2026 physician guide · MD & DO

New Jersey CME requirements for physicians

New Jersey MDs and DOs generally need 100 hours every two years, including at least 40 Category I hours. The cycle beginning July 1, 2025 includes sexual-misconduct prevention and, for physicians providing perinatal care, bias training.

By Michael Rushton, DO · Physician founder of ClearCME

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Published: · Updated:

At a glance

MD and DO · State Board of Medical Examiners

100 hours, including at least 40 Category I

Renewal cycle
Biennial renewal. New training requirements apply to the cycle beginning July 1, 2025 and the applicable 2027 physician renewal.
Accepted credit types
Category I and Category II activities recognized by the AMA, AOA, ACCME or another organization accepted by the Board. Up to 60 hours may be Category II.

Mandatory topics

Find your license type below. Some requirements also depend on your specialty, practice setting or prescribing authority.

MD requirements

DO requirements

Related courses are a starting point for your search. Before enrolling, confirm that the activity meets your board’s provider, content, category and completion-date requirements.

Build the 2025–2027 cycle around the required topics

The end-of-life, opioid, sexual-misconduct and applicable perinatal-care hours are designated Category I requirements. Keep their certificates within your Category I record and confirm the specific curriculum.

Sexual-misconduct prevention is distinct from workplace sexual-harassment training. New Jersey lists seven required content areas; a familiar course title does not establish that all seven are covered.

Sources: BME — regulations gateway, N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.15 and 6.25 · BME — continuing medical education notice · New Jersey Register — May 5, 2025 adoption, 57 N.J.R. 924(a) · New Jersey Register — May 5, 2025 adoption, 57 N.J.R. 927(a)

Cultural competency and the first complete cycle

Cultural competency is a one-time requirement, not six more hours at every renewal. Physicians licensed on or after June 30, 2007 generally must satisfy it by the end of the next complete renewal cycle after licensure.

Training outside New Jersey medical schools is not automatically assumed to meet the six-topic curriculum. Keep course outlines with your certificate and obtain the Board’s determination when relying on equivalent professional-school or graduate medical education.

For CME, confirm the provider uses a qualifying designation (AMA Category 1, AOA Category 1-A, 1-B or 2-A, or AAFP Prescribed) and an approved sponsor, with all six required curriculum areas.

Sources: BME — cultural-competency curriculum and FAQ · New Jersey Legislature — P.L. 2005, c.53, cultural-competency education

First renewal and license status

Applicants for an initial license who completed accredited graduate medical education within the 12 months before licensure are exempt from CME for their initial biennial period. They must complete a Board-presented or Board-approved orientation within 24 months after licensure. Confirm your eligibility before relying on this exemption.

Before your first renewal or a change in license status, check the Board’s instructions for your specific license. Confirm the CME obligation directly with the Board before relying on reduced-fee, inactive or retired status.

Sources: BME — physician licensing and CME FAQ · BME — regulations gateway, N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.15 and 6.25

Carryover and audit records

A physician who earns more than 100 hours in a biennium may carry forward no more than 25 excess hours to the immediately following biennium. Keep the original completion dates and a record of which hours were applied to each period.

Retain CME documentation for six years after completion. For cultural competency, keep curriculum evidence as well as attendance certificates. Request any hardship relief through the Board before relying on it at renewal.

Sources: BME — regulations gateway, N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.15 and 6.25 · BME — cultural-competency curriculum and FAQ · BME — physician licensing and CME FAQ

Recent changes

The rules beginning with the July 1, 2025 biennium add two Category I hours of sexual-misconduct prevention and one Category I hour of perinatal-bias education for affected physicians. The Board’s current CME notice identifies the applicable 2027 renewal as the deadline for sexual-misconduct training.

This guide was reviewed October 13, 2026. The source list includes the Board’s current regulations gateway and the official 2025 adoption notices.

Sources: BME — continuing medical education notice · New Jersey Register — May 5, 2025 adoption, 57 N.J.R. 924(a) · New Jersey Register — May 5, 2025 adoption, 57 N.J.R. 927(a)

Questions physicians ask next

How many CME hours do New Jersey MDs and DOs need?

Both generally need 100 hours every two years, including at least 40 Category I hours. The remaining hours may be qualifying Category I or II activities.

What is new for the 2027 renewal?

The cycle beginning July 1, 2025 includes two Category I hours of sexual-misconduct prevention and one Category I hour of perinatal-bias training for physicians providing perinatal care.

Is cultural competency required every two years?

No. It is a six-hour, one-time requirement with prior-education and waiver provisions. The Board’s curriculum and completion deadline still matter.

Do cultural-competency hours always count within the 100?

Not always. For physicians licensed before March 24, 2005 who did not receive qualifying cultural-competency instruction in medical school, the required training is additional to the ordinary 100-hour total, subject to the Board’s equivalent-education waiver. Later licensees may include qualifying hours. Previously satisfied training does not need to be repeated.

Can I carry excess hours into my next renewal?

Up to 25 excess hours may be carried into the immediately following biennium. Keep a clear record of how the hours are allocated.

Does not prescribing opioids remove the opioid hour?

The general physician CME rule includes one Category I opioid-education hour without a DEA-registration exemption. Federal MATE training is a separate requirement.

How long should I keep CME evidence?

Keep documentation for six years after completion. For topic-specific requirements, retain evidence of the required content as well as the hour count.

Primary sources

Board guidance and controlling law support this guide. Your board’s current rules and individual determination govern your renewal.

  1. BME — regulations gateway, N.J.A.C. 13:35-6.15 and 6.25 ↗
  2. BME — physician licensing and CME FAQ ↗
  3. BME — continuing medical education notice ↗
  4. BME — cultural-competency curriculum and FAQ ↗
    “Licensees must complete at least 6 hours of training in cultural competency”
  5. BME — end-of-life-care CME ↗
  6. New Jersey Register — May 5, 2025 adoption, 57 N.J.R. 924(a) ↗
  7. New Jersey Register — May 5, 2025 adoption, 57 N.J.R. 927(a) ↗
  8. New Jersey Legislature — P.L. 2005, c.53, cultural-competency education ↗

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