Iowa has required continuing medical education for license renewal since 1978. 

General Requirement For Renewal of a Permanent License

• 40 hours of Category 1 activity are required for a two-year license renewal.  This may include up to 20 hours of Category 1 activity carried over from the previous license period.  The number of required Category 1 hours is pro-rated for anyone who holds a permanent license that was issued for less than two full years.

  • A physician who certifies or re-certifies with an ABMS or AOA specialty board during the licensing period may claim 50 Category 1 activity hours.
  • A resident or fellows may claim 50 Category 1 activity hours for participation in an approved residency or fellowship training program within the licensing period.
  • Activities designated as formal cognates by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or as prescribed credit by the American Academy of Family Physicians are accepted as equivalent to Category 1 activities.

Exceptions

Physicians are exempt from the requirement if they can document having done any of the following during the license period:

• Served honorably on active duty in the military;

• Resided in another state or district and met the CME requirement to practice there;

• Worked as a government employee in the licensee’s specialty in a duty location outside the United States; or

• Had a period of active practice and absence from the state approved by the Board.

Waiver

The Board may grant a waiver to a physician who has been unable to complete the CME requirement.  The waiver may grant extra time for the physician to acquire the needed CME or the Board may dispense with the requirement altogether.  Each case is considered individually. 

To request a waiver of the CME requirement, submit a statement describing the licensee’s illness or disability.  This statement must be signed by the licensee and the attending physician.

CME Requirement for Renewal of a Special License

Twenty hours of Category 1 activity is required for renewal of a special license.  No carryover hours are allowed.  For more information on a special license, click here.

Audit and Record Keeping

The Board of Medicine audits a number of renewing physicians each month to determine whether they have proof of continuing education or their exemption—whichever was used to meet the requirement for license renewal.  The Board may audit this information at any time within four years.