Virginia Medical Doctor CME

How many CE hours do Virginia physicians need?

Virginia physicians need 30 hours of Type 1 continuing learning activity every two years, from an accredited sponsor or an organization sanctioned by the profession ( 18VAC85-20-235(A) ).

Renewal falls every two years, during the physician's birth month, always in an even-numbered year — the same anchor applies to every physician, with no split by license number or birth year ( 18VAC85-20-230(A) ; 18VAC85-20-22(H) ).

Which CE topics are required for Virginia physicians?

Virginia's Board of Medicine regulation does not itself designate a mandatory CE topic for physicians, so most of the 30 hours may be earned in any Type 1 subject matter of the physician's choosing ( 18VAC85-20-235(A) ). Separately, a 2026 statute requires every physician to complete bias reduction training — continuing education on mitigating implicit and explicit bias in health care — at every biennial renewal, with the first required topic covering how implicit and explicit racial bias affect care during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period, and later cycles covering other practice-related content including sickle cell disease ( Code of Virginia § 54.1-2928.4 ). The statute took effect September 10, 2026, and the Board has not specified an hour count in its published regulation or guidance. The topic is included within the existing 30-hour total.

Separately, 2026 Senate Bill 194 directs the Board to add two questions to every physician's license application and renewal, beginning July/August 2026, asking whether the applicant has completed death certificates and viewed the Virginia Department of Health's physician tutorial on the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS) (Virginia Board of Medicine, draft Full Board Meeting Minutes, June 4, 2026). The related rulemaking is pending, and the draft minutes do not establish a separate CME-hour requirement for this tutorial.

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 Virginia Board mandate ( DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ ).

Virginia licensed physicians are statutorily exempt from the state's separate controlled-substances registration certificate, so a DEA registration together with the standard Board of Medicine license is sufficient ( Code of Virginia § 54.1-3422 ).

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

No. A physician is fully exempt from the continued competency requirements at their first biennial renewal following initial licensure in Virginia ( 18VAC85-20-235(B) ).

Does the Virginia Board of Medicine audit CE records?

Yes. Physicians attest to compliance at renewal without submitting documentation up front; the Board randomly selects licensees for a post-renewal audit, and records must be retained for 6 years ( 18VAC85-20-235(C) ; Virginia Board of Medicine FAQ ).

Sources

Last verified: September 24, 2026

• Virginia Board of Medicine

• 18VAC85-20-235 — Continued Competency Requirements for Renewal of an Active License

• 18VAC85-20-230 — Renewal of an Active License

• 18VAC85-20-22 — Required Fees

• Code of Virginia § 54.1-3422 — Controlled Substances Registration Exemption

• Code of Virginia § 54.1-2928.4 — Bias Reduction Training

• Virginia Board of Medicine — FAQ

• DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ