Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline · MD

40 hours. Every two years. Tied to your calendar year.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from RIBMLD~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 18, 2026

Mandatory topics

For physicians, 40 hours is the total CME requirement. Rhode Island also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 40-hour total.

Alzheimer’s & dementia[1]
1 hr
One-time
One-time per-career requirement; does not repeat each biennium. Confirmed via direct board correspondence (Tara Charland, RIDOH Licensing Aide, 2026-04-17).
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Effective August 1, 2019, every physician has to complete one hour (per career) of CME training regarding Alzheimer's disease.”
RIBMLD Physicians Licensing pageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
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[2]
8 hrs
One-time

Practitioners 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 [2] 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
AMA PRA Category 1
min 40 hrs
'Every physician licensed to practice allopathic or osteopathic medicine in Rhode Island... shall on or before the first (1st) day of June of every even-numbered year, on a biennial basis, earn a minimum of forty (40) hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit / AOA Category 1a continuing medical education credits.' Board-confirmed (2026-04-17): 'There are no specific topics required by the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline for this license renewal cycle. 40 hours of ACCME-accredited training in any topic areas over a two-year period.'Source216-RICR-40-05-1 § 1.5.5(A)[3]
AOA Category 1-A
DOs only
AOA Category 1a is explicitly listed as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1.Source216-RICR-40-05-1 § 1.5.5(A)[3]
ABMS Maintenance of Certification
ABMS MOC participation is considered equivalent to meeting the 40-hour CME requirement.Source216-RICR-40-05-1 § 1.5.5(A)(1)[3]
AOA Maintenance of Certification
DOs only
AOA Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) participation is considered equivalent to meeting the 40-hour CME requirement.Source216-RICR-40-05-1 § 1.5.5(A)(2)[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

A physician's participation in an American Board of Medical Specialty's (ABMS) Maintenance of Certification program will be considered equivalent to meeting CME requirement.[3]

A physician's participation in the AOA's Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) program will be considered equivalent to meeting CME requirement.[3]

The Board may extend for only one (1) six (6) month period such educational requirements.[3]

Participation by duly appointed members of the Board in regular Board meetings and investigating committee meetings shall be considered acceptable on an hours served basis in lieu of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit / AOA Category 1a continuing medical education hours.[3]

FAQ
How many CME hours do Rhode Island physicians need?
Rhode Island physicians must earn at least 40 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit or AOA Category 1a CME credits on or before June 1 of every even-numbered year.[3] The Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline is housed within the Rhode Island Department of Health. Active participation in an ABMS Maintenance of Certification program or AOA Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) program is explicitly recognized as equivalent to the full 40-hour requirement.
Are there mandatory CME topics in Rhode Island?
For the 2026 renewal cycle, the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline has confirmed directly (via Tara Charland, 2026-04-17) that there are no specific topic requirements — the 40-hour biennial requirement may be satisfied with ACCME-accredited training in any topic areas. Some secondary sources still cite a 4-hour 'topics of current concern' sub-requirement, but this is NOT required per direct board correspondence. One per-career Alzheimer's requirement (1 hr) applies to all physicians.[1] Practitioners who prescribe Schedule II opioids face a conditional one-time 8-hour requirement.[2]
Where can I check my Rhode Island medical license renewal date?
Rhode Island uses a uniform renewal schedule. CME is due by June 1 of every even-numbered year, and licenses expire biennially on July 1 of even-numbered years.[3] You can confirm your license status and expiration date through the RIDOH eLicense verification portal at healthri.mylicense.com. RIDOH sends renewal notices approximately 60 days before the deadline.
Does board certification satisfy Rhode Island CME requirements?
Yes. ABMS MOC participation and AOA OCC participation are each 'considered equivalent to meeting CME requirement.'[3] Physicians actively participating in one of those programs do not need to separately track 40 hours of Category 1 credit.
What happens if a Rhode Island physician misses the June 1 deadline?
Licensure renewal shall be denied to any applicant who fails to provide satisfactory evidence of continuing medical education as required by this Part.[3] The Board may grant a one-time six-month extension of the CME deadline. Licenses not renewed by July 1 auto-lapse and require reinstatement.
Do Rhode Island MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Rhode Island does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and subject to the same CME requirements (40 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. Physicians — Rhode Island Department of Health
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “Effective August 1, 2019, every physician has to complete one hour (per career) of CME training regarding Alzheimer's disease.”RIBMLD Physicians Licensing page
  2. 216-RICR-20-20-4 — Controlled Substance Prescriber CE (Opioid Requirement)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    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)
  3. 216-RICR-40-05-1 — Licensure and Discipline of Physicians
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “Every physician licensed to practice allopathic or osteopathic medicine in Rhode Island under the provisions of the Act and this Part, shall on or before the first (1st) day of June of every even-numbered year, on a biennial basis, earn a minimum of forty (40) hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™/AOA Category 1a continuing medical education credits and shall document this to the Board.”216-RICR-40-05-1 § 1.5.5

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 Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, 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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