Ohio CME Requirements for Physicians (MD and DO)

Ohio CME requirements for physicians are simpler than in many states: 50 hours every two years, with one specific hour the State Medical Board of Ohio requires everyone to take. Here is what MDs and DOs need to know before renewal, and where the rules come from.

We checked these requirements against the State Medical Board of Ohio’s website and the Ohio Administrative Code. Rules change, so confirm with the State Medical Board of Ohio before your renewal.

The short answer

MDs and DOs must complete 50 hours of CME every two-year registration period.
At least one hour must cover a licensee’s duty to report misconduct, and right now the board’s own video is the only way to meet it.
The rest generally comes from Category 1 activities (AMA or AOA), with limited credit for residency training and volunteer care in Ohio.
Keep your records for two years after the registration period ends. The board audits at random.
Ohio has no CME reciprocity with other states, and the requirement applies even if you live or practice elsewhere.

Ohio CME requirements at a glance

The core rule is Ohio Administrative Code 4731-10-02, which carries out the 50-hour mandate in Ohio Revised Code 4731.282. The board summarizes it on its physician license page.

Item	Requirement
Total hours	50 hours per registration period
Cycle	Two years. Ohio physician licenses expire two years from issuance and renew for two-year periods.
Required topic	1 hour on a licensee’s duty to report misconduct, every renewal period
Main credit type	Activities certified for AMA Category 1 or AOA Category 1 credit
Residency, internship, fellowship	1 hour of CME per week of participation in an accredited program
Volunteer care in Ohio	1 hour per 5 hours of service to indigent and uninsured patients, up to 10 hours
Record retention	2 years after the end of the registration period

Who the rules cover

This article covers physicians licensed in medicine and surgery (MD) and osteopathic medicine and surgery (DO). The same 50-hour rule also applies to podiatric physicians, though they have some credit options of their own that we don’t cover here.

The requirement doesn’t go away if you leave Ohio or stop seeing patients. The board says physicians who live or practice outside the state, and those who aren’t currently practicing, must still complete CME to keep the license. It also states that no reciprocity exists between Ohio and other states for CME. If you hold licenses in several states, see our CME requirements by state hub to compare.

The required duty to report hour

Since 2021, Ohio has required one hour of CME on a licensee’s duty to report misconduct to the board. According to the board’s Duty to Report FAQ, you need this hour every renewal period, not just once.

This is the part most likely to trip people up. The board says its own video is currently the only way to satisfy the requirement. You watch it, fill out a short form with your name, email, and license number, and the board emails a confirmation. Save that confirmation, because auditors will ask for it along with your other certificates.

The video is not certified for Category 1 credit, but the board says it still counts as one hour toward your 50. New licensees don’t take it at initial licensure, since Ohio’s CME requirement starts after you’re licensed and applies at renewal.

Rule 4731-10-02 doesn’t name any other required topic for MDs and DOs. Separate federal or prescribing-related training rules may apply to you, so check those on their own.

What counts toward the other 49 hours

Category 1 activities

For most physicians, the bulk of the hours will be Category 1. Under rule 4731-10-02, MDs can use activities certified for AMA Category 1 credit by the Ohio State Medical Association, by an organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), or awarded directly by the AMA. DOs can use AOA Category 1 activities certified by the Ohio Osteopathic Association, by an accredited organization, or by the AOA itself. If you’re fuzzy on what the AMA designation means, our guide to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ explains it.

The board’s physician page describes this group simply as educational activities certified for Category 1 CME credit. Category 2 credit isn’t listed among the options in the rule.

Accredited training programs

If you were in an accredited internship, residency, or fellowship during the period, you earn one hour of CME for each week of participation. The rule names programs accredited by the ACGME, the AOA, or the Council on Podiatric Medical Education.

Volunteer care

Physicians who volunteer health care services in Ohio to indigent and uninsured people can claim credit under Ohio Revised Code 4745.04. The rate is one hour of CME for every five hours of service, with a cap of 10 hours. You need to keep a log showing the dates, hours, and location of the care.

Records, audits, and the October 2026 rule changes

At renewal you certify that you completed the required hours. You don’t upload certificates up front, but you do have to keep them. Records must be retained for two years after the end of the registration period. The board lets you track hours in CE Broker if you want to, though it isn’t required.

The board adopted amended and new CME rules on October 14, 2026, effective October 31, 2026. The 50-hour rule itself (4731-10-02) wasn’t on that list, but the audit process now has its own rule, 4731-10-07. Under it, the board emails the audit notice to the address it has on file. You must acknowledge the notice within 14 days and send proof of completion within 30 days. The amended evidence rule says acceptable proof includes certificates of completion or transcripts.

Not responding is treated seriously. Failure to submit documents is a violation of state law, and Ohio Revised Code 4731.282 allows discipline, a civil penalty of up to $5,000, or both. Keep your email address current with the board so an audit notice doesn’t sit unread.

Waivers for illness or time abroad

Ohio offers a partial waiver if you were disabled by illness or accident, or were outside the United States, for at least six consecutive months during the registration period. Under the new waiver rule, you must request it in writing at least 60 days before the period ends, include supporting documentation and proof of any CME you did complete, and wait for approval before you submit your renewal.

Two limits apply. The board won’t waive the entire requirement, and it won’t grant waivers for back-to-back CME periods.

Restoring a lapsed license

If your license lapsed for more than two years and you’re applying for restoration, the board says you must have met the CME requirement during the 24 months before your application. If you haven’t, you’ll need to complete it before the license is restored. Hours used to reinstate a license can’t also count toward your current period.

Planning your next Ohio renewal

A practical approach is to knock out the duty to report video early, save the confirmation, and then spread your Category 1 hours across the two years. Put every certificate in one folder as you go, so a 30-day audit window is easy to meet.

If you want self-study hours you can do on your own schedule, Travel Medical Seminars offers Audio-Digest courses in a 10-credit short course and a 20-credit full course, each designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by the Lippincott Continuing Medical Education Institute, which is accredited by the ACCME. The courses are digital, and testing is completed online. You can browse internal medicine, family practice, or all courses. Note that these courses don’t replace the board’s duty to report video.

Ohio CME requirements for physicians (MD and DO)