Colorado Medical Doctor CME Package – 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

How many CME hours do Colorado physicians need?

Colorado physicians need 30 hours of continuing medical education every two years, a requirement that took effect for renewals, reinstatements, and reactivations on or after January 1, 2026 ( Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-240-130.5, as enacted by HB 24-1153 ). Because Colorado physician licenses run on a fixed, statewide cycle rather than an individual anniversary, April 30, 2027 is the first renewal date the new 30-hour requirement actually reaches. You may complete all 30 hours online with an on-demand Complete Colorado CME Physician Package

Colorado physician licenses renew on a fixed, statewide biennial cycle: all Physician and Pro Bono Physician licenses expire on April 30 of odd-numbered years, regardless of when the individual license was first issued ( Colorado Medical Board — Physician Licensing Requirements ; Colorado Medical Applications and Forms ).

Acceptable CME comes from programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit, programs qualified for AAFP prescribed credit, or programs accredited by the American Osteopathic Association for AOA Category 1-A credit; hours completed above the 30-hour minimum do not carry over to the next renewal period ( Colorado Medical Board — Continuing Medical Education ).

Which CME courses or topics are required for Colorado physicians?

Physicians who do not qualify for a statutory exemption must complete 2 hours of substance use prevention training each renewal period, covering the opioid-prescribing, benzodiazepine-prescribing, and substance-use-disorder-recognition topics named in Colorado's substance-use-prevention statute; the requirement applies to physicians and physician assistants alike ( Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-30-114, as enacted by SB 19-228 ; 3 CCR 713-44, Rule 135 — Substance Use Prevention Training (archived text, Colorado Secretary of State) ). When the training also earns qualifying CME credit, its two hours may count within the 30-hour total: HB 24-1153 includes CME credit hours complying with section 12-30-114 in the 30 required hours. Other activities allowed for substance use training, such as self-study, do not automatically earn CME credit ( Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-240-130.5(6), as enacted by HB 24-1153 ).

Beyond that one mandated topic, the Colorado Medical Board does not require any other specific subject matter — physicians have discretion to self-select the topics that fill the remaining 28 hours ( Colorado Medical Board — Continuing Medical Education ).

Physicians who apply for or renew a DEA registration must make a one-time attestation of eight hours of qualifying substance use disorder training , unless another statutory qualification applies. Eligible prior coursework can satisfy the federal rule; the DEA does not require a newly purchased course or eight extra state CME hours. DEA MATE Act FAQ .

Do newly licensed Colorado physicians need CME for their first renewal?

Not always. The Board may waive the CME requirement entirely for a physician's first renewal if they were initially licensed within 12 months of completing a Board-approved internship or postgraduate training program; otherwise, the Board adjusts the 30-hour requirement proportionately when needed so that a physician is not required to complete 30 hours in fewer than 24 months ( Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-240-130.5, as enacted by HB 24-1153 ).

Does the Colorado Medical Board audit CME records?

Yes. The Board may audit up to 5% of physicians annually, chosen at random with oversampling of physicians who are not board-certified; licensees must retain their CME records for four years and should not submit documentation unless the Board requests it ( Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-240-130.5(8), as enacted by HB 24-1153 ; Colorado Medical Board — Continuing Medical Education ).

Sources

Last verified: September 23, 2026

• Colorado Medical Board — Continuing Medical Education

• Colorado Medical Board — Physician Licensing Requirements

• Colorado Medical Applications and Forms

• Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-240-130.5, as enacted by HB 24-1153 (Colorado General Assembly)

• 3 CCR 713-44, Rule 135 — Substance Use Prevention Training (archived text, Colorado Secretary of State)

• Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-30-114, as enacted by SB 19-228 (Colorado General Assembly)

• DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ