North Carolina Physician Assistant license renewal and CE requirements
North Carolina physician assistants must complete 50 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the North Carolina Medical Board.
Physician assistants are licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board; there is no separate physician assistant board, and unlike nurse practitioners, physician assistants are not jointly approved with the Board of Nursing. All physician assistants must renew each year by their birthday regardless of when the license was issued. A physician assistant who has not renewed within 30 days of the birthday gets a certified notice, and if there is no response within another 30 days the license automatically becomes inactive.
Summary
North Carolina physician assistants must complete 50 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the North Carolina Medical Board. Physician assistants are licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board; there is no separate physician assistant board, and unlike nurse practitioners, physician assistants are not jointly approved with the Board of Nursing. All physician assistants must renew each year by their birthday regardless of when the license was issued. A physician assistant who has not renewed within 30 days of the birthday gets a certified notice, and if there is no response within another 30 days the license automatically becomes inactive. North Carolina also mandates specific subjects. Controlled substance continuing medical education: 2 CME credits every renewal cycle (physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances). The first renewal is exempt.
North Carolina 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 | Annual (12 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Tied to the licensee's birth month |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 50 CME creditsCounted over a two-year window, separate from the renewal cycle. |
| Category 1 minimum | 50 CME credits |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Current NCCPA certification: a physician assistant who maintains it attests to the certification at renewal instead of reporting CME hours; Graduation within the past two years |
The license renews annually but the continuing medical education cycle is two years, which is why continuing_education.cycle_months is set separately. A physician assistant must complete at least 50 hours of NCCPA Category I continuing medical education every two years, and the two year period runs from the physician assistant's birthday. All 50 hours are Category I, which is why the category 1 minimum equals the total. Reporting is by attestation on the annual renewal under 21 NCAC 32S .0216. Two of the 50 hours must be controlled substance CME for a physician assistant who prescribes controlled substances. A physician assistant who holds current NCCPA certification, or who graduated within the past two years, does not report CME at renewal. For comparison, North Carolina physicians owe 60 Category I hours over a three year cycle with three controlled substance hours, so the physician assistant requirement is a different cycle and a different total, not a copy of the physician rule.
Required CE topics for North Carolina physician assistants
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled substance continuing medical educationTwo of the required 50 Category I hours in each two year period must be focused on controlled substance CME. The corresponding figure for physicians is three of their 60 hours. | 2 CME credits | Every renewal | Physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances | 21 NCAC 32S .0216 |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | Not stated |
| Board audits compliance | Not stated |
| Approved providers | NCCPA Category I continuing medical education. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a North Carolina PA need to renew?
- North Carolina physician assistants must complete 50 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the North Carolina Medical Board. The license renews annually but the continuing medical education cycle is two years, which is why continuing_education.cycle_months is set separately. A physician assistant must complete at least 50 hours of NCCPA Category I continuing medical education every two years, and the two year period runs from the physician assistant's birthday. All 50 hours are Category I, which is why the category 1 minimum equals the total. Reporting is by attestation on the annual renewal under 21 NCAC 32S .0216. Two of the 50 hours must be controlled substance CME for a physician assistant who prescribes controlled substances. A physician assistant who holds current NCCPA certification, or who graduated within the past two years, does not report CME at renewal. For comparison, North Carolina physicians owe 60 Category I hours over a three year cycle with three controlled substance hours, so the physician assistant requirement is a different cycle and a different total, not a copy of the physician rule.
- How often does a North Carolina PA license need to be renewed?
- Physician Assistant licenses in North Carolina renew every year. Physician assistants are licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board; there is no separate physician assistant board, and unlike nurse practitioners, physician assistants are not jointly approved with the Board of Nursing. All physician assistants must renew each year by their birthday regardless of when the license was issued. A physician assistant who has not renewed within 30 days of the birthday gets a certified notice, and if there is no response within another 30 days the license automatically becomes inactive.
- What specific CE topics are required for North Carolina physician assistants?
- Controlled substance continuing medical education: 2 CME credits every renewal cycle (physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances). Citations: controlled substance continuing medical education (21 NCAC 32S .0216).
- Do North Carolina physician assistants have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates. NCCPA Category I continuing medical education.
- Is the first North Carolina PA renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. North Carolina does not require continuing education for a PA's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 8, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Physician Assistant Renewals, North Carolina Medical BoardState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- CME FAQs, North Carolina Medical BoardState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- North Carolina Medical Board home pageState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
The annual birthday renewal, the 50 hour NCCPA Category I requirement on a two year cycle running from the birthday, the two controlled substance hours, the NCCPA certification and recent graduate reporting exceptions, and the attestation under 21 NCAC 32S .0216 were all read on the North Carolina Medical Board's own renewal page and CME FAQ. The rule text of 21 NCAC 32S .0216 itself was not read: the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings rules server at reports.oah.state.nc.us refuses HTTPS connections, so only the board's statement of the rule is cited. Carryover, audit practice and record retention are not addressed on the pages read and are left null. North Carolina has no separate physician assistant board or committee.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the North Carolina Medical Board before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.