Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants · PA

100 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birth month.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from TBPA~4 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 100 hours is the total CME requirement. Tennessee also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 100-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
Universal mandate — applies to all PAs regardless of DEA registration. Authority: T.C.A. 63-1-402 and Rule 0880-03. Counts within (not in addition to) the 100-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All licensees, regardless of whether they possess a DEA registration, must complete at least two hours of continuing medical education related to controlled substance prescribing, which includes instruction in Tennessee's chronic pain guidelines covering opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol.”
TN Board of PAs homepageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
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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 systemNotes
AMA PRA Category 1
Education must be approved in content, structure and format by either the American Medical Association or the AAPA. AMA PRA Category 1 Credit is the canonical AMA-approved CME.SourceTN Board of PAs homepage[1]
AAPA Category 1
PAs only
AAPA-approved CME is explicitly named as an acceptable source.SourceTN Board of PAs homepage[1]
Documentation & audit

Licensees must retain documentation of completion of all CE hours for a period of four years.[1]

Licenses renew every two years in the licensee's birth month.[1]

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Tennessee.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Tennessee PAs need?
All PAs must complete 100 hours of CME satisfactory to the Board within a two-year period before renewal.[1] Credits must come from programs approved by the AMA or AAPA. The 100-hour figure aligns numerically with the NCCPA certification maintenance standard but is specified independently in Tennessee rules; nccpaDerived: false applies. Within the 100 hours, all PAs must complete at least 2 hours on controlled substance prescribing (universal mandate).
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Tennessee?
Yes. All licensees, regardless of whether they possess a DEA registration, must complete at least 2 hours of CME related to controlled substance prescribing, including instruction in Tennessee's chronic pain guidelines covering opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol.[1] The 2 hours count within the 100-hour total.
Where can I check my Tennessee PA license renewal date?
Tennessee PA license renewal information is available through the Tennessee Department of Health at tn.gov/health/licensure/pa.html.[1] Licenses renew every two years in the licensee's birth month.[1] You can verify your license status through the Tennessee license verification system at apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure.[2]
Does Tennessee require PAs to maintain NCCPA certification?
Tennessee requires current NCCPA certification as an ongoing condition of licensure (not just initial). However, NCCPA maintenance and the state's 100-hour biennial CE requirement are technically separate obligations that may run on different cycles. PAs must satisfy both independently. NCCPA requires 100 CME credits per two-year cycle plus the PANRE exam every 10 years.

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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. Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants — Tennessee Department of Health
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-21
    Show verbatim text
    “Core Requirement: All physician assistants must complete one hundred (100) hours of continuing medical education satisfactory to the Board within a two-year period before renewal. Controlled Substance Education: All licensees, regardless of whether they possess a DEA registration, must complete at least two hours of continuing medical education related to controlled substance prescribing, which includes instruction in Tennessee's chronic pain guidelines covering opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol. Content Approval: Education must be approved in content, structure and format by either the American Medical Association or the AAPA. Documentation: Licensees must retain documentation of completion of all continuing education hours for a period of four (4) years. Renewal Cycle: Licenses renew every two years in the licensee's birth month.”TN Board of PAs homepage
    “All licensees, regardless of whether they possess a DEA registration, must complete at least two hours of continuing medical education related to controlled substance prescribing, which includes instruction in Tennessee's chronic pain guidelines covering opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol.”TN Board of PAs homepage
  2. Tennessee License Verification
    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 Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants, 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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