Oregon Medical Board · PA

60 hours. Every two years. NCCPA MOC fully satisfies the requirement.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from OMB~4 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 60 hours is the total CME requirement. Oregon also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 60-hour total.

Pain management & end-of-life care[1]
1 hr
Biennial
The rule covers all OMB licensees — physicians, DOs, podiatrists, and physician associates equally; PAs are not exempted. The free OPMC course 'Transforming Pain Management: A Journey to Better Care' (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit) is the Board-designated vehicle. Counts toward (not in addition to) the 60-hour biennial total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All licensees of the Oregon Medical Board, except the licensees listed in section (2) of this rule, must complete one-hour of continuing education in pain management at initial licensure and every 24 months provided by the Pain Management Commission of the Department of Human Services.”
OAR 847-008-0075(1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Cultural competency[2]
2 hrs
Biennial
Per the OMB Continuing Education page: PAs must complete an average of at least 1 hour of cultural competency education per year during the audit period (typically two renewal cycles, about four years). Counts within the 60-hour biennial total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Cultural competency CME”
OAR 847-008-0070(6)(a)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Alzheimer’s & dementia[2]
Hrs vary
Biennial
Designated required topic for PAs; no specific hour minimum codified. Tracked as hours: 0 with hoursUnspecified: true.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Alzheimer's disease detection and antipsychotic prescribing CME (required for physicians and physician assistants; encouraged for primary care and geriatric practitioners).”
OAR 847-008-0070(6)(c)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Suicide prevention[2]
Hrs vary
Biennial
Designated topic for PAs; no specific hour minimum in the rule text retrieved. Tracked as hours: 0 with hoursUnspecified: true.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management CME”
OAR 847-008-0070(6)(b)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Oregon 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.

ConditionalGeneral CME[3]
30 hrs
Annual

PAs who have ceased practice for 12 or more months

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Practitioners ceasing practice for 12 or more months must obtain current NCCPA certification OR complete 30 hours per year of Category I continuing medical education acceptable to the Board before resuming practice.”
OAR 847-050-0043See source [3] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Oregon 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 Category 1 (pre-approved) accepted toward the 60-hour biennial requirement.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(D)[2]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA Category 1 accepted.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(A)[2]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1-A or 2-A accepted.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(B)[2]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
APMA Council on Podiatric Medical Education approved sponsors accepted.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(C)[2]
ABMS Maintenance of Certification
PAs only
Ongoing MOC via NCCPA (or ABMS, AOA-BOS, ABPM, ABFAS, NCCAOM) satisfies the CME requirement in lieu of 60 individual hours. Lifetime certification alone is insufficient per subsection (4).SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(a)[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

Licensees in residency training are exempt from CME requirements.

Volunteer Camp licensees are exempt from CME requirements.

Teleradiology and Telemonitoring license holders are exempt from the OPMC pain management course specifically.

Emeritus status PAs (physician associates) complete 15 hours/year in place of the active 30 hours/year.

Military training or experience substantially equivalent to required CME satisfies the requirement.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Oregon PAs need?
Oregon PAs must complete 60 hours of continuing medical education per biennial renewal period.[2] Alternatively, active participation in NCCPA maintenance of certification satisfies the entire CME requirement. Lifetime certification alone does not qualify — the MOC must be ongoing and active.[2]
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Oregon?
Yes. All Oregon PAs must complete the Oregon Pain Management Commission (OPMC) 1-hour course at initial licensure and every two years thereafter.[1] PAs must also complete an average of 1 hour per year of cultural competency education during each audit period (~2 hours per biennium).[2] Suicide risk assessment/treatment/management CME and Alzheimer's disease detection/antipsychotic prescribing CME are designated required topics for PAs, though hour minimums are not codified in the rule text.[2] All topics count toward the 60-hour biennial total.
Where can I check my Oregon PA license renewal date?
Oregon PA license renewal information is available through the Oregon Medical Board's website at oregon.gov/omb. PAs can verify their individual license expiration date through the Board's licensee search.
Does NCCPA certification satisfy Oregon CE requirements?
Yes. Ongoing participation in NCCPA maintenance of certification satisfies the CME requirement.[2] The Oregon Medical Board verifies NCCPA certification status directly. Lifetime NCCPA certification alone does not qualify — the PA must be actively maintaining certification through the current NCCPA cycle. PAs relying on this pathway should still complete the biennial OPMC course and track designated topics separately if they may be audited.
What happens if an Oregon PA fails a CME audit?
If selected for audit, you have 60 days from the audit notification to provide documentation. Penalties escalate as follows: a $250 fine plus a 120-day compliance deadline; a $1,000 fine if non-compliant within 120 days; and license suspension (minimum 90 days) if non-compliant within 180 days.[2]

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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. OAR 847-008-0075 — Mandatory Pain Management Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “All licensees of the Oregon Medical Board, except the licensees listed in section (2) of this rule, must complete one-hour of continuing education in pain management at initial licensure and every 24 months provided by the Pain Management Commission of the Department of Human Services.”OAR 847-008-0075(1)
  2. OAR 847-008-0070 — Continuing Medical Competency (Education)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “To demonstrate medical competency, an active status licensee shall comply with one of the following: (a) Ongoing participation in a program of recertification or maintenance of certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (AOA-BOS), the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS), the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM); or (b) 60 hours of continuing medical education (CME) per two years relevant to the licensee's current medical practice from: (A) AMA Category 1; (B) AOA Category 1-A or 2-A; (C) APMA Council on Podiatric Medical Education approved sponsors; or (D) AAPA Category 1 (pre-approved).”OAR 847-008-0070
    “Cultural competency CME”OAR 847-008-0070(6)(a)
    “Alzheimer's disease detection and antipsychotic prescribing CME (required for physicians and physician assistants; encouraged for primary care and geriatric practitioners).”OAR 847-008-0070(6)(c)
    “Suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management CME”OAR 847-008-0070(6)(b)
  3. OAR 847-050 — Physician Associate Rules
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Practitioners ceasing practice for 12 or more months must obtain current NCCPA certification OR complete 30 hours per year of Category I continuing medical education acceptable to the Board before resuming practice.”OAR 847-050-0043

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 Oregon Medical Board, 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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