If you hold a Massachusetts physician assistant license, the Board of Registration of Physician Assistants requires 100 contact hours of continuing education each registration period, at least 40 of which must be Category 1. Massachusetts also requires 3 hours of Category 1 CME every two years on opioid prescribing. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
100 hours / 2 years
At least 40 Category 1; the remaining hours may be Category 1 or 2.
Opioid prescribing
3 hours of Category 1 CME every two years on opioid prescribing.
Pain management focus
Opioid CME covers risk identification and overdose prevention.
Biennial renewal
Massachusetts PA registrations renew on a two-year cycle.
How many CME hours Massachusetts PAs need
Massachusetts requires 100 contact hours of continuing education each two-year registration period for physician assistants, at least 40 of which must be Category 1.
Mandated subject requirements
- Opioids: 3 hours of Category 1 CME every two years on opioid prescribing, including effective pain management, abuse/addiction risk, and overdose prevention.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Massachusetts PA registrations renew biennially. Complete and document 100 hours, including the 3-hour opioid prescribing component, before renewal.
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View pricingMassachusetts Physician Assistants (PA) CME at a glance
- Opioid Prescribing & Pain Management3 hrs · biennial
PAs must complete 3 hours of Category 1 CME every two years on the prescribing of opioid medication, covering effective pain management, risks of abuse and addiction, identifying at-risk patients, and overdose prevention.
Always confirm with your licensing board
The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants requires 100 contact hours of continuing education each registration period, a minimum of 40 of which must be Category 1. PAs must also complete 3 hours of Category 1 CME every two years on the prescribing of opioid medication (per Board rules on use of controlled substances for treatment of pain).
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants before relying on these figures.
Source: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Physician Assistants. 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?
PA Licensure Compact: enacted but not yet active. Enacted by enough states and a commission is standing up, but NOT yet issuing the compact privilege — PAs still license state-by-state.
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 Massachusetts or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Massachusetts Physician Assistant CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Massachusetts PAs need?
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100 contact hours every two years, at least 40 of which must be Category 1.
Does Massachusetts require opioid CME for PAs?
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Yes — 3 hours of Category 1 CME every two years on the prescribing of opioid medication.
How often do Massachusetts PA licenses renew?
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Every two years.
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