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Ohio CME requirements for anesthesiologists
Ohio sets one CME total for physicians in every specialty: 50 hours every 2 years (all Category 1), with 2 mandated topics. As an anesthesiologist you also keep up ABA MOCA 2.0. Below: both, and where one certificate counts for each.
Ohio: the state rule
Checked against the State Medical Board of Ohio's rules on October 13, 2026. Citation: Ohio Administrative Code 4731-29-01.
General CME: 50 hours every 2 years, including a 1-hour board-approved course on the duty to report misconduct; the rest in Category 1 activities.
Opioid / controlled substance
No general opioid mandate for ordinary MD/DO renewal. Niche only: pain-management-clinic owners/operators need at least 20 hours Category 1 pain medicine every 2 years. Federal MATE Act applies separately.
No board pre-approval needed: for ordinary renewal no opioid CME is required; pain-clinic rule is topic + Category 1 only.
Mandated topics, and whether each reaches anesthesiologists
| Topic | Hours | Timing | Who it applies to | For anesthesiologists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duty to report misconduct | 1 | per renewal | all licensees | Applies to all physicians. |
| Pain medicine (pain-clinic physicians only) | 20 | per 2 years | pain-management clinic owners/providers only | Check whether this applies to your practice. |
Notes from the Ohio page
- No general opioid, sexual misconduct, human trafficking, implicit bias, etc. mandate.
Full detail, including the rules for NPs, PAs, CRNAs and CAAs: Ohio CME requirements.
Your board: ABA MOCA 2.0
Board figures as tracked in the Ledger, last checked August 1, 2026. Confirm in your board portal.
The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) runs MOCA 2.0. If you were certified in 2024 or later you are on a 5-year cycle: 125 AMA PRA Category 1 credits, at least 10 of them in patient safety. If you were certified earlier you stay on a 10-year cycle of 250 credits (at least 20 patient safety) until it expires.
Everyone also answers MOCA Minute questions, 120 a year (30 a quarter), and completes QI activities. The ABA counts AMA PRA Category 1, AOA Category 1-A and RCPSC/AFMC accredited CPD only; Category 2 does not count.
DOs certified by the AOBA follow the AOA's Osteopathic Continuous Certification instead, with different credit rules.
What usually overlaps
- Opioid course. Ohio has no general opioid mandate for ordinary renewal. An accredited opioid course still counts toward the 50-hour total when it awards the credit Ohio accepts.
- Board CME. ABA credit is Category 1 only. A Category 1 certificate can count toward your MOCA total and toward Ohio's hours at the same time; a Category 2 activity can only help on the state side, where the state accepts it. 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 Ohio's own rules. A MATE-qualifying accredited course will usually still count toward Ohio's general total.
For anesthesiologists in Ohio
- Pace: Ohio asks for 50 hours every 2 years, about 25 a year. ABA asks for 125 credits over 5 years (250 over 10 on the older track), about 25 a year. Certificates that carry credit both accept count toward each, so plan to the larger of the two.
- Ohio's total: 50 hours (all Category 1). The ABA counts Category 1 only, so the Category 1 hours are the ones that also move your MOCA total.
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 Ohio require for anesthesiologists?
Ohio's total is the same for physicians in every specialty: 50 hours every 2 years (all Category 1), plus 2 mandated topics, some limited to certain practices. Checked against the State Medical Board of Ohio's rules on October 13, 2026.
Does ABA MOCA CME count toward Ohio's CME hours?
ABA credit is Category 1 only. A Category 1 certificate can count toward your MOCA total and toward Ohio's hours at the same time; a Category 2 activity can only help on the state side, where the state accepts it. Check what credit each certificate awards.
Related
- Ohio 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 Ohio physician rules as checked on October 13, 2026 and of ABA rules as last checked August 1, 2026. Informational, not legal advice. Rules change mid-cycle: verify with the State Medical Board of Ohio and your board before relying on any entry.