Virginia Board of Medicine · PA

100 hours via NCCPA. Every 2 years. Tied to your birth month.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from VBM~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

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

Human trafficking[1]
1 hr
Biennial
HISTORICAL (2024-2025 cycles only). Per HB 1426 (2023) and § 54.1-2928.3 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Medicine was authorized to designate up to 2 hours of specific-topic CE per biennial cycle. The Board voted October 19, 2023 to require 1 hour of human trafficking CE for renewal cycles 2024 and 2025. The February 27, 2025 amendment to 18VAC85-20-235 removed topic-specific mandates, and Virginia Board of Medicine email (medbd@dhp.virginia.gov, 2026-04-18) confirmed: 'There are no specific requirements like there were in the past with Opioids or Human Trafficking.' Retained as historical context; no active mandatory topic is currently in force for VA PAs at the state level.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“The Board of Medicine was authorized to designate up to 2 hours of specific-topic CE per biennial cycle. The Board voted October 19, 2023 to require 1 hour of human trafficking CE for renewal cycles 2024 and 2025.”
HB 1426 (2023); § 54.1-2928.3, Code of Virginia; VBM Board vote 10/19/2023See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Virginia 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
Virginia defers entirely to the NCCPA standard — any credit that counts toward NCCPA certification maintenance satisfies the state requirement. AAPA Category 1 CME Credit is the canonical NCCPA Category I credit.Source18VAC85-50-56(A)[2]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers satisfies NCCPA Category I.Source18VAC85-50-56(A)[2]
NCCPA Category 2 credits
PAs only
Any CE that satisfies NCCPA certification maintenance satisfies Virginia's state requirement. NCCPA framework includes Category 2 credit (up to 50 of 100), self-assessment CME, and PI-CME with NCCPA bonus weighting.Source18VAC85-50-56(A)[2]
Documentation & audit

Licensed physician assistants biennially renew the license in each odd-numbered year in the licensee's birth month by submitting renewal forms and fees, plus verifying compliance with continuing medical education standards established by the NCCPA.[2] Virginia defers entirely to NCCPA as the CE standard — nccpaDerived: true (Decision 3 pattern).

Waivers & exemptions

Physician assistants whose NCCPA certification lapses cannot maintain licensure.[2] Those resuming practice within two years apply for renewal with a late fee; those with lapses exceeding two years must seek reinstatement with associated fees. There is no independent state-level first-renewal or hardship exemption documented in Layer 1 for PAs; the operative pathway is maintaining current NCCPA certification.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Virginia PAs need?
Virginia PAs must verify compliance with continuing medical education standards established by the NCCPA at each biennial renewal.[2] NCCPA requires 100 CME credits per 2-year cycle with at least 50 in Category 1, plus PANRE every 10 years. Physician assistants whose NCCPA certification lapses cannot maintain licensure. This is one of the strongest NCCPA deferral models in the country — nccpaDerived: true applies.
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Virginia?
Not currently. The February 27, 2025 amendment to 18VAC85-20-235 removed topic-specific mandates, and the Virginia Board of Medicine confirmed by email (2026-04-18): 'There are no specific requirements like there were in the past with Opioids or Human Trafficking.' For renewal cycles 2024 and 2025, PAs were required to complete 1 hour of human trafficking CE under HB 1426 (2023) and § 54.1-2928.3 of the Code of Virginia,[1] but that designation is no longer in force.
Where can I check my Virginia PA license renewal date?
Biennial renewal occurs during birth month in odd-numbered years with a fee of $135.00.[3] You can check your license status through the Virginia Department of Health Professions website at dhp.virginia.gov. NCCPA lapse means the PA cannot maintain licensure.[2]
Do Virginia PAs need to complete pharmacology training?
Yes — at initial qualification only. An applicant for prescriptive authority must submit evidence of successful completion of a minimum of 35 hours of acceptable training in pharmacology.[4] This is a one-time initial qualification for prescriptive authority, not a recurring CE mandate. Once approved, PAs may prescribe Schedules II-VI controlled substances.

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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. Human Trafficking CE Announcement — Virginia Board of Medicine (historical)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “The Board of Medicine was authorized to designate up to 2 hours of specific-topic CE per biennial cycle. The Board voted October 19, 2023 to require 1 hour of human trafficking CE for renewal cycles 2024 and 2025.”HB 1426 (2023); § 54.1-2928.3, Code of Virginia; VBM Board vote 10/19/2023
  2. 18VAC85-50-56 — Renewal of License (Physician Assistant)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “(A) Licensed physician assistants must biennially renew the license in each odd-numbered year in the licensee's birth month by submitting renewal forms and fees, plus verifying compliance with continuing medical education standards established by the NCCPA. (B) Physician assistants whose NCCPA certification lapses cannot maintain licensure. Those resuming practice within two years apply for renewal with a late fee. Those with lapses exceeding two years must seek reinstatement with associated fees.”18VAC85-50-56
  3. Physician Assistant — Virginia Board of Medicine
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
  4. 18VAC85-50-130 — Qualifications for Approval of Prescriptive Authority (PA)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “An applicant for prescriptive authority shall … Submit evidence of successful completion of a minimum of 35 hours of acceptable training to the board in pharmacology.”18VAC85-50-130

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 Virginia Board of Medicine, 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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