If you hold a California physician and surgeon license, the Medical Board of California requires 50 hours of approved continuing medical education every two-year renewal cycle. Most of those hours can be in any AMA PRA Category 1 subject relevant to your practice, but California also layers in a one-time pain management requirement and an implicit bias component. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
50 hours / 2 years
Fifty AMA PRA Category 1 credits each biennial renewal cycle.
Pain management (one-time)
A one-time 12-hour course in pain management and care of the terminally ill.
Implicit bias
Implicit bias training is required for physicians providing direct patient care.
First cycle exemption
Most physicians are exempt from CME for their first renewal period.
How many CME hours California physicians need
California requires 50 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME every two years. The requirement is tied to your biennial license renewal, and your hours must be completed within the two-year cycle preceding renewal.
Mandated subject requirements
- Pain management & end-of-life care: a one-time 12-hour course (with limited specialty exemptions).
- Implicit bias: required as a CME component for direct-patient-care physicians.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
California physician and surgeon licenses renew every two years. Your license expires on the last day of the month in which it was originally issued. Complete and document your 50 hours before that date.
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View pricingCalifornia Physicians (MD/DO) CME at a glance
- Pain Management & Care of the Terminally Ill12 hrs · one time
A one-time 12-hour course in pain management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. Certain specialties (e.g. pathology, radiology) are exempt.
- Implicit BiasRequired · one time then ongoing
Implicit bias training is required as a component of CME for licensees who provide direct patient care; included as part of the 50-hour total.
Always confirm with your licensing board
California physician and surgeon licenses are renewed biennially; the expiration date is the last day of the month in which the license was issued.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Medical Board of California before relying on these figures.
Source: Medical Board of California. 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 California or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
California Physician CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do California physicians need?
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50 AMA PRA Category 1 credits every two years.
Is implicit bias training required for California physicians?
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Yes — implicit bias training is required as a component of CME for physicians who provide direct patient care.
Do I need a pain management course in California?
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Yes — a one-time 12-hour course in pain management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients is required, with limited specialty exemptions.
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