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Continuing Medical Education Information

Pursuant to California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, section 1399.615, a physician assistant who is renewing their license is required to complete a minimum of fifty (50) hours of approved continuing medical education (CME) during each two (2) year renewal period.

  • Physician assistants must certify under penalty of perjury compliance with the Physician Assistant Board’s (Board) CME requirements when completing the renewal application.
  • Physician assistants who have not completed the required hours of approved CME during the two-year period immediately preceding the expiration date of their license is ineligible for renewal unless the licensee has been granted a CME waiver or inactive status.
  • Physician assistants who are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), or other qualified certifying body as determined by the Board, at the time of renewal are compliant with the Board’s CME requirements.
  • Physician assistants are required to retain records issued by an approved CME provider for a period of four (4) years. Records issued by an approved CME provider shall indicate the title of the course or program attended, the dates of attendance, and the hours assigned to the course or program.
  • Unless contacted, you are not required to provide CME documentation to the Board.
  • Effective January 1, 2025, physician assistants who provide primary care to a patient population of which over 25% are 65 years of age or older shall complete at least 20% of all mandatory continuing education hours by completing courses in the field of geriatric medicine, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients (Business and Professions Code section 3524.6).

Approved Continuing Medical Education Programs

Pursuant to CCR section 1399.616, programs are approved by the Board for CME if they are designated as Category I (Preapproved) by one of the following sponsors:

  • American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
  • American Medical Association (AMA)
  • American Osteopathic Association Council on Continuing Medical Education (AOACCME)
  • American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
  • Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
  • A state medical society recognized by the ACCME

Effective January 1, 2022, a CME course that includes a direct patient care component shall include curriculum that includes an understanding of implicit bias (Business and Professions Code section 3524.5).

Audit and Sanctions for Noncompliance

Pursuant to CCR section 1399.617, the Board may audit a random sample of physician assistants who reported compliance with the Board’s CME requirements.

  • It constitutes unprofessional conduct for any physician assistant to fail to provide accurate or complete information in response to a Board inquiry or misrepresent their compliance with CME requirements.
  • The Board may issue a citation or take disciplinary action against a licensee who is found to falsely represent compliance with the CME requirements.

Continuing Medical Education Waivers

Pursuant to CCR section 1399.618, the Board may, in its discretion, exempt a licensee from the CME requirements for a renewal period, if the licensee is unable to complete the CME requirements for reasons of health, military service, or undue hardship.

  • Physician assistant may request a CME waiver by submitting an Application for Continuing Medical Education Waiver (Waiver) (PDF) sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of their license.
  • Physician assistants who are granted a CME Waiver are compliant with the Board’s CME requirements and must answer “Yes” to the CME question when renewing their license.
  • Physician assistants denied a CME Waiver shall be ineligible for active renewal of their license unless the licensee complies with provisions of CCR section 1399.615.

Inactive Status

Pursuant to CCR section 1399.619, the Board may grant the status of inactive to a licensee if, at the time of applying for inactive status, the license status is current.

  • Physician assistants may not apply for inactive status if their license has been suspended, revoked, or otherwise punitively restricted by the Board.
  • Licensees must submit a Request for Inactive Status (PDF) prior to the expiration date of their license.
  • Physician assistants granted inactive status are prohibited from engaging in any activity for which a license issued by the Board is required.
  • The status of inactive does not change your license renewal period; you are required to renew the license prior to the license expiration date and pay the required fee. Licenses not renewed by the license expiration date are considered delinquent and the license status will change from current inactive to delinquent.
  • Physician assistants granted the status of inactive are exempt from paying the Controlled Substance Utilization Review Evaluation System (CURES) fee. Physician assistants granted inactive status are compliant with the Board’s CME requirements and must answer “Yes” to the CME question when renewing their license. Visit DCA License Search to verify the license status.

Please contact the Board for assistance with reinstating an inactive license by calling (916) 561-8780 or completing the Contact Form.