If you hold a Georgia physician license, the Georgia Composite Medical Board requires at least 40 hours of board-approved CME every two-year renewal cycle. Physicians with an active DEA certificate must complete a one-time 3-hour course on controlled substance prescribing. Below is the full breakdown of what you need and when it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty board-approved CME hours each biennial renewal cycle.
3 hours controlled substances (one-time)
A one-time course for DEA-registered prescribers.
Multiple credit types
AMA, AOA, AAFP, ACOG, and ACEP Category 1 credits accepted.
Pain clinic rule
Non-certified pain clinic physicians need 20 hours of pain/palliative CME each cycle.
How many CME hours Georgia physicians need
Georgia requires at least 40 hours of board-approved CME every two years. The board accepts AMA, AOA, AAFP, ACOG, and ACEP Category 1 credits.
Controlled substance education
Every physician who maintains an active DEA certificate and prescribes controlled substances must complete a one-time 3-hour Category 1 course on controlled substance prescribing — covering prescribing guidelines, recognizing abuse and misuse, and chronic pain prescribing.
Pain clinic physicians
Physicians who work in a pain clinic and do not hold a pain management or palliative medicine certification must obtain 20 hours of pain management or palliative medicine CME each biennium, which can count toward the 40-hour total.
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View pricingGeorgia Physicians (MD/DO) CME at a glance
- Controlled Substance Prescribing3 hrs · one time
Every physician with an active DEA certificate who prescribes controlled substances must complete a one-time 3-hour Category 1 course on controlled substance prescribing practices — covering prescribing guidelines, recognizing abuse/misuse, and chronic pain prescribing. Counts toward the 40-hour total.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Georgia physicians must complete at least 40 hours of board-approved CME biennially. The board also accepts AOA Category 1, AAFP Prescribed, ACOG Cognate Category 1, and ACEP Category 1 credits.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Georgia Composite Medical Board before relying on these figures.
Source: Georgia Composite 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 Georgia or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Georgia Physician CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Georgia physicians need?
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At least 40 board-approved CME hours every two years.
Does Georgia require controlled substance CME?
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Yes — DEA-registered physicians who prescribe controlled substances must complete a one-time 3-hour Category 1 course on controlled substance prescribing.
What CME credit types does Georgia accept?
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AMA, AOA, AAFP Prescribed, ACOG Cognate, and ACEP Category 1 credits.
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