Continuing education requirements depend on your license type. Find yours below.
Five License Types Share One Requirement
Requirement Only for MDs and DOs
MD and DO licensees must report their CME through a Board-approved tracking system or maintain active board certification.
How continuing education reporting works for every license type
Retirement does not remove a continuing education requirement. If you still hold the license, the requirement still applies to you.
Four License Types Have Their Own
| License type | Hours | What is required | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician AssistantIncluding special volunteer physician assistants | 100Hours | 100 hours per two-year cycle, 50 of them Category 1. Current NCCPA certification satisfies it. Add 5 hours on prescribing if you prescribe controlled substances.30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Chapter 1, Rule 1.9 | Physician Assistant continuing education |
| Radiologist Assistant | 24Hours | 24 hours of radiology-related continuing education every two years, from an approved organization.30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2620, Chapter 1, Rule 1.8 | Radiologist Assistant continuing education |
| Acupuncturist | 30Hours | 30 hours of acupuncture-related continuing education per two-year cycle, from an approved sponsor. Excess hours do not carry over.30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2625, Chapter 1, Rule 1.9 | Acupuncturist continuing education |
| Limited X-Ray Machine Operator | 12Hours | 12 hours of Board-approved continuing education per two-year permit period, 6 of them in radiation protection. Your permit expires on June 30, two years after the year it was issued.30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2621, Chapter 1, Rule 1.5; Miss. Code Ann. § 41-58-5(2) | Limited X-Ray Machine Operator continuing education |
Which Cycle You Are In
- 2024 to 2026
- Current cycle:July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028
- 2028 to 2030
Physicians, podiatrists, physician assistants, radiologist assistants and acupuncturists share this cycle.
Limited x-ray machine operators run on their own permit dates, shown in the table above.
Reporting, Exemptions and Compliance
How Continuing Education Reporting Works
Every license type attests at renewal in MELS. Keep your records. Unless listed otherwise below, you upload documentation only if your renewal is selected for audit.
MD and DO licensees must also use one of these two methods.
Option 1: CME tracking system. Hold and maintain an account with a Board-approved tracking organization, and make sure your Mississippi license is identified in it.
- CE Broker CME Tracking System
- ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education)
- ABMS, American Board of Medical Specialties
- American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
Option 2: Board certification. Hold active certification with a board recognized by ABMS or the AOA. Lifetime certification without ongoing maintenance does not satisfy this.
Since February 27, 2026, physicians no longer send CME documentation to the Board.
Physician assistants: current NCCPA certification satisfies the requirement (30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2615, Chapter 1, Rule 1.9).
Acupuncturists: a current four-year NCCAOM recertification may satisfy the requirement, at the Executive Director's discretion (30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2625, Chapter 1, Rule 1.9).
Exemptions and Waivers
These exemptions cover the current cycle only. Full compliance resumes next cycle.
- Initial licensure issued after June 30 of an even-numbered year (30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2610, Chapter 2, Rule 2.3)
- Residency or fellowship training (MSBML Policy 3.05)
- First-time board certification obtained during the cycle (30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2610, Chapter 2, Rule 2.3)
A waiver for legitimate cause may be requested before April 1 of the final year of the cycle, at the Board's discretion (30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2610, Chapter 2, Rule 2.6). Contact the Board to request one.
DEA Controlled Substances Training
Under Section 303 of the federal Controlled Substances Act, DEA-registered practitioners complete a one-time 8-hour training on opioid or substance use disorder treatment. It satisfies the Board's controlled substance training requirement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until renewal to confirm completion
- Assuming retirement removes the requirement
- Believing lifetime board certification satisfies reporting
- Creating a tracking account without identifying your Mississippi license
- Failing to keep documentation
- Ignoring audit or compliance communications
Compliance Expectations and the Rules Behind Them
You are compliant when you complete the hours within the cycle, keep your documentation, use an approved reporting method where one applies to your license type, and certify accurately at renewal.
Physician requirements sit in 30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2610, Chapter 2. The exemption for residents and fellows is MSBML Policy 3.05. Other license types sit in their own Parts, each linked above.
Regulation Filings Administrative Code Board Policies CME Providers
Certify Your Continuing Education at Renewal
You attest that you have met your requirement when you renew in MELS. Keep your documentation in case your renewal is audited.
Go to MELS