Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board · PA

30 hours. Every 2 years. NCCPA certification accepted (for the 30-hour total).

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from PAACB~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For PAs, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. Wisconsin also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
Universal for all Wisconsin PAs — unlike the physician rule, there is no DEA-registration qualifier. Counts within (not in addition to) the 30-hour total. NCCPA certification satisfies the 30-hour Category 1 requirement but does not waive this 2-hour mandate.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Of the required 30 hours of continuing medical education, at least 2 hours are on the topic of responsible controlled substances prescribing.”
PA 2.04(3)(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Wisconsin 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 onlymin 30 hrs
All 30 hours must be Category 1 as defined by the NCCPA or as approved by the Board. AAPA Category 1 CME is the canonical NCCPA Category 1 credit.SourcePA 2.04(3)(a)[1]
AMA PRA Category 1
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from ACCME-accredited providers qualifies as Category 1 under the NCCPA framework per PA 2.04(3)(a).SourcePA 2.04(3)(a)[1]
Board-approved credit
PAs only
Board-approved credits outside the standard NCCPA Category 1 framework also qualify.SourcePA 2.04(3)(a)[1]
Documentation & audit

Licensees shall retain certificates of continuing medical education attendance for a minimum of four years to be provided to the board upon request.[1]

Waivers & exemptions

Subsection (3) requirements do not apply to the first renewal following license issuance.[1] CE requirements do not apply to the first biennial renewal after initial licensure.

Licensees may submit evidence of active NCCPA certification, which the board must accept as satisfying subsection (3)(a) requirements.[1] Active NCCPA certification satisfies the 30-hour Category 1 requirement; the rule specifically names (3)(a) — not (3)(b), which is the 2-hour CS mandate.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Wisconsin PAs need?
At least 30 hours of continuing medical education classified as Category 1 as defined by the NCCPA or as approved by the Board.[1] Licensees may submit evidence of active NCCPA certification, which the board must accept as satisfying that 30-hour Category 1 requirement. Because the 30-hour figure is specified independently, nccpaDerived: false applies.
Are there mandatory CE topics for PAs in Wisconsin?
Yes. Of the required 30 hours of continuing medical education, at least 2 hours are on the topic of responsible controlled substances prescribing.[1] Unlike the physician rule (Med 13), the PA rule does not have a DEA-registration qualifier — Atlas CME treats it as a universal PA mandate. The 2 hours count within the 30-hour total. NCCPA certification satisfies only the 30-hour Cat 1 requirement (subsection (3)(a)), not the 2-hour CS mandate (subsection (3)(b)).
Where can I check my Wisconsin PA license renewal date?
Per Wisconsin State Statutes 440.08(2), the required renewal date for the Physician Assistant credential is 02/28 or 29 of each even-numbered year.[2] All Wisconsin PA licenses share the same statewide deadline. There is not a retired or inactive status for this credential — if retiring or moving out of state, a PA may simply let the license expire.
Does NCCPA certification satisfy Wisconsin's PA CE requirement?
Partially. NCCPA certification satisfies subsection (3)(a) — the 30-hour Category 1 requirement.[1] But it does not satisfy subsection (3)(b) — the 2-hour controlled substance prescribing mandate. NCCPA-certified PAs must still complete the 2-hour CS training independently to comply fully with state CE requirements.
Is there a first-renewal CE exemption for new Wisconsin PAs?
Yes. Subsection (3) requirements do not apply to the first renewal following license issuance.[1] Newly licensed PAs are exempt from all of PA 2.04(3)'s CE requirements at their first biennial renewal.

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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. Wis. Admin. Code PA 2.04 — License Renewal and Continuing Medical Education (PA)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17
    Show verbatim text
    “(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) …, a licensee shall attest to completion of: (a) At least 30 hours of continuing medical education classified as Category 1 as defined by the NCCPA or as approved by the Board. (b) Of the required 30 hours of continuing medical education, at least 2 hours are on the topic of responsible controlled substances prescribing. (4) Subsection (3) requirements do not apply to the first renewal following license issuance. (5) Licensees shall retain certificates of continuing medical education attendance for a minimum of four years to be provided to the board upon request. (6) Licensees may submit evidence of active NCCPA certification, which the board must accept as satisfying subsection (3)(a) requirements.”Wis. Admin. Code PA 2.04
    “Of the required 30 hours of continuing medical education, at least 2 hours are on the topic of responsible controlled substances prescribing.”PA 2.04(3)(b)
  2. Physician Assistant — Wisconsin DSPS
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-17

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 Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board, 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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