Oregon Medical Board · MD

60 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license expiration.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from OMB~7 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For physicians, 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
Recurring biennial requirement — applies at initial licensure and every 24 months thereafter. The free OPMC course 'Transforming Pain Management: A Journey to Better Care' (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit) is the Board-designated vehicle and counts within the 60-hour biennial total. Teleradiology and Telemonitoring licensees are exempt; lapsed license holders are also exempt. PAs are subject to the same rule.
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
Measured as an average of at least 1 hour per year across the audit period (typically two renewal cycles, about four years). Qualifying activities are defined broadly: in-person or online courses, experiential learning, volunteering, implicit bias training, and employer-sponsored programs all count. Applies within (not in addition to) the 60-hour biennial total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Licensees must complete an average of at least one hour of cultural competency education per year during an audit period (typically two renewal cycles, about four years). The education must teach "attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enable a health care professional to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities."”
OMB CE pageSee source [2] in Primary Sources
Alzheimer’s & dementia[3]
Hrs vary
Biennial
Designated required topic for physicians and PAs; particularly encouraged for primary care and geriatric practitioners. No specific hour minimum is codified. Counts toward the general 60-hour biennial total.
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 [3] in Primary Sources
Suicide prevention[3]
Hrs vary
Biennial
Designated required topic for physicians and PAs. No specific hour minimum is codified. Counts toward the general 60-hour biennial total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management CME”
OAR 847-008-0070(6)(b)See source [3] 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.

ConditionalProcedures[3]
100 hrs
Annual

Practitioners performing Level II office-based surgery who lack board certification

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Practitioners performing Level II office-based surgery who lack board certification must obtain 50 hours of CME each year relevant to planned procedures, using accredited sources per section (1)(b). Cultural competency and general CME do not satisfy this requirement.”
OAR 847-008-0070(7)See 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
AMA PRA Category 1
'AMA Category 1' is accepted toward the 60-hour biennial requirement.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(A)[3]
AOA Category 1-A
DOs only
'AOA Category 1-A or 2-A' accepted.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(B)[3]
AOA Category 2
DOs only
AOA Category 2-A specifically listed alongside 1-A.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(B)[3]
AAPA Category 1
'AAPA Category 1 (pre-approved)' accepted.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(D)[3]
Board-approved credit
APMA Council on Podiatric Medical Education approved sponsors accepted. NCBAHM-approved courses (30 hrs / 2 years) accepted for acupuncturists.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(b)(C), (1)(c)[3]
ABMS Maintenance of Certification
'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)' satisfies the CME requirement. 'Lifetime certification alone does not satisfy the Board's requirements.'SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(a), (4)[3]
AOA Maintenance of Certification
DOs only
AOA-BOS MOC satisfies the CME requirement.SourceOAR 847-008-0070(1)(a)[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

Per OAR 847-008-0070(10)(a): 'Licensees in residency training' are exempt from CME requirements.[3]

Per OAR 847-008-0070(10)(b): 'Volunteer Camp licensees' are exempt from CME requirements.[3]

Per OMB Continuing Education page: Teleradiology and Telemonitoring license holders are exempt from the OPMC pain management course specifically (not from the general 60-hour requirement).[2]

Per OAR 847-008-0070(2): Emeritus status licensees complete 15 hours/year (or an equivalent MOC/NCBAHM pathway) in place of the active-status 30 hours/year.[3]

Per OAR 847-008-0070(5): 'Military service members may satisfy requirements by providing documentation of military training or experience that is substantially equivalent to the continuing education required.'[3]

FAQ
How many CME hours do Oregon physicians need?
Oregon physicians licensed by the Oregon Medical Board must complete 60 hours of continuing medical education every two years (30 hours per year).[3] The 60 hours can be AMA Category 1, AOA Category 1-A or 2-A, APMA-approved, or AAPA Category 1 (pre-approved). Oregon also allows physicians to satisfy the general CME requirement through ongoing MOC via ABMS, AOA-BOS, ABPM, ABFAS, NCCPA, or NCCAOM. Lifetime certification alone does not satisfy the requirement.
What are Oregon's mandatory CME topics?
Oregon requires the Oregon Pain Management Commission (OPMC) 1-hour course at initial licensure and every two years thereafter — a biennial recurring requirement.[1] All Oregon physicians must also complete an average of 1 hour of cultural competency education per year during each audit period (about 2 hours per biennium).[2] Suicide risk assessment/treatment/management CME and Alzheimer's disease detection/antipsychotic prescribing CME are designated required topics for physicians and PAs, though hour minimums are not codified in the rule text retrieved.[3] All of these topics count toward the 60-hour biennial total.
Is the 6-hour one-time pain management / end-of-life requirement still in effect?
No. Oregon primary sources confirm there is no current one-time 6-hour pain management or terminally ill patient CME requirement for physicians. The claim originates in an earlier version of OAR 847-008-0075 that required 1 hour Oregon-specific plus a minimum of 6 hours in pain management and/or treatment of terminally ill and dying patients — but Section (3) of that historical rule explicitly required the CME to be "completed after January 1, 2000, and before January 2, 2009," making it a time-bounded (effectively one-time) requirement that has since expired. The current rule requires only 1 hour of OPMC pain-management education at initial licensure and every 24 months thereafter,[1] and ORS 413.590 provides the statutory framework.[4] The Oregon Death with Dignity Act also imposes no CME requirement on participating physicians.[5] Third-party CME directories that still cite the 6-hour requirement are relying on expired rule text.
Does Maintenance of Certification satisfy Oregon CME?
Yes, under specific conditions. Oregon physicians may satisfy the general CME requirement through ongoing MOC via ABMS, AOA-BOS, ABPM, ABFAS, NCCPA, or NCCAOM.[3] Lifetime certification alone does not satisfy the requirement — the MOC must be ongoing and active.
How does Oregon audit physicians for CME?
The Oregon Medical Board conducts random audits. Audited licensees have 60 days to respond with documentation including licensee name, attendance date, credit type, course name, and topic.[3][2] Deficient CME results in a $250 fine plus 120-day compliance deadline, $1,000 fine if non-compliant within 120 days, and license suspension (minimum 90 days) if non-compliant within 180 days.[3]
Do Oregon MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Oregon does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Oregon Medical Board and subject to the same CME requirements (60 hours per renewal cycle).

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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
  2. Continuing Education — Oregon Medical Board
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “All actively licensed Board licensees must complete the Oregon Pain Management Commission's (OPMC) continuing education course at initial licensure and every two years. 1 hour every two years. … Licensees must complete an average of at least one hour of cultural competency education per year during an audit period (typically two renewal cycles, about four years). … Documentation must include: Licensee name, Date of attendance, Number and type of credits, Course name and topic. … Audited licensees have 60 days from the date on the audit notification to provide documentation.”OMB CE page
    “Licensees must complete an average of at least one hour of cultural competency education per year during an audit period (typically two renewal cycles, about four years). The education must teach "attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enable a health care professional to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities."”OMB CE page
  3. 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 … ; 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) … (4) Lifetime certification alone does not satisfy the Board's requirements of ongoing specialty board maintenance of certification.”OAR 847-008-0070
    “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)
    “Practitioners performing Level II office-based surgery who lack board certification must obtain 50 hours of CME each year relevant to planned procedures, using accredited sources per section (1)(b). Cultural competency and general CME do not satisfy this requirement.”OAR 847-008-0070(7)
  4. ORS 413.590 — Pain Management Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “The following practitioners must complete a pain management education program described in ORS 413.572 (1)(c) or an equivalent pain management education program … at initial licensure and every 36 months thereafter”ORS 413.590
  5. ORS 127.815 — Death with Dignity Act (attending physician responsibilities; no CME requirement)
    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 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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