If you hold a physician (MD) or osteopathic physician (DO) license in Iowa, the Iowa Board of Medicine requires 40 hours of Category 1 continuing education every two-year renewal cycle. You can carry over up to 20 hours from your previous cycle, and physicians maintaining ABMS or AOA board certification may instead claim 50 Category 1 credits. On top of the hour count, Iowa requires specific mandated trainings - CDC opioid prescribing, end-of-life care, and child and dependent adult abuse - that count toward, rather than add to, your 40 hours. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, who each rule applies to, and how often it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty AMA PRA Category 1 credits each biennial renewal cycle, with up to 20 hours of carryover.
CDC opioid guideline
2 hours on the CDC opioid prescribing guideline within the previous 5 years.
Abuse training
2 hours each in child and dependent adult abuse for relevant primary care providers, every 3 years.
End-of-life care
2 hours in end-of-life care for primary care physicians within 5 years.
How many CME hours Iowa physicians need
Iowa requires 40 hours of Category 1 CME every two years, tied to your biennial license renewal. You may carry over up to 20 hours earned beyond the requirement in the prior cycle. Physicians who obtain or renew ABMS or AOA board certification during the period may instead document 50 Category 1 credits to satisfy the requirement.
Mandated subject requirements
- CDC opioid prescribing guideline: 2 hours of Category 1 credit within the previous 5 years.
- End-of-life care: 2 hours for primary care physicians within the previous 5 years.
- Child abuse identification & reporting: 2 hours within the previous 3 years for those who regularly provide primary care to children.
- Dependent adult abuse identification & reporting: 2 hours within the previous 3 years for those who regularly provide primary care to adults.
These mandated hours count toward your 40-hour total rather than adding to it.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Iowa physician licenses renew every two years. Complete and document your 40 hours - including any mandated topics due in that window - before your expiration date. Because the abuse trainings run on a 3-year look-back and the opioid and end-of-life trainings on a 5-year look-back, track each separately so nothing lapses between renewals.
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View pricingIowa Physicians (MD/DO) CME at a glance
- CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline2 hrs
At least 2 hours of Category 1 credit on the U.S. CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain - including dosage and prescription-length limits, abuse risk factors, and nonopioid and nonpharmacologic therapy options - completed within the previous 5 years.
- End-of-Life Care2 hrs
Physicians who provide primary health care must complete 2 hours of Category 1 credit in end-of-life care within the previous 5 years. Applies to specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, pain medicine, and psychiatry.
- Child Abuse Identification & Reporting2 hrs
A licensee who regularly provides primary health care to children must complete 2 hours of approved training in child abuse identification and reporting within the previous 3 years.
- Dependent Adult Abuse Identification & Reporting2 hrs
A licensee who regularly provides primary health care to adults must complete 2 hours of approved training in dependent adult abuse identification and reporting within the previous 3 years.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Iowa physician (MD) and osteopathic physician (DO) licenses renew biennially. The standard requirement is 40 hours of Category 1 credit per two-year period, with up to 20 hours of carryover allowed from the prior cycle. Physicians who hold or renew ABMS or AOA board certification during the renewal period may instead claim 50 Category 1 credits. Several mandated trainings are folded into - not added on top of - the 40-hour total.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Iowa Board of Medicine before relying on these figures.
Source: Iowa Board of Medicine. 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 Iowa or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Iowa Physician CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Iowa physicians need?
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40 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 credit every two years, with up to 20 hours of carryover. Board-certified physicians may instead claim 50 Category 1 credits.
Does Iowa require opioid prescribing CME?
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Yes - 2 hours of Category 1 credit on the CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, completed within the previous 5 years.
Who needs abuse identification training in Iowa?
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Physicians who regularly provide primary care to children need 2 hours of child abuse training, and those who provide primary care to adults need 2 hours of dependent adult abuse training - each within the previous 3 years.
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