If you hold an Arkansas physician license, the Arkansas State Medical Board requires 20 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 continuing medical education every year. At least one of those hours must address opioid and/or benzodiazepine prescribing, and new licensees must complete a one-time 3-hour prescribing course within their first two years. Below is the full breakdown.
20 hours / year
Twenty AMA PRA Category 1 credits each annual renewal.
1 hour opioids
At least 1 hour annually on opioid/benzodiazepine prescribing.
3-hour prescribing (one-time)
A one-time 3-hour prescribing course within the first two years of licensure.
Half in your specialty
At least half of the 20 hours should target your main area of practice.
How many CME hours Arkansas physicians need
Arkansas requires 20 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME every year. At least half should target your main area of practice. The board conducts random monthly audits.
Prescribing and opioid education
At least 1 of the 20 annual hours must address opioid and/or benzodiazepine prescribing. New physicians must also complete a one-time 3-hour prescribing education course within the first two years of licensure.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Arkansas physician licenses renew annually. Complete and document your 20 hours before your renewal date in case of audit.
Know exactly what CME you need.
Tell us your license type, state, and renewal date. We map your required hours, the state-mandated topics, and your deadline — a clear, personalized plan for a flat $99.
View pricingArkansas Physicians (MD/DO) CME at a glance
- Opioid / Benzodiazepine Prescribing1 hr · per renewal
At least 1 of the 20 annual hours must address prescribing of opioids and/or benzodiazepines. Counts toward the 20-hour total.
- Prescribing Education (one-time)3 hrs · one time
A one-time 3-hour course in prescribing education is required within the first two years of licensure.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Arkansas physician licenses renew annually and require 20 hours of CME per year. At least half should target the physician's main area of practice.
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?
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact: active. Active and issuing. Physicians can obtain expedited licensure across member states; each state license is separate (and each renews on its own CME cycle).
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 CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Arkansas physicians need?
+
20 AMA PRA Category 1 credits every year.
Does Arkansas require opioid CME?
+
Yes — at least 1 of the 20 annual hours must address opioid and/or benzodiazepine prescribing.
Is there a one-time prescribing requirement in Arkansas?
+
Yes — new physicians must complete a 3-hour prescribing education course within their first two years of licensure.
Related
Need help meeting your Arkansas CME before renewal?
Tell us your license type and renewal month and we'll map the fastest compliant path — required hours, mandated topics, and your deadline — for a flat $99.
- Flat $99 per plan
- Every license type
- All 50 states
Get my CME plan
Tell us your license type, state, and renewal — we'll map exactly what you need.