If you hold a Kentucky medical license (MD or DO), the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure requires 60 hours of continuing medical education every three-year cycle, of which at least 30 hours must be AMA PRA Category 1 (or AOA Category 1A) credits. On top of the general total, prescribers of controlled substances must complete 4.5 hours of KASPER/pain-management CME each cycle, and primary care physicians have a one-time domestic violence training requirement. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
60 hours / 3 years
Sixty CME hours per triennial cycle, with at least 30 in AMA PRA Category 1.
Controlled substances (4.5 hrs)
Prescribers complete 4.5 hours of KASPER/pain-management/addiction CME each three-year cycle.
Domestic violence (one-time)
Primary care physicians complete a 3-hour domestic violence course once, within three years of licensure.
Half can be Category 2
Only 30 of the 60 hours must be Category 1; the rest may be other approved CME.
How many CME hours Kentucky physicians need
Kentucky requires 60 hours of CME every three years. At least 30 of those hours must be certified as AMA PRA Category 1 (or AOA Category 1A); the remaining 30 hours may be other board-approved CME. The total is tracked over a rolling three-year period under regulation 201 KAR 9:310.
Mandated subject requirements
- Controlled-substance prescribing (HB 1 / KASPER): prescribers must complete at least 4.5 hours each cycle in KASPER, pain management, addiction disorders, or a combination — counted within the 60-hour total.
- Domestic violence: primary care physicians licensed after July 1, 1996 must complete a one-time 3-hour domestic violence training course within three years of initial licensure.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Kentucky licenses are renewed annually, but the 60-hour CME obligation is measured over a rolling three-year cycle. Track your hours continuously so you always satisfy the three-year total — including the per-cycle controlled-substance hours if you prescribe — and keep documentation available for board audit.
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View pricingKentucky Physicians (MD/DO) CME at a glance
- Controlled Substance Prescribing (KASPER / HB 1)4.5 hrs
Physicians authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances must complete at least 4.5 hours of board-approved CME each three-year cycle in KASPER, pain management, addiction disorders, or a combination of these subjects. Counts toward the 60-hour total.
- Domestic Violence Training3 hrs · one time
Primary care physicians licensed after July 1, 1996 must complete a 3-hour domestic violence training course within three years of initial licensure (one-time requirement).
Always confirm with your licensing board
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure requires 60 hours of CME per three-year cycle, of which at least 30 hours must be AMA PRA Category 1 (or AOA Category 1A) credits; the remaining 30 may be other approved CME. Licenses are renewed annually, but the CME total is measured over a rolling three-year period under 201 KAR 9:310.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure before relying on these figures.
Source: Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. 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 Kentucky or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Kentucky Physician CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Kentucky physicians need?
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60 hours every three years, of which at least 30 must be AMA PRA Category 1 (or AOA Category 1A) credits.
Is HIV/AIDS CME still required in Kentucky?
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No. The HIV/AIDS education CME requirement was eliminated as of June 24, 2015 and is no longer required.
What controlled-substance CME do Kentucky prescribers need?
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Physicians authorized to prescribe controlled substances must complete at least 4.5 hours of CME each three-year cycle in KASPER, pain management, addiction disorders, or a combination of those topics.
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