Tennessee CME Requirements for Osteopathic Physicians (DO)

Mandatory topics

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

Opioid / controlled substances[1]

2 hrs

Biennial

Universal mandate applying to ALL licensees regardless of DEA registration status. Statutory exemption under T.C.A. 63-1-402(c) applies to board-certified specialists in qualifying fields (pain management, anesthesiology, PM&R, neurology, rheumatology). Counts within the 40-hour total. Primary source verified 2026-04-19.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“Unless exempt under T.C.A. 63-1-402(c), all licensees holding a current Tennessee license shall complete a minimum of two (2) of the forty (40) required hours of continuing medical education related to controlled substance prescribing, which must include instruction in the Department's treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol and may include topics such as medicine addiction, risk management tools, and other topics approved by the Board.”

1050-02-.12(1)(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Tennessee cycle automatically. Start tracking free →

Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Tennessee 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 system	Notes
AOA Category 1-A DOs only	DO CME is tracked in AOA Categories I-A, II-A, and I-B. Courses must be approved in content, structure, and/or format by the AOA, ACCME, ACCME-recognized state medical associations, or the AAFP as prescribed credit.Source`1050-02-.12(1)(a)/(2)(a)`[1]
AMA PRA Category 1 DOs only	ACCME-accredited (AMA PRA Category 1-equivalent) CME explicitly accepted alongside AOA-category CME. No separate minimum for AMA vs. AOA credit.Source`1050-02-.12(2)(a)`[1]
AAFP Prescribed DOs only	AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted on equal terms with AOA and ACCME credit.Source`1050-02-.12(2)(b)`[1]
AOA_CATEGORY_1B DOs onlymax 20 hrs	No more than 20 hours of the 40-hour biennial requirement may be obtained in AOA Category I-B. Preceptor work in an AOA-approved osteopathic medical education program earns one Category I-B credit per hour of preceptor work actually performed, up to 50% of the biennial requirement.Source`1050-02-.12(1)(c)`[1]

Documentation & audit

Documentation must be retained for 4 years from the end of the calendar year in which the CME was acquired.[1] Acceptable documentation: original/photocopy provider certificates or letters, AAFP CME documentation, or official transcripts.[2]

Waivers & exemptions

Board-certified DOs (ABMS, AOA, or ABPS) in pain management, anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, or rheumatology, and providers practicing at a registered pain management clinic, are exempt from the 2-hour controlled substance prescribing requirement (but still owe 40 hours total CME).

Board may waive CME requirements for illness, disability, or other undue hardship beyond the control of the licensee. Written request must be sent to the Board's Administrative Office prior to the expiration of the renewal period in which the CME is due, and prior to the application for renewal.[1]

Retired-status licensees are exempt from all CME requirements. Exemption applies to those whose license is in retired status pursuant to rule 1050-02-.08.[1]

DOs who obtain licensure in the same calendar year as successful completion of the NBOME, COMLEX, or USMLE Step 3 are exempt from CME requirements for that calendar year only.[1]

FAQ

How many CME hours do Tennessee DOs need?

Tennessee DOs must complete 40 hours of CME during the 24-month period ending on the licensee's license expiration date, in AOA Category I-A, II-A, and/or I-B.[1] The Board's published CME FAQ confirms DOs may concentrate all 40 hours in a single year within the two-year window.[2] AMA PRA Category 1 (ACCME-accredited) and AAFP Prescribed credit are accepted on equal terms with AOA credit.[1] Preceptor credit is available at up to 50% of the requirement (20 hours).

How is the Tennessee DO rule different from the MD rule?

Tennessee DOs are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination; MDs are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Core numerical and content requirements — 40 hours per two-year renewal cycle and the 2-hour Tennessee-specific controlled-substance prescribing CME — are substantively identical, with the same specialty-based exemptions for pain management, anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, and rheumatology.[1] The Board's published CME FAQ documents a lower civil-penalty rate for DOs ($40 per deficient Category I-A/II-A hour versus $100 per hour for MDs), plus a requirement that deficient licensees complete 10 additional penalty hours.[2]

What qualifies a Tennessee DO for preceptor credit?

Osteopathic physicians serving as preceptors in an AOA-approved osteopathic medical education program may earn one AOA Category I-B credit for each hour of preceptor work actually performed.[2] The Category I-B cap is 20 hours — 50% of the 40-hour biennial requirement.[1] Documentation must be retained for 4 years following the close of the calendar year in which the CME was completed.

40 hours biennially. Tennessee-specific controlled-substance CME. Preceptor credit up to 20 hours.

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Sources & Citations