South Carolina Medical Doctor CME

How many CE hours do South Carolina physicians need?

South Carolina physicians need 40 hours of Category I continuing medical education every two years, at least 30 of which must be directly related to the physician's practice area, from the AMA, AOA, or another organization the Board recognizes as having acceptable course standards ( S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-40(2)(a) ). A physician may instead satisfy the entire requirement through specialty board certification or recertification, completion of a residency or fellowship program, a passing score on the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX) or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Variable Purpose Examination (COMVEX), or a board-approved clinical skills assessment, in place of tracking individual course hours ( S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-40(2) ).

Renewal falls every two years, by June 30 of each odd-numbered year ( S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-41 ; SC Board of Medical Examiners — License Renewals ). A physician on active military duty is exempt from the CME requirement entirely while serving, and any physician may apply up to 10 hours of unpaid volunteer medical service toward the 40-hour total ( SC Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Medical Education Requirements ).

Which CE topics are required for South Carolina physicians?

Every physician must complete 2 hours of the 40-hour total in the safe prescribing and monitoring of controlled substances in Schedules II, III, and IV, received from a statewide organization recognized to accredit CME in South Carolina, with a certificate of participation filed with the renewal form ( S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-40(2)(a) ; SCBME — Statement on Opioid CME Requirement ).

A physician practicing in emergency medicine, primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, or as a hospitalist, or in a public health clinic, emergency department, urgent care center, or community-based health center, must also complete 1 hour of human trafficking recognition training covering identifying suspected victims, mandatory reporting, and victim care and support. A physician licensed before January 1, 2026 must complete it by January 1, 2028 and every six years after; a physician licensed on or after January 1, 2026 must complete it within two years of licensure and every six years after ( 2026 Act No. 106 (H.4343) ).

A physician holding a DEA registration must also complete a one-time 8-hour DEA MATE Act training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, a federal requirement tied to DEA registration rather than a South Carolina Board mandate ( DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ ).

Do newly licensed South Carolina physicians need CE for their first renewal?

No. Compliance with the educational and examination requirements for initial licensure is sufficient for a physician's first renewal following that licensure; the CME requirement applies starting with the second renewal ( S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-40(1) ).

Does the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners audit CE records?

Yes. CME compliance is subject to random audit by the Board ( SC Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Medical Education Requirements ).

Sources

Last verified: September 23, 2026

• South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Education

• S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-40 — Continuing Professional Education

• S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-41 — License Renewal

• SC Board of Medical Examiners — Continuing Medical Education Requirements

• SCBME — Statement on Opioid CME Requirement

• SC Board of Medical Examiners — License Renewals

• 2026 Act No. 106 (H.4343) — Human Trafficking Recognition Training

• DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ