Arkansas Medical Doctor CME

• Arkansas Medical Doctor - Standard Renewal Requirements: Arkansas MD licenses renew annually in the licensee’s birth month, and failure to pay by the last day of that month causes automatic expiration. Physicians must complete 20 CME hours each year, including 10 Category 1 hours in their primary area of practice, plus 1 hour annually on opioid/benzodiazepine prescribing; prescribers licensed after 12/31/2015 must also complete a one-time 3-hour prescribing course within 2 years. See ASMB Rule 17 and the ASMB FAQs for details. ( Rule 17 & § 17-95-408 armedicalboard.org+1 • ASMB FAQ armedicalboard.org )

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• Certification alternative (ABMS/AOA or NCCPA): An AMA PRA certificate or AOA CME certificate/individual activity report covering the reporting period is accepted as evidence of meeting CME, but physicians must still satisfy 20 hours/year. ( ASMB Rules – Rule 17.E armedicalboard.org )

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• Controlled substance / Opioid prescribing: 1 hour every year on opioid/benzodiazepine prescribing (counts within the 20-hour total), plus a one-time 3-hour prescribing education within the first 2 years for prescribers licensed after 12/31/2015. ( ASMB Rules – Rule 17.C armedicalboard.org • ASMB Rules – Prescribing education requirement armedicalboard.org )

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• DEA or PMP enrollment: Arkansas PDMP use is mandatory—prescribers must check the PDMP every time they prescribe a Schedule II or III opioid and the first time they prescribe a benzodiazepine, subject to listed exceptions. ( Arkansas Department of Health – PDMP Rules healthy.arkansas.gov )