Virginia Board of Medicine · MD

30 hours. Every two years. Type 1 only since February 2025.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from VBM~4 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 20, 2026

Mandatory topics

Virginia has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 30-hour total.

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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
AMA PRA Category 1
min 30 hrs
All 30 hours must be Type 1 — formal accredited activities from an accredited sponsor or organization sanctioned by the profession. AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers satisfies this standard.Source18VAC85-20-235[1]
AOA Category 1-A
DOs only
Virginia Board of Medicine regulates MDs and DOs jointly. AOA Category 1-A credit satisfies Type 1 under the accredited-sponsor standard.Source18VAC85-20-235[1]
Board-approved credit
Includes profession-specific accreditation for chiropractic (CCE) and podiatry (APMA/ACCPPS) licensees under the same rule, since the Virginia Board of Medicine regulates multiple professions.Source18VAC85-20-235[1]
Documentation & audit

Practitioners must retain all supporting documentation for a period of six years following renewal of an active license — the six-year retention spans three full biennial renewal cycles.[1]

Waivers & exemptions

Practitioners are exempt from the continuing competency requirements for the first biennial renewal after initial Virginia licensure.[1]

The Board may grant up to one-year extensions for good cause.[1]

Exemptions apply for circumstances beyond control (disability, military service, disasters).[1]

Practitioners in uncompensated positions under physician supervision are exempt.[1]

Medical examiners who complete at least 6 hours of annual training from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are exempt from the standard biennial requirement.[1]

FAQ
How many CME hours do Virginia physicians need?
Virginia physicians licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine must complete 30 hours of Type 1 continuing learning activities during the two years immediately preceding each license renewal.[1] Effective February 27, 2025, an amendment to 18VAC85-20-235 eliminated the prior 30-hour Type 2 (informal) requirement. The current requirement is 30 hours Type 1 only. Physicians completing their first biennial renewal after initial Virginia licensure are exempt for that cycle.
Did Virginia reduce its CME requirement from 60 to 30 hours?
Yes. Before February 27, 2025, Virginia required 60 hours of continuing learning activities per biennial cycle — 30 hours of Type 1 (formal accredited CME) and up to 30 hours of Type 2 (informal learning). An amendment to 18VAC85-20-235 eliminated the Type 2 requirement entirely.[1] The Board noted that most practitioners already exceeded the 30-hour Type 2 threshold in practice. Any secondary sources still citing 60 hours or a Type 1/Type 2 split are out of date.
Are there mandatory CME topics in Virginia?
No. As of the February 27, 2025 amendment to 18VAC85-20-235, there are no topic-specific CME mandates for Virginia physicians.[1] Prior requirements for opioid/controlled substance CE (from 2016 General Assembly legislation) and human trafficking CE (HB 1426, 2023, for renewal cycles 2024–2025) are no longer present in the current regulation, confirmed by direct board correspondence dated 2026-04-18.
How long do I need to keep my Virginia CME records?
Six years following renewal — the practitioner shall retain all supporting documentation for a period of six years following the renewal of an active license.[1] Records are not submitted at renewal — physicians attest to compliance on the renewal application — but must be produced if the Virginia Board of Medicine randomly audits the physician.
Do Virginia MDs and DOs have different CME requirements?
No. Virginia does not maintain a separate osteopathic licensing board — DOs and MDs are both licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine and subject to the same CME requirements (30 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. 18VAC85-20-235 — Continued Competency Requirements for Renewal of an Active License
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “A practitioner shall attest to completion of at least 30 hours of continuing learning activities within the two years immediately preceding renewal. Hours must be in Type 1 activities or courses offered by an accredited sponsor or organization sanctioned by the profession. … The practitioner shall retain in the practitioner's records all supporting documentation for a period of six years following the renewal of an active license. … Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board. Exemptions: First biennial renewal following initial Virginia licensure; Good cause extensions up to one year; Circumstances beyond control (disability, military service, disasters); Uncompensated practice under physician supervision; Medical examiners completing six hours annual training.”18VAC85-20-235 · Effective 2025-02-27
  2. Continuing Education — Virginia Board of Medicine
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “A practitioner shall attest to completion of at least 30 hours of continuing learning activities within the two years immediately preceding renewal. Hours must be in Type 1 activities or courses offered by an accredited sponsor or organization sanctioned by the profession.”

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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