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North Carolina CME requirements for psychiatrists
North Carolina sets one CME total for physicians in every specialty: 60 hours every 3 years (Category 1), with 1 mandated topic. As a psychiatrist you also keep up ABPN Continuing Certification. Below: both, and where one certificate counts for each.
North Carolina: the state rule
Checked against the North Carolina Medical Board's rules on October 13, 2026. Citation: 21 NCAC 32R .0101(b).
General CME: 60 hours every 3 years.
Opioid / controlled substance
3 hours Category 1 every 3-year cycle, controlled-substance prescribing practices including chronic pain. Trigger: any MD/DO who prescribes CS.
No board pre-approval needed: no designated course; the NCMB posts an options list 'as a courtesy.' DEA MATE Act training also satisfies it.
Mandated topics, and whether each reaches psychiatrists
| Topic | Hours | Timing | Who it applies to | For psychiatrists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled substances / opioid / chronic pain prescribing | 3 | per 3-year cycle | controlled-substance prescribers | Applies if you prescribe controlled substances. Check whether this applies to your practice. |
Notes from the North Carolina page
- MATE training satisfies. Only topic mandate.
Full detail, including the rules for NPs, PAs, CRNAs and CAAs: North Carolina 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 opioid course that covers North Carolina's required content can count toward the opioid requirement and toward the general 60-hour total at the same time, when the activity awards the credit North Carolina accepts.
- Board CME. ABPN's 90 credits are Category 1, and self-assessment CME that also carries Category 1 credit counts toward both the 16 and the 90. The same certificate can count toward North Carolina's hours when it awards credit North Carolina accepts. 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 North Carolina's own rules. A MATE-qualifying accredited course will usually still count toward North Carolina's general total.
For psychiatrists in North Carolina
- Pace: North Carolina asks for 60 hours every 3 years, about 20 a year. ABPN asks for 90 credits per 3-year block, about 30 a year. Certificates that carry credit both accept count toward each, so plan to the larger of the two.
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 North Carolina require for psychiatrists?
North Carolina's total is the same for physicians in every specialty: 60 hours every 3 years (Category 1), plus 1 mandated topic, some limited to certain practices. Checked against the North Carolina Medical Board's rules on October 13, 2026.
Does ABPN Continuing Certification CME count toward North Carolina's CME hours?
ABPN's 90 credits are Category 1, and self-assessment CME that also carries Category 1 credit counts toward both the 16 and the 90. The same certificate can count toward North Carolina's hours when it awards credit North Carolina accepts. Check what credit each certificate awards.
Related
- North Carolina CME requirements, all professions
- CME requirements for all 51 jurisdictions
- CME by state and specialty
- Opioid and controlled-substance CME by state
A summary of the North Carolina 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 North Carolina Medical Board and your board before relying on any entry.