A new law affecting Colorado physicians’ continuing medical education (CME) requirements has taken effect following the 2024 legislative session. House Bill HB24-1153, titled Physician Continuing Education, was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on June 4, 2024, and became effective August 7, 2024.
Under the new legislation, physicians licensed in Colorado are required to complete 30 hours of CME credits within the 24 months prior to renewing, reinstating, or reactivating their medical license. The topics for these CME credits can be chosen by each physician but may also include subjects specified by the Colorado Medical Board (CMB). The CMB has begun a stakeholder process to consider mandating CME hours in areas such as health disparities and outcomes data; reproductive, sexual, and gender-based health care; and explicit and implicit bias.
Physicians must confirm compliance with the CME requirement when submitting their license renewal form. Up to five percent of renewals will be randomly audited each year. If selected for audit, physicians must provide documentation showing completion of CME programs and credit hours earned. Not complying with an audit without reasonable cause is considered unprofessional conduct and will result in the physician’s license becoming inactive until it is reinstated by the board.
The director of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies may increase existing fees on physician licensure renewals if needed to cover additional costs from implementing these requirements.
Board-certified physicians are allowed to use CME credits reported for Maintenance of Certification/Continuing Certification (MOC/CC) recertification toward their state license renewal.
Physicians should ensure they meet these new CME standards for the 2027 license renewal cycle.
