North Dakota Board of Medicine · MD

40 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birthday.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from NDBM~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

North Dakota has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 40-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your North Dakota 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.

ConditionalLegal / risk[1]
Hrs vary
Biennial

Physicians performing abortions

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Physicians performing abortions must review an instructional course within two years before procedure performance (unless medical emergency), effective January 2026.”
NDBOM CME pageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, North Dakota 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
min 40 hrs
'Licensed physicians are required to complete 40 AMA Category 1 hours of continuing medical education every two years.' All 40 hours must be AMA Category 1 (or equivalent).SourceNDBOM CME page[1]
AOA Category 1-A
DOs only
AOA Category 1 credit accepted as Category 1 equivalent for DOs licensed by NDBOM.SourceNDBOM CME page[1]
ABMS Maintenance of Certification
Current board certification, MOC, or recertification from an ABMS, AOA, or RCPSC member board may substitute in lieu of the 40-hour CME requirement (August 1, 2023 policy).SourceNDBOM CME page[1]
AOA Maintenance of Certification
DOs only
AOA MOC/recertification satisfies the CME requirement in lieu of the 40-hour standard (August 1, 2023 policy).SourceNDBOM CME page[1]
Documentation & audit

Per NDBOM physician renewal page: physician licenses expire biennially on the physician's birthdate.[2] The Board sends email reminders 59 days prior and 14 days prior to expiration.

Waivers & exemptions

Per NDBOM CME page: 'Less than one year licensed: no CME required.' Physicians licensed less than one year are exempt from CME requirements.[1]

Per NDBOM CME page: 'One to two years licensed: 20 CME hours required.' Prorated requirement for PGY-1 reporting window.[1]

Per NDBOM CME page (August 1, 2023 policy): 'Accepting current certification, maintenance of certification, or recertification by a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association, or the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada, in lieu of compliance with continuing education requirements.'[1]

FAQ
How many CME hours do North Dakota physicians need?
North Dakota physicians must complete 40 AMA PRA Category 1 hours of continuing medical education every two years, aligned with the biennial license renewal cycle the North Dakota Board of Medicine uses.[1] Newly licensed physicians get a ramp-up: 0 hours if licensed less than one year, 20 hours if licensed for one to two years, and the full 40 hours once licensed for two years or more.
Are there mandatory CME topics in North Dakota?
There are no recurring universal mandatory CME topics built into the 40-hour total: no required opioid, pain management, implicit bias, or infection control hours.[1] The one significant topical requirement is conditional. Per the NDBOM CME page, physicians performing abortions must review an instructional course within two years before performing the procedure (unless a medical emergency), effective January 2026. Physicians who do not perform abortions are not subject to that training.
Where can I check my North Dakota medical license renewal date?
The North Dakota Board of Medicine maintains a public verification tool at ndbom.org/verify where you can search by name or license number to confirm your license status, your expiration date, and any pending compliance items. Physician licenses expire biennially on the licensee's birthdate.[2] The Board sends renewal notices 59 days and again 14 days before expiration, but the licensee is responsible for tracking the deadline.
What credit types does North Dakota accept?
The North Dakota Board of Medicine's published CME page requires 40 AMA Category 1 hours per biennial cycle.[1] AOA Category 1 credit is accepted for DOs. Physicians with current ABMS, AOA, or RCPSC board certification or maintenance of certification may substitute that ongoing MOC activity in lieu of the standard CME reporting (August 1, 2023 policy).
How does North Dakota audit CME compliance?
North Dakota does not require every renewing physician to submit CME hours at renewal. Instead, the Board audits selected physicians and requests documentation.[1] Audited physicians must provide provider name, program title, hours completed, attendance dates, credit designation evidence, and attendance verification. Records must be retained for at least one year after reporting to the Board. The Board integrates with ACCME's CME Passport / PARS system.
Do North Dakota MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. North Dakota does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the North Dakota Board of Medicine and subject to the same CME requirements (40 hours per renewal cycle).[1]

Never miss a North Dakota CME deadline.

Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your birth month renewal.

Start tracking freeSee how it works

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. CME Requirements - North Dakota Board of Medicine
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Licensed physicians are required to complete 40 AMA Category 1 hours of continuing medical education every two years. … Less than one year licensed: no CME required. One to two years licensed: 20 CME hours required. Two to three years licensed: 40 CME hours required. … As of August 1, 2023, it is accepting current certification, maintenance of certification, or recertification by a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association, or the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada, in lieu of compliance with continuing education requirements. … Every physician is required to maintain a record of all CME activities for at least one year following the time when those CME activities were reported to the Board. … Physicians failing to comply with continuing education requirements in the time and manner specified by the Board will be assessed a fee of $500 and possible disciplinary action.”NDBOM CME page
    “Physicians performing abortions must review an instructional course within two years before procedure performance (unless medical emergency), effective January 2026.”NDBOM CME page
  2. Physician License Renewal Instructions - North Dakota Board of Medicine
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Physicians may initiate renewal 59 days before the expiration date of the license. Licenses expire biennially on the physician's birthdate. … The Board sends email reminders 59 days prior and again at 14 days prior to license expiration.”NDBOM renewal page
  3. North Dakota Administrative Code Chapter 50-04-01 - Continuing Medical Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
  4. North Dakota Century Code Title 43 Chapter 17 - Physicians and Surgeons
    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 North Dakota Board of 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.

Privacy policyTerms of serviceContact