Board of Licensure of Physician Assistants (Rhode Island Department of Health) · PA

25 hours. License renews biennially in June of odd years.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from BLPA(IDH~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

Rhode Island has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 25-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Rhode Island 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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
8 hrs
One-time

PAs who prescribe Schedule II opioids

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Any practitioner who prescribes a Schedule II opioid is required to successfully complete eight (8) hours of Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (or equivalent in Continuing Education Units/Continuing Education).”
216-RICR-20-20-4 § 4.4(P)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Rhode Island 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
'Approved continuing medical education.' AAPA Category 1 CME is the canonical NCCPA Category I credit and is widely accepted as 'approved' in this context.Source216-RICR-40-05-24 § 24.8[2]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers qualifies as approved CME for Rhode Island PA licensure.Source216-RICR-40-05-24 § 24.8[2]
AOA Category 1-A
AOA Category 1-A credit qualifies as approved CME for Rhode Island PA licensure.Source216-RICR-40-05-24 § 24.8[2]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
The 8-hour Schedule II opioid CE must be Category 1 CME or equivalent CEUs.Source216-RICR-20-20-4 § 4.4(P)[1]
Documentation & audit

Cycle runs July 1 through June 30. Documentation must be retained for a minimum of 4 years and is subject to random Board audit. The Department shall not renew the certificate of licensure until the applicant has attested to satisfactory evidence of completion of the required CME.[2]

Waivers & exemptions

PAs initially licensed after July 1 are exempt from CE until the next renewal cycle — the first partial licensure year is not subject to the CE requirement.

The Board may grant an extension of time to complete CE for reasons of hardship or other extenuating circumstances.

PAs may request inactive status without paying renewal fees. Reactivation after 2+ years of inactivity requires establishing clinical competency through continuing education, maintained certification, or Board-approved evaluation.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Rhode Island PAs need?
Rhode Island PAs must complete 25 hours of approved continuing medical education annually. The statute requires 'twenty-five (25) hours of approved continuing medical education annually.'[3] The regulation implements this with a July 1 – June 30 one-year accumulation window.[2] The PA license itself renews biennially: it expires June 30 of every odd-numbered year with renewals due June 1.[3][2]
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Rhode Island?
The PA regulation does not enumerate mandatory topics within the approved CME hours.[2] However, PAs who prescribe Schedule II opioids must complete a conditional one-time 8-hour Category 1 CME requirement covering opioid pharmacology, adverse events, dependence, substance use disorder, or alternatives.[1] DATA 2000 waiver training with an active DEA 'X' designation satisfies this requirement.
Where can I check my Rhode Island PA license renewal date?
Rhode Island PA license renewal is managed online through healthri.mylicense.com. All PA licenses in Rhode Island expire on June 30 of every odd-numbered year.[2] Renewal applications are due by June 1, and renewal notices are sent 60 days before expiration.
Is NCCPA certification separate from Rhode Island CE?
Yes. Rhode Island requires passing the NCCPA PANCE (or Board-approved national exam) for initial PA licensure.[3] Layer 1 does not make ongoing NCCPA certification a renewal condition separate from the state CE requirement. NCCPA's own certification maintenance cycle (100 CME credits per 2-year period plus PANRE every 10 years) runs independently from the state's CE obligation. Because the state CE figure is specified independently of NCCPA, nccpaDerived: false applies.
How long must Rhode Island PAs keep CE documentation?
Rhode Island PAs must retain course descriptions and proof of CE completion for a minimum of 4 years.[2] The Board verifies compliance through random audits, and PAs selected for audit must produce documentation covering the relevant period.

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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. 216-RICR-20-20-4 — Pain Management, Opioid Use, and Registration of Controlled Substance Distributors
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Any practitioner who prescribes a Schedule II opioid is required to successfully complete eight (8) hours of Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (or equivalent in Continuing Education Units/Continuing Education).”216-RICR-20-20-4 § 4.4(P)
  2. 216-RICR-40-05-24 — Licensure of Physician Assistants
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-54-22 every physician assistant licensed to practice in the State of Rhode Island shall be required to have satisfactorily completed twenty-five (25) hours of approved continuing medical education every years. … The period for accumulation of continuing medical education hours shall commence on the first (1st) day of July and run through the thirtieth (30th) day of June. The Department shall not renew the certificate of licensure until the applicant has attested to satisfactory evidence of completion of the required continuing medical education. … Course descriptions, proof of attendance, or other documentation of completion shall be retained by the licensee for a minimum of four (4) years and is subject to random audit by the Board. … Physician assistants initially licensed after the July 1st renewal date shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements stated in this Part until the date of the next renewal cycle (i.e., June 30th of the next odd numbered year).”216-RICR-40-05-24 § 24.8 · Effective 2022-01-04
  3. R.I. Gen. Laws Title 5, Chapter 54 — Physician Assistants
    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 Board of Licensure of Physician Assistants (Rhode Island Department of Health), 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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