Nevada Physician Assistant license renewal and CE requirements
Nevada physician assistants must complete 40 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners.
The license of a physician assistant issued by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners is valid for two years (NAC 630.340) and may be renewed biennially (NAC 630.350). The rules read here describe a common biennial period of registration rather than naming a calendar expiration date for physician assistants, so check the expiration date printed on your own license. Continuing education is prorated for a first renewal by how far into the biennial period the license was issued.
Summary
Requirements are changing. Nevada has two physician assistant regulators. This record covers physician assistants licensed by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners under NRS and NAC chapter 630, which is a two year license with 40 hours of continuing medical education. A physician assistant supervised by an osteopathic physician is licensed instead by the Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, and NAC 633.285 makes that a one year license renewed annually with at least 20 hours of continuing medical education and current NCCPA certification. Confirm with the board that issued your license which set of rules applies to you.
Nevada physician assistants must complete 40 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners. The license of a physician assistant issued by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners is valid for two years (NAC 630.340) and may be renewed biennially (NAC 630.350). The rules read here describe a common biennial period of registration rather than naming a calendar expiration date for physician assistants, so check the expiration date printed on your own license. Continuing education is prorated for a first renewal by how far into the biennial period the license was issued. Nevada also mandates specific subjects. Course of instruction on the medical consequences of an act of terrorism that involves the use of a weapon of mass destruction: a one-time requirement of 4 CME credits. Evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness: 2 CME credits on a periodic schedule set by the board. Continuing medical education relating to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids: 2 CME credits every renewal cycle (physician assistants registered to dispense controlled substances). Instruction relating to cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusion: 2 CME credits every renewal cycle. Training on stigma and bias toward persons who have or are at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus: a one-time requirement of 2 CME credits (physician assistants who provide or supervise the provision of emergency medical services).
Nevada Physician Assistant 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 | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Board-specific scheduleFirst renewal is prorated. |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 40 CME credits |
| Category 1 minimum | 40 CME credits |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | No |
NAC 630.350 requires 40 hours of continuing medical education for a full biennial period of registration, documented as Category 1 credits recognized by the American Medical Association or under the definitions of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, which is why the category 1 minimum equals the total. The first renewal is prorated rather than exempt: 40 hours if licensed during the first six months of the biennial period, 30 hours for the second six months, 20 for the third and 10 for the fourth. The Board of Medical Examiners route does not require current NCCPA certification for renewal in the rules read here, although passing the national certifying examination is part of initial licensure; the osteopathic board route does require current NCCPA certification. The mandated subjects below count toward the 40 hours.
Required CE topics for Nevada physician assistants
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course of instruction on the medical consequences of an act of terrorism that involves the use of a weapon of mass destructionAt least four hours of instruction within two years after initial licensure, covering weapons of mass destruction, personal protective equipment, treatment of chemical, biological and radioactive injuries, and the Health Alert Network. NRS 630.253 states its requirements as a prerequisite to renewal of a license as a physician assistant as well as to the biennial registration of a physician. Recorded under the infection_control key because no canonical key covers bioterrorism preparedness; see verification_notes. | 4 CME credits | One time | All licensees | NRS 630.253 |
| Evidence-based suicide prevention and awarenessAt least two hours every four years, plus a course within two years after initial licensure. Frequency is recorded as periodic because the interval is four years rather than the two year renewal cycle. A licensee may not substitute suicide prevention credits for the ethics requirement. | 2 CME credits | Periodic | All licensees | NRS 630.253 |
| Continuing medical education relating to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioidsAt least two hours during each biennial registration period, credited toward the 40 hour total. | 2 CME credits | Every renewal | Physician assistants registered to dispense controlled substances | NAC 630.358 |
| Instruction relating to cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusionAt least two hours during each biennial registration period, credited toward the 40 hour total. The rule heading limits it to certain physician assistants; the qualifying condition was not legible in the text that was read, so the scope is left unqualified here and should be checked against the rule. | 2 CME credits | Every renewal | All licensees | NAC 630.359 |
| Training on stigma and bias toward persons who have or are at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virusAt least two hours of training within two years after beginning to provide or supervise the provision of emergency medical services. | 2 CME credits | One time | Physician assistants who provide or supervise the provision of emergency medical services | NAC 630.3585 |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | Not stated |
| Board audits compliance | Not stated |
| Approved providers | Category 1 credits as recognized by the American Medical Association, or activities meeting the definitions of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Nevada PA need to renew?
- Nevada physician assistants must complete 40 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners. NAC 630.350 requires 40 hours of continuing medical education for a full biennial period of registration, documented as Category 1 credits recognized by the American Medical Association or under the definitions of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, which is why the category 1 minimum equals the total. The first renewal is prorated rather than exempt: 40 hours if licensed during the first six months of the biennial period, 30 hours for the second six months, 20 for the third and 10 for the fourth. The Board of Medical Examiners route does not require current NCCPA certification for renewal in the rules read here, although passing the national certifying examination is part of initial licensure; the osteopathic board route does require current NCCPA certification. The mandated subjects below count toward the 40 hours.
- How often does a Nevada PA license need to be renewed?
- Physician Assistant licenses in Nevada renew every two years. The license of a physician assistant issued by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners is valid for two years (NAC 630.340) and may be renewed biennially (NAC 630.350). The rules read here describe a common biennial period of registration rather than naming a calendar expiration date for physician assistants, so check the expiration date printed on your own license. Continuing education is prorated for a first renewal by how far into the biennial period the license was issued.
- What specific CE topics are required for Nevada physician assistants?
- Course of instruction on the medical consequences of an act of terrorism that involves the use of a weapon of mass destruction: a one-time requirement of 4 CME credits. Evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness: 2 CME credits on a periodic schedule set by the board. Continuing medical education relating to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids: 2 CME credits every renewal cycle (physician assistants registered to dispense controlled substances). Instruction relating to cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusion: 2 CME credits every renewal cycle. Training on stigma and bias toward persons who have or are at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus: a one-time requirement of 2 CME credits (physician assistants who provide or supervise the provision of emergency medical services). Citations: course of instruction on the medical consequences of an act of terrorism that involves the use of a weapon of mass destruction (NRS 630.253), Evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness (NRS 630.253), continuing medical education relating to persons with substance use and other addictive disorders and the prescribing of opioids (NAC 630.358), instruction relating to cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusion (NAC 630.359), and training on stigma and bias toward persons who have or are at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (NAC 630.3585).
- Is the first Nevada PA renewal exempt from CE?
- No. Nevada applies the continuing education requirement to the first renewal as well.
Sources
Last verified September 8, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- NAC Chapter 630, Medicine (NAC 630.340 physician assistant license validity, 630.350 renewal and continuing education, 630.358, 630.3585, 630.359)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- NRS 630.253, Active licensees: Continuing educationThird-party summary, accessed September 8, 2026
- NAC Chapter 633, Osteopathic Medicine (NAC 633.285, physician assistant license validity, renewal and continuing education)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- Continuing Education, Nevada State Board of Medical ExaminersState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
The regulator surprised: Nevada runs two physician assistant licensing tracks with materially different renewal rules, the Board of Medical Examiners under chapter 630 and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine under chapter 633, and the record carries an advisory saying so. All chapter 630 values were read in the Nevada Administrative Code on the legislature's own site. NRS 630.253 could not be read on the legislature's own page, which returns only the chapter table of contents to an automated fetch; the text was read on nevada.public.law and is cited as a third party summary for that reason, so the bioterrorism and suicide prevention entries rest on a mirror rather than on the official page. The Board of Medical Examiners publishes its combined CME requirements for physicians, physician assistants and anesthesiologist assistants only as a PDF at https://medboard.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/mednvgov/content/Licensees/CME_Requirements_MDs_PAs_AAs.pdf, which was not opened under the no download rule; the board's continuing education landing page was read but contains only the link. The bioterrorism topic is filed under the infection_control key because no canonical key fits. The board's rules do not name a calendar expiration date for physician assistants, so renewal basis is recorded as other.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.