If you hold a Texas physician assistant license, the Texas Medical Board requires at least 40 credits of CME every 24 months — at least 20 hours of formal Category 1 and up to 20 hours of Category 2. At least 2 of the Category 1 hours must cover opioid/controlled-substance prescribing, and you must complete an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course before each renewal (separate from the 40-hour total). Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
20 formal Category 1 plus 20 Category 2 each 24-month cycle.
Opioid prescribing
At least 2 Category 1 hours on opioid/controlled-substance prescribing.
Human trafficking
An HHSC-approved prevention course before each renewal (not carryable).
Carry-forward
Up to 80 excess hours (40 per category) may be carried forward two years.
How many CME hours Texas PAs need
Texas requires at least 40 credits of CME every 24 months for physician assistants — at least 20 hours of formal Category 1 (from an AAPA-approved sponsor) and up to 20 hours of Category 2.
Mandated subject requirements
- Human trafficking: an HHSC-approved prevention course before each renewal (separate from the 40 hours, not carryable).
- Opioids: at least 2 Category 1 hours on opioid/controlled-substance prescribing.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Texas PA licenses renew every 24 months (tied to the biennial registration period). PAs may carry forward up to 80 excess hours (40 per category) for up to two years, except the human trafficking course.
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View pricingTexas Physician Assistants (PA) CME at a glance
- Human Trafficking PreventionRequired · recurring
PAs must complete an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course before each renewal (House Bill 2059, effective September 1, 2020). This is separate from the 40-hour CME total and cannot be carried forward.
- Opioid / Controlled Substance Prescribing2 hrs · biennial
At least 2 of the Category 1 hours must cover opioid-related and controlled-substance prescribing topics, counted within the 20-hour Category 1 requirement.
Always confirm with your licensing board
The Texas Medical Board requires PAs to complete at least 40 credits of CME every 24 months — at least 20 hours of formal Category 1 credit (from an AAPA-approved sponsor) and up to 20 hours of Category 2 (self-study, lectures, grand rounds, case conferences). At least 2 of the Category 1 hours must cover opioid/controlled-substance prescribing. PAs must also complete an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course before each renewal (separate from the 40-hour total). PAs may carry forward up to 80 excess hours (40 per category), except the human trafficking course.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Texas Medical Board before relying on these figures.
Source: Texas Medical Board. 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 Texas or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Texas Physician Assistant CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Texas PAs need?
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At least 40 credits every 24 months — 20 formal Category 1 and 20 Category 2.
Does Texas require human trafficking training for PAs?
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Yes — an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course before each renewal, separate from the 40-hour total.
Do Texas PAs need opioid CME?
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Yes — at least 2 of the Category 1 hours must cover opioid/controlled-substance prescribing.
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