If you hold a South Carolina physician license, the Board of Medical Examiners requires 40 hours of AMA/AOA Category 1 CME every two-year renewal cycle, of which 30 must be in your specialty and 10 may be non-specialty. Authorized prescribers must include 2 hours on safe prescribing of controlled substances. Below is the full breakdown.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty AMA/AOA Category 1 hours each biennial cycle.
30 hours in specialty
Thirty must be in your specialty; 10 may be non-specialty.
2 hours controlled substances
On safe prescribing and monitoring for authorized prescribers.
Category 1 required
All hours must be AMA/AOA Category 1 within the cycle.
How many CME hours South Carolina physicians need
South Carolina requires 40 hours of Category 1 CME every two years, of which 30 must be in your specialty and 10 may be non-specialty.
Controlled substance education
Authorized prescribers must complete 2 hours in safe prescribing and monitoring of controlled substances each renewal.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
South Carolina physician licenses renew every two years. Complete and document your 40 hours within the renewal period.
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View pricingSouth Carolina Physicians (MD/DO) CME at a glance
- Safe Prescribing of Controlled Substances2 hrs · per renewal
Authorized prescribers must complete 2 hours in safe prescribing and monitoring of controlled substances each renewal. Counts toward the 40-hour total.
Always confirm with your licensing board
South Carolina physicians must complete 40 hours of AMA/AOA Category 1 CME every two years, of which 30 must be in their specialty and 10 may be non-specialty.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners before relying on these figures.
Source: South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. 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 South Carolina or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
South Carolina Physician CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do South Carolina physicians need?
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40 Category 1 CME hours every two years, of which 30 must be in your specialty.
Does South Carolina require controlled substance CME?
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Yes — authorized prescribers must complete 2 hours in safe prescribing and monitoring of controlled substances each renewal.
Can hours be outside my specialty?
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Up to 10 of the 40 hours may be non-specialty; the other 30 must be in your specialty.
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