If you hold an Arizona physician assistant license, the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants requires 40 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME each biennial renewal period. At least 3 of those hours must address opioids, substance use disorder, or addiction. The Board accepts CME from any ACCME-accredited provider awarding AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty AMA PRA Category 1 CME hours each biennial renewal.
Opioid education
At least 3 hours in opioid, substance use disorder, or addiction CME.
Separate PA board
PAs are regulated by Arizona's dedicated Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants.
MATE Act (federal)
DEA registrants complete a one-time 8-hour substance use disorder training.
How many CME hours Arizona PAs need
Arizona requires 40 AMA PRA Category 1 CME hours every two years for physician assistants. CME may come from any ACCME-accredited provider that awards AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
Mandated subject requirements
- Opioids / substance use disorder: at least 3 of the 40 hours must address opioid-, substance-use-disorder-, or addiction-related topics.
- MATE Act: DEA-registered PAs must complete a one-time federal 8-hour substance use disorder training.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Arizona PA licenses renew biennially. Complete and document your 40 hours, including the 3-hour opioid component, before your renewal date.
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View pricingArizona Physician Assistants (PA) CME at a glance
- Opioid / Substance Use Disorder Education3 hrs · biennial
At least 3 of the 40 required hours must be in opioid-related, substance-use-disorder-related, or addiction-related CME (effective April 26, 2018).
- MATE Act DEA Training8 hrs · one time
Under the federal MATE Act, DEA-registered prescribers must complete a one-time 8 hours of training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders (effective for DEA registrations/renewals on or after June 27, 2023). This is a federal DEA requirement, not a state-specific count.
Always confirm with your licensing board
The Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants requires 40 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME each biennial renewal. Of those, at least 3 hours must be in opioid-, substance-use-disorder-, or addiction-related education (effective April 26, 2018). The Board accepts CME from any ACCME-accredited provider that awards AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants before relying on these figures.
Source: Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
PA Licensure Compact: enacted but not yet active. Enacted by enough states and a commission is standing up, but NOT yet issuing the compact privilege — PAs still license state-by-state.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Also licensing in Arizona or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Arizona Physician Assistant CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Arizona PAs need?
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40 AMA PRA Category 1 CME hours every two years.
Does Arizona require opioid CME for PAs?
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Yes — at least 3 of the 40 required hours must be in opioid-, substance-use-disorder-, or addiction-related CME.
Who regulates PAs in Arizona?
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The Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants, a board dedicated to PAs.
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