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Opioid CME by State

Many states require some CME on opioid prescribing or pain management, but the number of hours, the frequency and who is covered differ widely.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026. General information, not legal or compliance advice.

Three layers to keep apart

• The federal one-time DEA training for registrants, described in the MATE Act guide.
• State CME rules that add hours on opioid prescribing, pain management or substance use disorders.
• Rules from other bodies, such as a hospital or a payer, which are outside this guide.

What varies

States differ on the total hours, whether the requirement repeats every cycle or is one time, whether it applies only to prescribers who hold a DEA registration, and whether the course must be pre-approved by the board. Some states also ask for related topics such as pain management or addiction in place of, or in addition to, an opioid-specific course.

Board-approved courses

A small number of boards accept only courses they have approved or courses from named providers. Where our data records such a rule, the state page carries a Board-approved course required flag. A missing flag does not prove that any course will count, so check the board's own page before you pay for a course.

Check your own states

Open the free opioid CME planner, choose your profession, tick the states where you are licensed and read the rule recorded for each. Entries that are not marked as reviewed say so.

Limits of this guide

Rules and fees change, and this guide is general information, so confirm the details with the relevant board or agency before you act.