribers licensed under Title 8 of the Education Law in New York to treat humans and who have a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances, as well as medical residents who prescribe controlled substances under a facility DEA registration number, 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.”
NYSDOH Prescriber EducationSee 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
NYSED does not impose a general CME hour requirement — only topic-specific mandated trainings. Mandated trainings must come from NYSED-approved providers. NYSED maintains approved-provider lists for each mandated topic.SourceNYSED Mandated Training[4]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers is commonly used to deliver the mandated topic coursework. Hospital credentialing and MOC typically impose separate CME expectations that most physicians satisfy through AMA PRA Category 1 activity.SourceNYSED Mandated Training[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

Physicians who are not DEA-registered are exempt from the 3-hour pain management, palliative care, and addiction requirement.[3]

Physicians whose practice lacks patient contact may apply to the Department of Health's Bureau of Healthcare-Associated Infections for an infection control exemption.[2]

The child abuse training exemption is available where the physician's practice lacks contact with persons under 18 or with individuals 18+ with disabilities in residential facilities.[1]

FAQ
How many CME hours do New York physicians need?
New York does not require a minimum number of general continuing medical education hours for physician license renewal.[4] Instead, NYSED requires specific mandated trainings: a one-time 2-hour child abuse identification course (with a recently mandated update),[1] infection control coursework once every four years,[2] and a 3-hour pain management course every three years for physicians registered with the DEA.[3] Most New York physicians still take 40 to 60 hours per year to satisfy hospital credentialing or maintenance of certification, but the state itself sets no general hours minimum.
Are there mandatory CME topics in New York?
Yes. New York physicians must complete a one-time 2-hour course on child abuse identification and reporting, plus the updated curriculum on adverse childhood experiences, implicit bias, and virtual identification required by April 1, 2025.[1] A further curriculum update on identifying abuse in children with intellectual or developmental disabilities has a compliance deadline of November 17, 2026.[1] Infection control coursework is required every four years.[2] Physicians who hold a DEA registration must also complete 3 hours of CME in pain management, palliative care, and addiction every three years.[3] Finally, the federal MATE Act adds a one-time 8-hour requirement on substance use disorder treatment for all DEA-registered prescribers.[5]
Where can I check my New York medical license renewal date?
NYSED maintains an online verification search operated by eServices.[6] You can search by name or license number to see your registration status and expiration date. License registration in New York is on a three-year cycle.[7] Renewal notices are mailed to the address of record before expiration, but the licensee is responsible for tracking the date.
Why is New York different from other states?
New York regulates physicians through the New York State Education Department rather than through a standalone medical board.[8] NYSED's rulemaking philosophy has historically focused on specific competency-based mandates — child abuse, infection control, controlled substances — rather than on a general CME hours floor.[4] The legislature has considered general CME hour requirements several times but has not enacted one. Hospital credentialing, ABMS Maintenance of Certification, and malpractice carriers fill the gap in practice.
Does New York accept CME from out-of-state providers?
Yes, for the general expectation of staying current in your field. For the mandated trainings, however, the course must come from a NYSED-approved provider.[4] NYSED maintains lists of approved providers for each mandated topic, and out-of-state courses do not satisfy the New York mandate unless the provider is on the approved list. Always check the provider against the NYSED approved list before using an out-of-state course to satisfy a New York mandate.
Do New York MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. New York does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Medicine, and are subject to the same CME requirements.[9][8]

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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. Mandated Training Related to Child Abuse — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    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.”NYSED Child Abuse Training
  2. Mandated Training Related to Infection Control — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “All physicians, physician assistants, and specialist assistants must complete course work or training in accordance with Section 239 of the Public Health Law at the time of their initial licensure/registration and every four years thereafter.”NYSED Infection Control
  3. NYSDOH Mandatory Prescriber Education — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Prescribers licensed under Title 8 of the Education Law in New York to treat humans and who have a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances, as well as medical residents who prescribe controlled substances under a facility DEA registration number, 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.”NYSDOH Prescriber Education
  4. Mandated Training for Physicians — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  5. DEA MATE Act Training Requirement — Letter to Registrants
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  6. Verification Search — NYSED Office of the Professions
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  7. Physician License Requirements — NYSED
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  8. Medicine — NYSED Office of the Professions
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  9. NY Education Law Article 131 (§§ 6520-6529) — Medicine
    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 New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Medicine, 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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