Podiatry CE Requirements by State

Every podiatry license comes with a continuing education requirement, and no two states write it the same way. A podiatrist with three licenses is not doing three times the CE, because hours can often count in more than one state, but the cycles, subject rules and caps have to be tracked separately. The figures below come from each state's statute, rule or board page.

What are the requirements in the larger podiatry states?

Illinois: 100 hours every two years

Every renewal applicant must complete 100 hours in the 24 months before January 31 of each odd-numbered year. The first renewal is exempt, and podiatrists "licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states must comply" (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1360.70). At most 50 hours may come from nonsupervised individual activities such as self-instruction and literature review. Hours used for another state's requirement may also count in Illinois. Full detail in Illinois: 100 CE hours and the January 31 renewal.

New York: 50 hours every three years

NYSED requires 1.4 hours for each month of the registration period, which is 50 hours in a normal three-year period. At least two-thirds (35 hours) must be in podiatric medicine and surgery (Category A); the rest may be in health sciences or practice issues such as ethics or risk management (Category B). No more than 25 home study credits are accepted per three-year period. CPME-approved courses qualify automatically. See New York's triennial registration.

California: 50 hours every two years

The Podiatric Medical Board's application summary requires 50 hours of CME per two-year license period, at least 12 in subjects related to the lower extremity musculoskeletal system, declared under penalty of perjury at renewal, with records kept at least four years.

Pennsylvania: 50 hours every two years

At least 30 hours must be in podiatry courses approved by the board or CPME, at least 2 in child abuse recognition and reporting, and the rest in medical subjects pertinent to podiatry. No more than 10 hours may come from reading professional journals, and excess hours do not carry over (49 Pa. Code 29.61).

Texas: 50 hours every biennium

TDLR requires 50 hours of CME per biennium. Up to 20 hours of home study are accepted if the provider is approved by CPME, and courses must relate to podiatric medicine. Human trafficking prevention training required for renewal may count for up to 2 hours of ethics CME.

Florida: up to 40 hours every two years

The board may require up to 40 hours biennially, including at least 2 hours on safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances for licensees registered with DEA (Fla. Stat. 461.007(3)). Florida renewal also requires active practice or teaching for at least 2 of the preceding 4 years, or a board-approved course.

Washington: 100 hours every two years

Washington requires 100 hours every two years, but a podiatrist who certified or recertified with a CPME-recognized specialty board within the previous four years, or who meets a maintenance of certification program, satisfies the requirement that way, while still taking 2 hours of health equity training every four years (WAC 246-922-300). Licenses renew every year on the practitioner's birthday (WAC 246-922-990).

Minnesota: 40 hours every two years

Every licensee needs 40 clock hours per two-year cycle from CPME-sponsored or board-approved programs, with no more than 8 hours online (Minn. Stat. 153.16, subd. 5).

How do smaller and mid-size states compare?

• North Carolina: 25 hours every year, including 1 hour on controlled substance prescribing practices (21 NCAC 52 .0208).
• Nevada: at least 50 hours in the preceding 2 years, reported in even-numbered years with the annual renewal, plus current CPR certification (NRS 635.115).
• West Virginia: 50 hours in the preceding two-year period (W. Va. Code 30-3-12).
• Missouri: 24 hours of postgraduate study for each renewal period, and podiatrists performing ankle surgery meet the board's separate biennial requirement (RSMo 330.070, 330.010).
• South Carolina: 24 hours every two years through board-approved programs; podiatrists authorized to prescribe controlled substances must include 2 hours on prescribing and monitoring Schedule II to IV drugs (S.C. Code 40-51-140).
• North Dakota: at least 60 hours completed within the 36 months before renewal, or 20 hours for each calendar year of licensure for those licensed less than 36 months (board CME requirements page).
• Massachusetts: evidence of an approved educational conference or program of at least 15 hours in the preceding year (M.G.L. c. 112, section 16).
• Alabama: 12 hours per year with the October 1 annual renewal (Ala. Code 34-24-275; board renewal memo).
• Connecticut: podiatry does not appear on the Department of Public Health's list of license types with continuing education requirements.

States not shown here are being confirmed; check the state license pages for each one's renewal record.

Can the same hours count in several states?

Often, but check each rule. Illinois expressly accepts hours used for another jurisdiction's requirement. New York automatically approves CPME-approved courses. Pennsylvania and Texas accept CPME approval for key categories. The limits are where the rules diverge: New York's 25-hour home study cap, Texas's 20-hour home study cap, Minnesota's 8-hour online cap and Pennsylvania's 10-hour journal cap. Topic-specific hours, such as California's 12 lower extremity hours, Pennsylvania's child abuse hours or Florida's prescribing hours, must be met in each state that requires them. Mandatory courses are collected in opioid, child-abuse and other mandatory courses.

What if you cannot finish the hours in time?

Some states build in relief, but always on request and before the deadline:

• Illinois will waive enforcement for one renewal period on a showing of "extreme hardship," but the waiver request, the renewal application and fee, and a statement of the facts must be filed before the renewal date (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1360.70(f)).
• Nevada's board may waive all or part of the requirement in a year when the podiatric physician was prevented from attending by circumstances beyond his or her control (NRS 635.115).
• Massachusetts lets the board exempt licensees who submit satisfactory proof that they were unable to attend an approved program (c. 112, section 16).

Where no waiver exists, a shortfall usually means a delayed renewal, and in states such as Illinois, practicing after the expiration date is unlicensed activity. Plan the hours, not the waiver.

What counts as an approved course?

Most podiatry rules lean on CPME. Illinois accepts CPME-approved sponsors and the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association, among others. New York treats CPME-approved courses as automatically approved. Minnesota accepts programs sponsored by CPME or approved by its board. Texas accepts home study only from CPME-approved providers and gives credit only for courses related to podiatric medicine, listing examples from wound care and diabetes to risk management and electronic records, while excluding topics such as brain surgery. Pennsylvania requires at least 30 of its 50 hours in podiatry courses approved by the board or CPME and does not count office management or practice marketing. A course that satisfies one board can fail another on subject matter, so check the topic as well as the sponsor.

Why do the cycles cause most of the trouble?

Because they do not line up. Illinois counts the 24 months before January 31 of odd years. New York counts your own three-year registration period. Washington renews every birthday but counts CE over two years. Nevada renews every year and checks CE every even year. Alabama renews every October 1. A course taken in a given month can fall inside one state's window and outside another's. That is the case for one calendar per license, described in keeping several renewals on one calendar.

How can we help?

Annual Renewal & CE Tracking is $199 per license per year (pricing). For each license we track the cycle, required hours, subject minimums, caps and mandatory courses, and we tell you which of your certificates count where. You take the courses and attest at renewal yourself.