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Virginia CME requirements 2026 rules for physicians, NPs, PAs, CRNAs and CAAs
Virginia regulates five clinician professions through different boards, each with its own continuing-education rules: physicians (MD/DO), nurse practitioners (APRN/NP), physician assistants (PA), nurse anesthetists (CRNA) and anesthesiologist assistants (CAA), regulated by the Virginia Board of Medicine. Below, each profession's total hours, mandated topics, opioid/controlled-substance rule, and tracking, plus the one federal rule they share. Physician rules reviewed October 13, 2026.
Physicians (MD / DO)
Set by the Virginia Board of Medicine. Verified October 13, 2026.
General CME: 30 hours every 2 years, all Type 1 (18VAC85-20-235, amended effective 2/27/2025).
Opioid / controlled substance
No standalone opioid/CS CME mandate currently in force (former mandate removed). Prescribing-practice rules apply but no CME hour requirement. Federal MATE Act (8 hours one-time) only.
✓ No board pre-approval needed: an ACCME Category 1 opioid course simply counts as general Category 1.
All mandated CME topics
| Topic | Hours | Timing | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office-based anesthesia | 4 | per biennium | physicians giving office-based anesthesia with no anesthesiologist/CRNA |
Citation: 18VAC85-20-235; 18VAC85-21
Nurse Practitioners (APRN / NP)
Set by the Virginia Board of Nursing (licensure of APRNs is issued jointly by the Boards of Nursing and Medicine; continued-competency rules are set by the Board of Nursing), separate from the physician rules above, with its own hours and topics. Verified July 20, 2026.
General CE: Maintain current professional (national) certification in the area of specialty practice from an approved certifying agency, per 18VAC90-30-105(A). Legacy alternative (licensed before May 8, 2002 without current certification): at least 40 hours of CE in the specialty area per biennium, per 18VAC90-30-105(B).
Opioid / controlled substance
No standalone state opioid/controlled-substance CE mandate identified for this profession. The federal DEA MATE Act (one-time 8-hour training) still applies if you hold a DEA registration.
All mandated CE topics
| Topic | Hours | Timing | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology / pharmacotherapeutics (prescriptive authority) | 8 hours | per cycle | prescribers |
Tracking: Self-attestation at renewal; licensee must retain evidence of compliance and all supporting documentation for 4 years following the renewal period and produce it within 30 days if selected for a random Board audit (18VAC90-30-105(C); 18VAC90-40-55(C)).
Physician Assistants (PA)
Set by the Virginia Board of Medicine, separate from the physician rules above, with its own hours and topics. Verified July 20, 2026.
General CE: Compliance with the continuing medical education standards established by the NCCPA (18VAC85-50-56(A)(2)). NCCPA standard: at least 100 CME credits every 2 years, of which at least 50 must be Category 1. PA must also keep NCCPA certification current to remain licensed (18VAC85-50-56(B)).
Opioid / controlled substance
No standalone state opioid/controlled-substance CE mandate identified for this profession. The federal DEA MATE Act (one-time 8-hour training) still applies if you hold a DEA registration.
All mandated CE topics
No additional mandated topics identified beyond the total above.
Tracking: NCCPA maintains the PA's CME record; the PA attests to compliance with NCCPA CME standards at each biennial Virginia renewal (18VAC85-50-56(A)(2)). Board may verify NCCPA certification status.
Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)
Set by the Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine (Committee of the Joint Boards): APRN license in the category of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Va. Code 54.1-2957(B); 18VAC90-30), separate from the physician rules above, with its own hours and topics. Verified August 24, 2026.
General CE: 18VAC90-30-105(A): 'In order to renew a license biennially, an advanced practice registered nurse initially licensed on or after May 8, 2002, shall hold current professional certification in the area of specialty practice from one of the certifying agencies designated in 18VAC90-30-90'. (B): those licensed before May 8, 2002 may instead complete 'at least 40 hours of continuing education in the area of specialty practice' approved by a designated certifying agency or ACCME Category 1. (C)-(D): retain evidence 4 years; random audit, produce within 30 days. Renewal is biennial concurrent with RN license (18VAC90-30-100). NBCRNA is listed on the Board's APRN continued-competency page as a designated certifying agency.
NBCRNA recertification is accepted in place of state CE. Current NBCRNA certification is the continued-competency requirement for CRNAs licensed on/after May 8, 2002 (18VAC90-30-105(A)); no separate state hours. National layer: NBCRNA continued certification (4-year cycle: 60 Class A + 40 Class B credits, MAC Check).
Opioid / controlled substance
No standalone state opioid/controlled-substance CE mandate identified for this profession. The federal DEA MATE Act (one-time 8-hour training) still applies if you hold a DEA registration.
All mandated CE topics
No additional mandated topics identified beyond the total above.
Tracking: Self-attestation at biennial renewal; retain evidence of current NBCRNA certification and supporting documentation 4 years; produce within 30 days if audited (18VAC90-30-105(C)-(D)).
Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAA)
Set by the Virginia Board of Medicine (Dept. of Health Professions), separate from the physician rules above, with its own hours and topics. Verified August 24, 2026.
General CE: Statute directs the Board to adopt regulations on application, standards of practice and supervision (§ 54.1-2957.23(G)). As of August 24, 2026 Chapter 18VAC85-180 is 'Under Development' (NOIRA, Governor's office review); the Board's advisory panel (Nov 2025) recommended that continued national certification (AA-C) satisfy CE, biennial renewal like PAs, and an optimistic final-regulation timeline of 2027. No AA license type is yet offered on the DHP application portal.
NCCAA recertification counts toward state CE (partial). Recommended by the Regulatory Advisory Panel; not yet in adopted regulation. National layer: NCCAA certification (50 CME hours every 2 years, 40 anesthesia + 10 general, plus the CDQ exam).
Opioid / controlled substance
No standalone state opioid/controlled-substance CE mandate identified for this profession. The federal DEA MATE Act (one-time 8-hour training) still applies if you hold a DEA registration.
All mandated CE topics
No additional mandated topics identified beyond the total above.
Tracking: To be set by regulation.
Some figures are marked “Confirm with the board”: the research could not pin them to a primary source. Verify with the board.
Federal: DEA MATE Act (all professions)
One rule is the same for every profession on this page. Every DEA-registered prescriber (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and any CRNA or CAA who holds a DEA registration) must complete a one-time 8-hour training on treating patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, as a condition of DEA registration/renewal (since June 27, 2023). It is federal and applies in every state. A MATE-qualifying accredited course will usually still count toward your state general CME/CE total. How the MATE Act differs from state rules
Authority: MATE Act §1263, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (21 U.S.C. §823).
Notes (physician data)
- Total reduced from 60 to 30 hours, effective 2/27/2025; older summaries show 60. The former 2-hour controlled-substance CME does not appear in current primary sources. The only special topic is office-based anesthesia.
Pick your profession and 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.
This page summarizes Virginia board rules and statutes as of October 13, 2026 for five separately-regulated professions: physicians (MD/DO), nurse practitioners (APRNs), physician assistants (PAs), nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and anesthesiologist assistants (CAAs). Each is governed by its own board and its hour totals and mandated topics differ. Never assume one profession's figures apply to another. Physician data is compiled from FSMB and state medical-board sources; APRN/PA data was validated against nursing- and PA/medical-board rules on July 20, 2026, with the opioid/controlled-substance timing structured on July 23, 2026; CRNA and CAA data was researched against nursing-board, medical-board and practice-act primary sources on August 24, 2026 (items the research could not pin to a primary source are marked “Confirm with the board”). This is educational information, not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with your own board before relying on them.