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Illinois · Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant CME requirements in Illinois

Medium confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Total CME hours
~100 (conflicting reports; some indicate 50)
Category 1 minimum
Unverified for PAs
Accepts NCCPA in lieu
Active NCCPA certification required for licensure

State-mandated CME topics

  • Implicit bias: 1 hr — Per renewal, since 2023-01-01.
  • Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hr .
  • Cultural competency: 1 hr — Renewals on/after 2025-01-01, every 6 yrs.
  • Safe opioid prescribing: 1 (3 to renew IL Controlled Substances Registration) — Controlled-substance prescribers.
  • Mandated reporter (child abuse): — At least every 6 yrs if a mandated reporter.

Sources

Every figure on this page is compiled from the primary board and national certification sources below, cross-checked against reputable aggregators. Requirements change often and some boards publish only in PDFs or login-walled portals — confirm current rules directly before relying on them for renewal.

Illinois licensing boardIllinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
NCCPA certification (national)nccpa.net/maintain-certification/continuing-medical-education
NCCPA certification (national)nccpa.net/news/panre-la
NCCPA certification (national)nccpa.net/maintain-certification
DEA MATE Act (federal)samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act
DEA MATE Act (federal)dea.gov
Verify with Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) →

How this fits the national picture

Independent of Illinois, every PA maintains NCCPA certification — 100 CME credits every two-year cycle (at least 50 Category 1) plus a recertification exam by year 10. Many states accept that in place of separate state CME; this page notes whether Illinois does.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

How many CME hours do physician assistants need in Illinois?

~100 (conflicting reports; some indicate 50). Renewal cycle: Every 2 years.

Does Illinois accept NCCPA certification in lieu of state CME?

Active NCCPA certification required for licensure.

What topic-specific CME does Illinois require for physician assistants?

Implicit bias: 1 hr — Per renewal, since 2023-01-01. Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hr . Cultural competency: 1 hr — Renewals on/after 2025-01-01, every 6 yrs. Safe opioid prescribing: 1 (3 to renew IL Controlled Substances Registration) — Controlled-substance prescribers. Mandated reporter (child abuse): — At least every 6 yrs if a mandated reporter.

Informational only, not legal or compliance advice. Continuing education rules change frequently. Confirm current requirements with the Illinois Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and your certifying body before relying on any figure here.