If you hold a New York physician assistant license, the NYS Education Department does not impose a general per-cycle CME hour count and does not use NCCPA for license maintenance. Instead, PAs must complete specific mandated trainings: infection control every four years, a one-time Child Abuse Identification and Reporting (CAIR) course, and — for DEA-registered prescribers — 3 hours of pain management, palliative care, and addiction coursework every three years. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
No general CME count
New York does not set a per-cycle CME hour total for PAs.
Infection control
Approved infection control training every four years.
Child abuse reporting
A one-time Child Abuse Identification and Reporting (CAIR) course.
Prescriber pain training
3 hours of pain/palliative/addiction coursework every 3 years for DEA prescribers.
How many CME hours New York PAs need
New York does not set a general CME hour count for physician assistants and does not use NCCPA for license maintenance. Compliance is built from mandated trainings.
Mandated subject requirements
- Infection control: approved training every four years.
- Child abuse reporting: a one-time Child Abuse Identification and Reporting (CAIR) course.
- Pain management: DEA-registered prescribers complete 3 hours of pain management, palliative care, and addiction coursework every three years.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
New York PA licenses renew on a three-year cycle. Track the four-year infection control interval and the three-year prescriber pain management interval separately from the registration cycle.
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View pricingNew York Physician Assistants (PA) CME at a glance
- Infection Control TrainingRequired · every 4 years
PAs must complete approved infection control and barrier precautions training every four years.
- Child Abuse Identification & Reporting (CAIR)Required · one time
PAs must complete the (updated) Child Abuse Identification and Reporting coursework as a one-time requirement.
- Pain Management, Palliative Care & Addiction (DEA prescribers)3 hrs · every 3 years
Prescribers with a DEA registration must complete at least 3 hours of coursework in pain management, palliative care, and addiction every three years (NYS mandatory prescriber education).
Always confirm with your licensing board
New York does not impose a general per-cycle CME hour count for PAs and does not use NCCPA certification for license maintenance. Instead, PAs must complete specific mandated trainings: infection control training every four years, a one-time Child Abuse Identification and Reporting (CAIR) course, and — for DEA-registered prescribers — 3 hours of pain management, palliative care, and addiction coursework every three years. PA licenses renew on a three-year cycle.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the NYS Office of the Professions before relying on these figures.
Source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for 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?
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 New York or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
New York Physician Assistant CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do New York PAs need?
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New York does not set a general CME hour count; instead, PAs complete specific mandated trainings.
Does New York require infection control training for PAs?
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Yes — approved infection control training every four years.
Do New York PA prescribers need pain management training?
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Yes — DEA-registered prescribers must complete 3 hours of pain management, palliative care, and addiction coursework every three years.
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