Vermont Medical Doctor CME Renewal Package: Rx Drug Update – 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

How many CE hours do Vermont physicians need?

Vermont physicians need 30 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit every two years; the Board's rule does not accept other credit categories in place of Category 1 ( Board of Medical Practice Rule § 24.2.1 ). Only 1 of those 30 hours is tied to a specific mandated topic — the rest are General Hours a physician can apply to any qualifying CME activity.

Licenses renew on a fixed biennial schedule, with every physician's license falling due on the same date — November 30 of each even-numbered year ( Board of Medical Practice Rule § 7.0 ; 26 V.S.A. § 1400 ).

Which CE topics are required for Vermont physicians?

Every physician who owes CME must complete 1 hour of hospice, palliative care, or pain management CME each renewal ( Board of Medical Practice Rule § 24.1.5 ).

A physician who holds a DEA registration, or has a pending DEA application, is presumed to prescribe controlled substances and must also complete 2 hours of controlled substances prescribing CME each renewal, drawn from the 30-hour total rather than added on top of it ( Board of Medical Practice Rule § 24.1.6 ).

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 DEA registration requirement, not a Vermont Board CME mandate, and it does not count toward the Board's 30-hour total ( DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ ).

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

It depends on how long the physician has been licensed. A physician licensed in Vermont less than one year at the time of their first renewal owes no CME; a physician licensed one year or more but within their initial two-year period owes at least 15 hours, including the required subject-specific topics ( Board of Medical Practice Rule § 24.1.2 ).

Does the Vermont Board of Medical Practice audit CE records?

Yes. Physicians attest to compliance at renewal without submitting documentation up front, must retain records for 4 years, and the Board audits a sample of licensees after every renewal cycle and may request that documentation ( Board of Medical Practice Rule § 24.1.1.1–.2 ; Board of Medical Practice — CME Hour Requirements FAQ ).

Sources

Last verified: September 23, 2026

• Vermont Board of Medical Practice

• Board of Medical Practice Rules — Continuing Medical Education

• 26 V.S.A. § 1400 — Renewal of License; Continuing Medical Education

• Board of Medical Practice — CME Hour Requirements FAQ

• DEA Diversion Control Division — MATE Act Training FAQ