Georgia Medical Doctor CME

How many CE hours do Georgia physicians need?

Georgia physicians need 40 hours of Board-approved continuing medical education every two years. The license expires on the last day of the physician's birth month in the applicable renewal year, regardless of when the license was first issued ( Georgia Composite Medical Board — Physician Licensure Information ; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-15-.01 — Requirements for Physicians ). You may complete all 40 hours online with an on-demand Complete Georgia CME Physician Package

All 40 hours may be earned as General Hours except for the topic-specific mandates below, each of which counts toward — not in addition to — the 40-hour total. Accepted credit includes AMA PRA Category 1, AOA Category 1-A, AAFP Prescribed credit, ACOG Cognate Category 1, and ACEP Category 1 ( Georgia Composite Medical Board — Continuing Education and Other Required Training for Physicians ).

Which CE topics are required for Georgia physicians?

Every physician must complete a one-time, 2-hour course on professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct, required of all physicians on and after January 1, 2022 ( Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-15-.01 ).

A physician who does not hold a certification in pain management or palliative medicine, and whose opioid pain management patients make up 50% or more of their patient population, must complete 20 hours of pain management or palliative medicine CME every biennium, counted toward the 40-hour total ( Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-15-.01 ).

A physician who holds an active DEA certificate and prescribes controlled substances (other than a resident on a training permit) must complete a one-time 3-hour course covering controlled substance prescribing guidelines , recognizing signs of abuse or misuse, and chronic pain management, a requirement in place since January 1, 2018 ( Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-15-.01 ).

Physicians holding a DEA registration must also complete a one-time 8-hour DEA MATE Training on Opioid or Substance Use Disorder , per the federal MATE Act — not a Georgia Board mandate ( DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ ).

Do newly licensed Georgia physicians need CE for their first renewal?

Yes. The standard 40-hour requirement applies starting with a physician's first license renewal; Georgia does not prorate or waive the requirement for a partial first cycle ( Georgia Composite Medical Board — Continuing Education and Other Required Training for Physicians ).

Does the Georgia Composite Medical Board audit CE records?

Yes. The Board audits a fixed percentage of randomly selected renewal applications; a physician selected for audit must furnish records of attendance and completion certificates. Licensees must retain CE records for five years from the date of attendance, showing the provider, program name, hours completed, completion date, and evidence of approved credit ( Georgia Composite Medical Board — Continuing Education and Other Required Training for Physicians ).

Sources

Last verified: September 23, 2026

• Georgia Composite Medical Board — Continuing Education and Other Required Training for Physicians

• Georgia Composite Medical Board — Physician Licensure Information

• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 360-15-.01 — Requirements for Physicians (Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, official rule publisher)

• DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ