Louisiana Physician (MD) license renewal and CE requirements
Louisiana physicians (MD) must complete 20 CME credits of continuing education every year to renew their license with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
Every license issued by the board is renewed annually on or before the first day of the month in which the licensee was born, and a license whose expiration date is not otherwise stated expires the following year on the first day of the licensee's birth month. Renewal is done online through the board's LaMED dashboard and may be submitted no earlier than 56 days before the expiration date. A license expired for less than one year can still be renewed online with a late fee; after one year a reinstatement or re-licensure application is required.
Summary
Louisiana physicians (MD) must complete 20 CME credits of continuing education every year to renew their license with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Every license issued by the board is renewed annually on or before the first day of the month in which the licensee was born, and a license whose expiration date is not otherwise stated expires the following year on the first day of the licensee's birth month. Renewal is done online through the board's LaMED dashboard and may be submitted no earlier than 56 days before the expiration date. A license expired for less than one year can still be renewed online with a late fee; after one year a reinstatement or re-licensure application is required. Louisiana also mandates specific subjects. Laws and Rules for Physicians course: required at the first renewal only. Controlled dangerous substances CME (CDS-CME): a one-time requirement of 3 CME credits (authorized prescribers of controlled dangerous substances (physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists, medical psychologists, and all residents and fellows). A current licensee who certifies that he or she has not prescribed, administered, or dispensed any CDS in Louisiana during the entire year before the license expiration date may request an exemption, verified against the Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program; residents and fellows may not claim that exemption.). Nutrition and metabolic health: 1 CME credit on a periodic schedule set by the board (physicians and physician assistants practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, or gynecology). Treatment of sickle cell disease: 1 CME credit on a periodic schedule set by the board (physicians and physician assistants practicing emergency medicine). The first renewal is exempt.
Louisiana Physician (MD) renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Annual (12 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Tied to the licensee's birth month |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 20 CME credits |
| Category 1 minimum | 20 CME credits |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Certification or recertification within the past year by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or a specialty board recognized by the AOA removes the CME requirement for that renewal (LAC 46:XLV.447); Hour for hour credit toward the annual CME requirement for the board's online Laws and Rules Course (LAC 46:XLV.449); Hour for hour credit toward the annual CME requirement for the three hour controlled dangerous substances CME (LAC 46:XLV.4005); The board may waive all or part of the CME requirement for permanent physical disability, illness, financial hardship, or similar extenuating circumstances (LAC 46:XLV.445) |
Every physician seeking renewal or reinstatement must annually document not less than 20 hours of board approved CME (LAC 46:XLV.435). The credit type is Category 1: LAC 46:XLV.437 deems approved any Category 1 program sponsored by an ACCME accredited entity, an ABMS member board or AOA recognized specialty board, the AAFP, ACOG, the AOA, or an entity accredited by the Louisiana State Medical Society or another ACCME recognized state medical society, and LAC 46:XLV.439 describes documenting completion of 20 hours of Category 1 CME. AOA Category 1 credit therefore counts for osteopathic physicians on the same terms. category_1_minimum is set equal to the total because the board's qualifying program list is entirely Category 1. All LSBME licensees must track CME through CE Broker, the board's designated electronic education tracker, and cannot renew if the tracker does not show the required credits. New licensees do not have to meet the annual hours at their first renewal but must complete the one time requirements described in mandatory_topics; LAC 46:XLV.447 also excepts a physician who has held an initial Louisiana license by examination for less than one year, a physician in a board approved residency, a retired physician, and a physician in military service outside Louisiana for more than one year.
Required CE topics for Louisiana physician (md)s
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laws and Rules for Physicians courseEvery physician seeking the initial renewal of licensure must complete the board approved online Laws and Rules Course, whether the license was issued by examination, reciprocity, or reinstatement. It is a condition precedent to the first Louisiana renewal. Licensees receive hour for hour credit toward the annual CME requirement. The board does not state a fixed hour value for the course. | Not stated | First renewal only | All licensees | LAC 46:XLV.449 |
| Controlled dangerous substances CME (CDS-CME)Three hours of board approved CME on CDS prescribing practices, covering drug diversion training, best practices for prescribing CDS, appropriate treatment for addiction, and, for physicians, the treatment of chronic pain. It must be completed before the prescriber's first license or permit renewal and is a once in a lifetime requirement under current law. The board offers a free three hour approved course whose completion is uploaded automatically to CE Broker. Hours count toward the annual 20 hour CME requirement. | 3 CME credits | One time | Authorized prescribers of controlled dangerous substances (physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists, medical psychologists, and all residents and fellows). A current licensee who certifies that he or she has not prescribed, administered, or dispensed any CDS in Louisiana during the entire year before the license expiration date may request an exemption, verified against the Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program; residents and fellows may not claim that exemption. | LAC 46:XLV.4005 |
| Nutrition and metabolic healthAt least one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health every four years. The statute directs the board to adopt rules determining the content; no implementing rule was found in the sections of LAC 46:XLV that were read, so the hour value and four year interval come from the statute itself. | 1 CME credit | Periodic | Physicians and physician assistants practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, or gynecology | La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(c) |
| Treatment of sickle cell diseaseAn initial one hour board approved course on the treatment of sickle cell disease, then a one hour refresher course at regular intervals no less frequently than every three years. The board is directed to approve the course and make it available on its website. | 1 CME credit | Periodic | Physicians and physician assistants practicing emergency medicine | La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(b) |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 4 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | CME must be Category 1 offered by an ACCME accredited organization, an ABMS member board or AOA recognized specialty board, the AAFP, ACOG, the AOA, or an entity accredited by the Louisiana State Medical Society or another ACCME recognized state medical society (LAC 46:XLV.437). Licensees must ask the sponsoring organization to report completion to the board's designated electronic education tracker, CE Broker, and must report it themselves if the sponsor does not. Certificates are not mailed to the board at renewal, but a physician must keep a record or certificate of attendance for at least four years and produce it within 30 days of an audit notice (LAC 46:XLV.439). |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Louisiana MD need to renew?
- Louisiana physicians (MD) must complete 20 CME credits of continuing education every year to renew their license with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Every physician seeking renewal or reinstatement must annually document not less than 20 hours of board approved CME (LAC 46:XLV.435). The credit type is Category 1: LAC 46:XLV.437 deems approved any Category 1 program sponsored by an ACCME accredited entity, an ABMS member board or AOA recognized specialty board, the AAFP, ACOG, the AOA, or an entity accredited by the Louisiana State Medical Society or another ACCME recognized state medical society, and LAC 46:XLV.439 describes documenting completion of 20 hours of Category 1 CME. AOA Category 1 credit therefore counts for osteopathic physicians on the same terms. category_1_minimum is set equal to the total because the board's qualifying program list is entirely Category 1. All LSBME licensees must track CME through CE Broker, the board's designated electronic education tracker, and cannot renew if the tracker does not show the required credits. New licensees do not have to meet the annual hours at their first renewal but must complete the one time requirements described in mandatory_topics; LAC 46:XLV.447 also excepts a physician who has held an initial Louisiana license by examination for less than one year, a physician in a board approved residency, a retired physician, and a physician in military service outside Louisiana for more than one year.
- How often does a Louisiana MD license need to be renewed?
- Physician (MD) licenses in Louisiana renew every year. Every license issued by the board is renewed annually on or before the first day of the month in which the licensee was born, and a license whose expiration date is not otherwise stated expires the following year on the first day of the licensee's birth month. Renewal is done online through the board's LaMED dashboard and may be submitted no earlier than 56 days before the expiration date. A license expired for less than one year can still be renewed online with a late fee; after one year a reinstatement or re-licensure application is required.
- What specific CE topics are required for Louisiana physicians (MD)?
- Laws and Rules for Physicians course: required at the first renewal only. Controlled dangerous substances CME (CDS-CME): a one-time requirement of 3 CME credits (authorized prescribers of controlled dangerous substances (physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists, medical psychologists, and all residents and fellows). A current licensee who certifies that he or she has not prescribed, administered, or dispensed any CDS in Louisiana during the entire year before the license expiration date may request an exemption, verified against the Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program; residents and fellows may not claim that exemption.). Nutrition and metabolic health: 1 CME credit on a periodic schedule set by the board (physicians and physician assistants practicing family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, pulmonology, surgery, immunology, hematology, obstetrics, or gynecology). Treatment of sickle cell disease: 1 CME credit on a periodic schedule set by the board (physicians and physician assistants practicing emergency medicine). Citations: laws and Rules for Physicians course (LAC 46:XLV.449), controlled dangerous substances CME (CDS-CME) (LAC 46:XLV.4005), nutrition and metabolic health (La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(c)), and treatment of sickle cell disease (La. R.S. 37:1270(A)(8)(b)).
- Do Louisiana physicians (MD) have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 4 years. CME must be Category 1 offered by an ACCME accredited organization, an ABMS member board or AOA recognized specialty board, the AAFP, ACOG, the AOA, or an entity accredited by the Louisiana State Medical Society or another ACCME recognized state medical society (LAC 46:XLV.437). Licensees must ask the sponsoring organization to report completion to the board's designated electronic education tracker, CE Broker, and must report it themselves if the sponsor does not. Certificates are not mailed to the board at renewal, but a physician must keep a record or certificate of attendance for at least four years and produce it within 30 days of an audit notice (LAC 46:XLV.439).
- Is the first Louisiana MD renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. Louisiana does not require continuing education for a MD's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Renewals, Louisiana State Board of Medical ExaminersState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Board Orientations and Online Courses (Continuing Education), Louisiana State Board of Medical ExaminersState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Board Approved CME Courses for CDS Requirements, Louisiana State Board of Medical ExaminersState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions, Louisiana State Board of Medical ExaminersState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:1280, RenewalsStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- La. R.S. 37:1270, Powers and duties of the Louisiana State Board of Medical ExaminersStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.415, Expiration of Licensure (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.417, Renewal of Licensure (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.435, Continuing Medical Educational Requirement (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.437, Qualifying Continuing Medical Education Programs (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.439, Documentation Procedure (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.447, Exceptions to CME (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.449, Initial Renewal Laws and Rules Course (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
- LAC 46:XLV.4005, CME Requirement for Authorized Prescribers of CDS (Cornell LII mirror)Third-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
Louisiana regulates MDs and DOs through one board. The board's FAQ states plainly that there is no difference between a medical doctor and a doctor of osteopathy for licensing: all are classified as physicians and are issued the same type of medical license. The MD and DO records therefore carry identical values and cite the same sources. Annual renewal comes from La. R.S. 37:1280 and the birth month timing from LAC 46:XLV.415 and .417. The 20 hour CME figure comes from LAC 46:XLV.435. The LSBME website does not state the hour total in HTML: its annual CE requirements by practitioner group are published only in a PDF (ce-requirements-by-group-7-20-2026.pdf on a.storyblok.com), which was not opened, and the board's rules are posted only as PDF and DOCX. The rule text was therefore read from the Cornell LII mirror of the Louisiana Administrative Code, cited as third party summary, and the statutes were read on the Louisiana Legislature site. Because that PDF is dated July 2026 and was not read, a reader should confirm the hour total on it if anything looks off. Whether unused hours carry over is not addressed in Subchapter K and is left null. nutrition_metabolic_health and sickle_cell_disease are non canonical topic keys used because no canonical key fits.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.