If you hold a Texas physician license, the Texas Medical Board requires at least 48 CME credits every 24 months, of which at least 24 must be formal Category 1 / 1-A courses. Texas mandates medical ethics, pain management/opioid prescribing, and human trafficking components on staggered timelines. Below is the full breakdown.
48 hours / 2 years
At least 24 must be formal Category 1 / 1-A courses.
2 hours ethics
Medical ethics and/or professional responsibility within the formal hours.
2 hours pain/opioids
For direct-patient-care physicians on a staggered schedule.
Human trafficking
1 hour first renewal, then every third renewal period.
How many CME hours Texas physicians need
Texas requires at least 48 CME credits every 24 months, of which at least half (24) must be formal Category 1 / 1-A courses.
Mandated subject requirements
- Medical ethics & professional responsibility: 2 of the formal hours (may include risk management, domestic abuse, or child abuse).
- Pain management & opioid prescribing: 2 hours within one year of license issuance, again at second renewal, then every eighth year.
- Human trafficking prevention: 1 hour in the first renewal period and every third renewal thereafter.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Texas physician licenses renew every two years. Complete and document your 48 hours, including any mandated topics due that cycle, before renewal.
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View pricingTexas Physicians (MD/DO) CME at a glance
- Medical Ethics & Professional Responsibility2 hrs · per renewal
At least 2 of the 24 formal hours must involve medical ethics and/or professional responsibility — which may include risk management, domestic abuse, or child abuse. Counts toward the total.
- Pain Management & Opioid Prescribing2 hrs · varies
Physicians providing direct patient care must complete 2 hours of formal CME in pain management and opioid prescribing within one year of license issuance, again at second renewal, then every eighth year (every 4 renewals).
- Human Trafficking Prevention1 hr · first renewal then every 3 renewals
Physicians providing direct patient care must complete 1 hour on identification and assistance of trafficked persons in the first renewal period after initial registration, and 1 hour every third renewal period thereafter.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Texas physicians must complete at least 48 CME credits every 24 months, of which at least half (24) must be formal Category 1 / 1-A courses.
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?
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 Texas or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Texas Physician CME Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CME hours do Texas physicians need?
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At least 48 CME credits every 24 months, of which at least 24 must be formal Category 1 / 1-A courses.
Does Texas require ethics CME?
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Yes — at least 2 of the formal hours must involve medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.
Does Texas require human trafficking training?
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Yes — direct-patient-care physicians must complete 1 hour in the first renewal period and every third renewal thereafter.
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