8 Mandatory Hours
32 Elective Hours
40 Total Hours
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Here's what you need to renew your Iowa Physician license

The information below is a summary of the minimum requirements set forth by the Iowa Board of Medicine. For a more detailed requirements breakdown, please see the board's site.
If you hold Physician licenses in multiple states, please make sure to check each state's requirements.

Iowa Physician: DO (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 40
Mandatory Hours: 8
Elective Hours: 32
Renewal Cycle in Months: 24
License Expiration Date: Varies
Next Education Due Date: Varies

Online Info

Mandatory CE Topics

End-of-Life Care
Iowa MDs and DOs must complete 2 hours in end-of-life care once every 5 years.

Course option: Palliative Care and Pain Management at the End of Life

Chronic Pain Management
MDs and DOs must complete 2 hours in chronic pain management once every 5 years, addressing CDC guideline topics such as dosage/duration limitations, abuse risk factors, and non-opioid/non-pharmacologic therapy options. Physicians may be exempt depending on whether they prescribed opioids during the previous licensure cycle.

Course option: Responsible and Effective Opioid Prescribing

Practice-Based or Conditional Requirements

Mandatory Reporter Abuse Training
Mandatory reporters of abuse must complete 2 hours on identifying and reporting child abuse and 2 hours on dependent adult abuse (unless exempt), with recertification required at 2 hours per topic every 3 years thereafter, per Iowa's updated Chapter 11 CE rules.

Note: Iowa's recertification course for mandatory reporters is offered only through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Medical Spa Practice
Physicians practicing in a medical spa (including the medical director) must complete 20 hours of CME annually in the safe and effective performance of medical aesthetic services.

Federal Requirements

DEA MATE Act Requirement
DEA-registered practitioners, except those who are solely veterinarians, must complete an 8-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This applies one time to DEA registrations or renewals submitted on or after June 27, 2023.

Course option: Substance Use Disorders: A DEA Requirement

Regulatory Disclaimer: This information is for general reference only. Requirements may change; confirm current CE requirements, course acceptance, and renewal deadlines directly with the applicable licensing board.

Roster

No roster required

Governing Agency

Name: Iowa Board of Medicine
Phone: 5152815171
Fax:
Address: 400 SW 8th St., Suite C Des Moines, 50309

Iowa Physician: MD (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 40
Mandatory Hours: 8
Elective Hours: 32
Renewal Cycle in Months: 24
License Expiration Date: Varies
Next Education Due Date: Varies

Online Info

Mandatory CE Topics

End-of-Life Care
Iowa MDs and DOs must complete 2 hours in end-of-life care once every 5 years.

Course option: Palliative Care and Pain Management at the End of Life

Chronic Pain Management
MDs and DOs must complete 2 hours in chronic pain management once every 5 years, addressing CDC guideline topics such as dosage/duration limitations, abuse risk factors, and non-opioid/non-pharmacologic therapy options. Physicians may be exempt depending on whether they prescribed opioids during the previous licensure cycle.

Course option: Responsible and Effective Opioid Prescribing

Practice-Based or Conditional Requirements

Mandatory Reporter Abuse Training
Mandatory reporters of abuse must complete 2 hours on identifying and reporting child abuse and 2 hours on dependent adult abuse (unless exempt), with recertification required at 2 hours per topic every 3 years thereafter, per Iowa's updated Chapter 11 CE rules.

Note: Iowa's recertification course for mandatory reporters is offered only through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Medical Spa Practice
Physicians practicing in a medical spa (including the medical director) must complete 20 hours of CME annually in the safe and effective performance of medical aesthetic services.

Federal Requirements

DEA MATE Act Requirement
DEA-registered practitioners, except those who are solely veterinarians, must complete an 8-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This applies one time to DEA registrations or renewals submitted on or after June 27, 2023.

Course option: Substance Use Disorders: A DEA Requirement

Regulatory Disclaimer: This information is for general reference only. Requirements may change; confirm current CE requirements, course acceptance, and renewal deadlines directly with the applicable licensing board.

Roster

No roster required

Governing Agency

Name: Iowa Board of Medicine
Phone: 5152815171
Fax:
Address: 400 SW 8th St., Suite C Des Moines, 50309

Iowa Physician: PA (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 100
Mandatory Hours: 4
Elective Hours: 96
Renewal Cycle in Months: 24
License Expiration Date: 09/30/2026
Next Education Due Date: 09/30/2026

Online Info

Renewal CE Requirements

Physician Assistants
Iowa PAs must complete 100 hours of Category 1 CME every renewal period, or provide proof of current NCCPA certification. PAs are exempt from the CE requirement for their first renewal after initial licensure.

Practice-Based or Conditional Requirements

Mandatory Reporter Abuse Training
Mandatory reporters of abuse must complete 2 hours on identifying and reporting child abuse and 2 hours on dependent adult abuse (unless exempt), with 1-hour recertification courses required every 3 years thereafter for each topic.

Note: Iowa's recertification course for mandatory reporters is offered only through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Opioid-Prescribing PAs
PAs who prescribed opioids during the previous licensing period must complete 2 hours in chronic pain management every 2 years, addressing CDC guideline topics.

Course option: Responsible and Effective Opioid Prescribing

Federal Requirements

DEA MATE Act Requirement
DEA-registered practitioners, except those who are solely veterinarians, must complete an 8-hour training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This applies one time to DEA registrations or renewals submitted on or after June 27, 2023.

Course option: Substance Use Disorders: A DEA Requirement

Regulatory Disclaimer: This information is for general reference only. Requirements may change; confirm current CE requirements, course acceptance, and renewal deadlines directly with the applicable licensing board.

Roster

No roster required

Governing Agency

Name: Iowa Board of Medicine
Phone: 5152815171
Fax:
Address: 400 SW 8th St., Suite C Des Moines, 50309

Good to know

Other facts and insights about completing your CE

Note: This license renewal information is provided as a convenience only and is subject to change at any time. It's ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to be sure that he or she is meeting all requirements for each license and corresponding renewal period.