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New York CME requirements for psychiatrists

New York sets no general CME hour total, only 3 topic mandates. As a psychiatrist you also keep up ABPN Continuing Certification. Below: both, and where one certificate counts for each.

New York: the state rule

Checked against the New York State Department of Health's rules on October 13, 2026. Citation: PHL ยง3309-A(3); 8 NYCRR 59.13.

Total CMENone (no general CME hours)
Renewal cycle2 years
TrackingState portal

General CME: No fixed hour renewal mandate; opioid attestation via NEAT.

Opioid / controlled substance

At least 3 hours every 3 years: pain management, palliative care, and addiction. Trigger: all NY prescribers holding a DEA registration. Attested via NEAT on the Health Commerce System.

No board pre-approval needed: despite the specific topic curriculum, any ACCME course covering the required topics counts; self-attested via NEAT.

Mandated topics, and whether each reaches psychiatrists

TopicHoursTimingWho it applies toFor psychiatrists
Child abuse identification & reporting2one-time (pre-licensure)all applicantsApplies to all physicians.
Infection control / barrier precautions7 core elements (no set hours)every 4 yearsallApplies to all physicians.
Controlled substances / pain / palliative / addiction3every 3 yearsDEA controlled-substance prescribersApplies if you prescribe controlled substances. Check whether this applies to your practice.

Notes from the New York page

  • NY has no total-hour CME mandate: only these topic trainings.

Full detail, including the rules for NPs, PAs, CRNAs and CAAs: New York CME requirements.

Your board: ABPN Continuing Certification

Board figures as tracked in the Ledger, last checked August 1, 2026. Confirm in your board portal.

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) runs Continuing Certification in 3-year blocks inside a 10-year certificate: 90 Category 1 CME credits per block, 16 of them self-assessment CME, plus one Performance-in-Practice unit.

If you complete the article-based ABCC exams in the block, ABPN counts all 16 self-assessment credits as done. A subspecialty certificate adds no CME: ABPN counts one set for every certificate you hold.

DOs certified by the AOBNP follow the AOA's Osteopathic Continuous Certification instead, with different credit rules.

What usually overlaps

  • Opioid course. An accredited course that covers New York's required opioid content can meet that requirement. New York sets no general hour total, so there is no second bucket for it to count toward.
  • Board CME. New York sets no general hour total, so board CME counts on the New York side only when it covers one of New York's topic mandates, such as the opioid requirement. On the board side, ABPN counts Category 1 CME toward its 90 credits. Check what credit each certificate awards.
  • Federal MATE Act. If you hold a DEA registration, the one-time 8-hour training is federal and does not replace New York's own rules.

For psychiatrists in New York

  • New York sets no general hour total, so your ABPN requirement (90 credits per 3-year block, about 30 a year) is likely your larger CME number. New York's topic mandates still apply on their own schedule.

One record for your licenses and your board

The Ledger counts one certificate toward every state and board requirement it satisfies, at full hours each, and reminds you before anything is due. 30 days free with a card on file.

Common questions

How many CME hours does New York require for psychiatrists?

New York sets no general CME hour total for physicians in any specialty. It has 3 mandated topics. The opioid and controlled-substance rule: at least 3 hours every 3 years: pain management, palliative care, and addiction. Checked against the New York State Department of Health's rules on October 13, 2026.

Does ABPN Continuing Certification CME count toward New York's CME hours?

New York sets no general hour total, so board CME counts on the New York side only when it covers one of New York's topic mandates, such as the opioid requirement. On the board side, ABPN counts Category 1 CME toward its 90 credits. Check what credit each certificate awards.

Related

A summary of the New York physician rules as checked on October 13, 2026 and of ABPN rules as last checked August 1, 2026. Informational, not legal advice. Rules change mid-cycle: verify with the New York State Department of Health and your board before relying on any entry.