Alabama Medical Doctor CME

How many CME hours do Alabama physicians need?

Alabama physicians need 25 credits of continuing medical education every calendar year, earned between January 1 and December 31 ( Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Medical Education Requirements for Licensees ). You may complete all 20 hours online with an on-demand Complete Alabama CME Physician Package

Alabama runs a fixed calendar-year cycle: every physician's license expires the same date, December 31, regardless of when the license was first issued. A grace period runs through January 31 with a late fee, and the license stays active through that date even if not yet renewed ( Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — MD/DO License Renewals ).

The standard annual total has no fixed subject-hour allocation for every physician; one-time and credential-specific training may still apply. Credits must be ACCME-accredited AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (or the Board's stated equivalent). Alabama does not allow physicians to carry over excess credits earned in one calendar year toward the next year's requirement, and CME is reported to the Board by attestation rather than by submitting documentation up front.

Which CME courses or topics are required for Alabama physicians?

Every physician must complete a one-time, 2-hour " Navigating Professional Boundaries in Medicine " course, provided free by the Board. Existing licensees had until December 31, 2025 to complete it; a newly licensed physician has 12 months from licensure to complete it ( Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — Navigating Professional Boundaries in Medicine ).

Physicians holding an Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC) need 2 credits every two years in controlled-substance prescribing, counted as part of the standard 25-credit annual total rather than owed on top of it ( Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-4-.09(8) ; Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — ACSC ).

Physicians who collaborate with a CRNP or certified nurse midwife, or supervise a physician assistant or anesthesiologist assistant, must complete the Board's own collaborative- or supervisory-practice training, first within 12 months of starting that relationship and periodically afterward. A physician who both collaborates with a CRNP and supervises a PA only needs to complete one of the two courses to satisfy this requirement ( Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — On-Demand Online Courses ).

Physicians who apply for or renew a DEA registration must make a one-time attestation of eight hours of qualifying substance use disorder training, unless another statutory qualification applies. Eligible prior coursework can satisfy the federal rule; the DEA does not require a newly purchased course or eight extra state CME hours. DEA MATE Act FAQ .

Do newly licensed Alabama physicians need CME for their first renewal?

No — a physician licensed during the current calendar year is exempt from the CME requirement for that year. The standard 25-credit requirement applies starting with the following calendar year ( Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Medical Education Requirements for Licensees ).

Does the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners audit CME records?

Yes. The Board completes a random audit of physicians and physician assistants every year; a licensee selected for audit receives a letter requesting documentation. Licensees must keep their own CME records for three years after the year the credit was earned, using certificates of attendance, completion certificates, proof of registration, or similar proof, most conveniently uploaded through the Board's Licensee Gateway ( Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Medical Education Requirements for Licensees ).

Sources

Last verified: September 23, 2026

• Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Medical Education Requirements for Licensees

• Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — MD/DO License Renewals

• Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — On-Demand Online Courses

• Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — Navigating Professional Boundaries in Medicine

• Alabama Board of Medical Examiners — Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC)

• Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 540-X-14 — Continuing Medical Education

• Alabama Administrative Code, Chapter 540-X-4 — Controlled Substances Certificate

• DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ