Oregon Medical Doctor CME

How many CE hours do Oregon physicians need?

Oregon physicians need 60 hours of continuing medical education every two years. Oregon licenses MDs, DOs, and podiatric physicians together under the Oregon Medical Board and the same CME rule, drawing hours from the AMA, AOA, or another ACCME-equivalent accrediting body ( OAR 847-008-0070 ). A physician who holds and maintains current ABMS, AOA-BOS, ABPM, or ABFAS board certification may satisfy the full requirement through ongoing recertification instead of tracking individual course hours; a lifetime certification alone does not fulfill this requirement ( OAR 847-008-0070 ).

Renewal falls every two years, by December 31 of each odd-numbered year ( Oregon Medical Board — License Renewal ).

Which CE topics are required for Oregon physicians?

Every physician must complete 1 hour of pain management CME, a free course from the Oregon Pain Management Commission, at initial licensure and every two years after; these hours count toward the general 60-hour CME total rather than adding to it ( OAR 847-008-0075 ).

Every physician must also complete an average of 1 hour of cultural competency education per year, reported at least every other renewal cycle — 4 hours over the four-year audit window — with these hours also counting toward the general 60-hour total rather than adding to it ( OAR 847-008-0077 ).

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 — a federal requirement, not an Oregon Board mandate ( DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ ).

Oregon also encourages, without requiring, continuing education in suicide risk assessment and in Alzheimer's disease and dementia care; neither has a mandatory hour requirement ( Oregon Medical Board — Continuing Education ).

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

It depends on when the license was issued within the two-year cycle. A physician licensed during the first year of the biennium owes the full 60 hours at first renewal; a physician licensed during the second year of the biennium owes 30 hours ( OAR 847-008-0070 ). Cultural competency hours prorate the same way within the audit period, counting any partial year of licensure as 1 hour rather than the full annual amount ( Oregon Medical Board — Continuing Education ). A physician who obtains a DEA registration must also complete the one-time 8-hour DEA MATE Act training, regardless of where they fall in the renewal cycle ( DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ ).

Does the Oregon Medical Board audit CE records?

Yes. The Board randomly audits licensees for compliance with the general CME, pain management, and cultural competency requirements, and audits cultural competency specifically every other renewal cycle. A licensee who fails to respond to an audit within 60 days faces escalating fines, starting at $250 with 120 days to come into compliance and rising to $1,000 with a possible 90-day license suspension for continued non-response ( OAR 847-008-0070 ).

Sources

Last verified: September 24, 2026

• Oregon Medical Board

• Oregon Medical Board — Continuing Education

• Oregon Medical Board — License Renewal

• DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ