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Washington Physicians CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

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Washington Physicians

In support of improving patient care, NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The Washington State Department Health: Washington Medical Commission accepts courses from any provider who is ACCME-accredited and awards AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Continuing Education Requirement

MDs are required 200 hours every four years, a minimum of 120 of which must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.* Beginning January 1, 2024, Physicians are required at least 2 hours of health equity training every four years, including strategies to reduce implicit bias and assess the provider's ability to apply health equity concepts into practice. These hours are included in the total required for renewal. There is a one-time requirement of 6 hours in suicide assessment, treatment, and management at initial licensure. Beginning January 1, 2019, licensees authorized to prescribe opioids have a one-time requirement of 1 hour in opioid prescribing. All prescribers of long-acting opioids or methadone have a one-time requirement of 4 hours on this topic.

Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required 8 hours on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of a substance use disorder, one-time only.

Authorizing practitioners under the Medical Cannabis Program should take at least 3 hours of continuing education related to medical cannabis, including the proper use of cannabis, pharmacology and effects of cannabis, methods of administration, and potential side effects or risks.

Alternatives to continuing medication education for meeting MD renewal requirements include:

Participating in a fellowship program or ACGME-accredited residency program fulfills 50 hours of Category 1 CME per each year of training during the four years preceding renewal; or
Obtaining a current AMA Physician's Recognition Award (PRA) in at least two of the four years preceding renewal fulfills 200 hours; or
Obtaining certification by a member board of the ABMS in the four years preceding renewal fulfills 200 hours; or
Obtaining recertification by a member board of the ABMS at time of renewal fulfills 200 hours.

DOs are required 150 hours every three years, a minimum of 60 of which must be Category 1 credit.* Beginning January 1, 2024, Osteopathic physicians are required at least 2 hours of health equity training every four years, including strategies to reduce implicit bias and assess the provider's ability to apply health equity concepts into practice. These hours are included in the total required for renewal. There is a one-time requirement of 6 hours in suicide assessment, treatment, and management at initial licensure. Beginning January 1, 2019, licensees authorized to prescribe opioids have a one-time requirement of 1 hour in opioid prescribing. All prescribers of long-acting opioids or methadone have a one-time requirement of 4 hours on this topic.

Alternatives to continuing medical education for meeting DO renewal requirements include:

Obtaining certification or recertification with the ABOMS or ABMS within the last six years; or
Holding a current AOA certificate of excellence in CME; or
Holding a current AMA Physician's Recognition Award (PRA).

* Category 1 refers to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or AOA Category 1-A. All hours may be completed through NetCE, as we award AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

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MD License Renewal Instructions
DO License Renewal Instructions

For More Information

Please contact the Washington State Department of Health: Washington Medical Commission at (360) 236-2750 - MDs; or the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery at (360) 236-4700 - DOs. For additional information regarding your continuing education, please refer to https://wmc.wa.gov/education/continuing-medical-education-cme-requirements - MDs, or https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/osteopathic-physician-and-surgeon/licensing-information - DOs.
Suicide Assessment training - https://www.doh.wa.gov/ForPublicHealthandHealthcareProviders/HealthcareProfessionsandFacilities-/SuicidePrevention/TrainingPrograms/ModelList.