If you hold an Arkansas physician assistant license, the Arkansas State Medical Board requires 20 hours of CME each renewal year, measured from your birth month of the prior year through your birth month of the current year. Prescribers must also complete at least 1 hour of opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing CME annually, plus one-time pain management and prescribing-education requirements. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
20 hours / year
Twenty CME hours each renewal year, measured birth month to birth month.
Opioid CME (annual)
At least 1 hour per year on opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing.
Pain management (one-time)
5 one-time hours for PAs prescribing Schedule II medications.
Prescribing education (one-time)
3 one-time hours on laws, records, and boundaries within the first 2 years.
How many CME hours Arkansas PAs need
Arkansas requires 20 CME hours per renewal year for physician assistants. The general hours need not be a particular category, and are measured from your birth month of the previous year through your birth month of the current year.
Mandated subject requirements
- Opioids & benzodiazepines: at least 1 hour of prescribing CME annually.
- Pain management: a one-time 5 hours for Schedule II prescribers.
- Prescribing education: a one-time 3 hours on board laws, record keeping, and professional boundaries within the first 2 years.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Arkansas PA licenses renew annually around your birth month. Complete and document 20 hours each year, including the 1-hour opioid/benzodiazepine component if you prescribe. Random audits are performed monthly.
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View pricingArkansas Physician Assistants (PA) CME at a glance
- Opioid & Benzodiazepine Prescribing1 hr · annual
Each PA must obtain at least 1 hour of CME annually specifically on the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.
- Pain Management (Schedule II prescribers)5 hrs · one time
PAs authorized to prescribe Schedule II medications must complete a one-time 5 hours of CME in pain management.
- Prescribing Education (Laws, Records, Boundaries)3 hrs · one time
All licensed prescribers must complete a one-time 3 hours of prescribing education — including board regulations and laws, record keeping, and maintaining safe professional boundaries — within the first 2 years of licensure.
Always confirm with your licensing board
The Arkansas State Medical Board requires PAs to complete 20 hours of CME per renewal period, measured from the licensee's birth month of the previous year through the birth month of the current year. The general 20 hours need not be a particular category. Prescribers must complete at least 1 hour of opioid/benzodiazepine prescribing CME annually, plus one-time pain management and prescribing-education requirements. Random audits are performed monthly.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Arkansas State Medical Board before relying on these figures.
Source: Arkansas State Medical Board. 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 Arkansas or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Arkansas Physician Assistant CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Arkansas PAs need?
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20 CME hours per year, measured from birth month to birth month.
Does Arkansas require opioid CME for PAs?
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Yes — at least 1 hour annually specifically on the prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.
Are there one-time CME requirements for Arkansas PAs?
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Yes — Schedule II prescribers complete a one-time 5 hours in pain management, and all prescribers complete a one-time 3 hours of prescribing education within their first 2 years.
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