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Louisiana CME Requirements for Physicians (2026)
Everything the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners requires — total hours, mandated topics, the opioid/controlled-substance rule, and how it's tracked. Last reviewed 2026-07-10.
Board: Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. General CME: 20 hrs per year.
Opioid / controlled-substance CME in Louisiana
3 hrs one-time (before first renewal) — best-practice CDS prescribing, drug diversion, addiction treatment, chronic pain (single curriculum, all four topics). Trigger: CDS-license holders.
⚠ Louisiana gates its opioid/controlled-substance CME: a generic national course may NOT satisfy it. BOARD PRE-APPROVAL REQUIRED — LSBME designates the approved course; generic AMA Cat 1 is not sufficient on its own. Hard gate (Act 76 / §4005).
All mandated CME topics in Louisiana
| Topic | Hours | Timing | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled substances / drug diversion / addiction / pain | 3 hrs | one-time (before 1st renewal on/after 1/1/2019) | CDS/controlled-substance license holders |
| Board orientation | 2 hrs | one-time (initial renewal) | all new licensees |
| Nutrition & metabolic health | 1 hrs | every 4 yr (eff 1/1/2026) | most clinical specialties |
| Sickle cell disease | 1 + 1 refresher hrs | initial then every 3 yr (eff 1/1/2026) | emergency medicine physicians |
Notes
- FSMB nutrition entry (2yr/6-2025) WRONG - actually 4yr/1-1-2026.
Pick all your states in the free planner and get one 5-year schedule that batches your opioid/controlled-substance CME so a single course covers as many licenses as possible.
Build my multi-state CME plan →This page summarizes La. Admin. Code tit. 46 §4005 and related board policy as of 2026-07-10 for physicians (MD/DO). It is educational information, not legal advice — always verify current requirements with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners before relying on them.