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State-Mandated CME
To renew a medical license, physicians must attest to compliance with state CME requirements. Licensees are required by law to renew their licenses every three years. Licenses are renewed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The IDFPR will automatically forward a notice regarding renewal to each physician before the license expiration. For questions related to the CME requirements, visit the ISMS Licensure FAQs.
For the 2026 renewal, a licensee will be required to complete 150 hours of continuing medical education (CME). Applicants renewing their medical license for the first time following issuance of a license are not required to complete the 150 hours of CME. Credits shall be earned as follows:
· A minimum of 40% (60 hours) of the required CME hours shall be obtained in formal CME programs. (The entire 150-hour requirement may be completed in Category 1).
· A maximum of 60% (90 hours) of the required CME hours may be obtained in informal CME programs or activities.
Below are the mandatory CME topics for Illinois physicians:
Every Three Years:
· Sexual Harassment Prevention (1 hour)
· Implicit Bias (1 hour)
Every Six Years:
· Opioids (1 hour)
· Cultural Competency (1 hour)
· Recognizing Dementia (1 hour)
o Physicians licensed for the first time during the 2023–2026 licensure period must complete the dementia training once before renewal in 2026 and then have six years to complete the training again.
Off-cycle:
· Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse
o Physicians and others required to report child abuse or neglect must complete an initial mandated reporter training within three months of their start date in a professional or official role as a mandated reporter, and at least every six years thereafter if they work with children in that capacity. This requirement is not directly linked to the Illinois medical license renewal. At each license renewal, physicians who work with children must confirm their understanding of their role as mandated reporters.
The IAFP records all its virtual webinars for future viewing, which can be accessed through the
IAFP OnDemand Education - YouTube channel and the IAFP CME Center.
To receive CME credit(s) and your certification(s), you must complete the post-test and evaluation.
You can find all details in the description of each video.
A new law passed in 2019 requires individuals with licenses issued by DPR who need CE renewal to also complete 1 hour of CE on sexual harassment prevention training. This requirement applies to all renewals after January 1, 2020. This new CE requirement can be counted toward the hours already required under the individual Acts and Rules and does not increase the total hours needed to renew a license. New Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Continuing Education (CE) requirement
IAFP CME Webinar: Sexual Harassment in Health Care
Physicians who have CE requirements must complete at least a one-hour course in training on implicit bias awareness per renewal period. A health care professional may count this one hour toward completing this course and meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education. Any training on implicit bias awareness that meets any State licensure requirement, professional accreditation or certification requirement, or health care institutional practice agreement may count toward the one-hour requirement under this Section. Illinois law (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7)
IAFP CME Webinar: Implicit Bias Training
Training on safe opioid prescribing has been reduced from three hours per licensure cycle to one hour every six years. Prescribers with Controlled Substances Registrations are required to complete three hours of continuing education (CE) on safe opioid prescribing practices to renew their Controlled Substances Registration. This requirement can be counted toward the total hours needed to renew a professional license. It will be effective for all Controlled Substances Registration renewals starting in 2020 and onwards. This requirement applies to individuals who are prescribers under the Controlled Substances Act and hold a Controlled Substance Registration. Safe Opioid Prescribing Practices Continuing Education (CE) requirement
IAFP CME Webinar: A Patient-Centered Approach to Opioid Prescribing
IAFP CME Webinar: Buprenorphine Opioid Use Disorder: Gold standard treatment Any DEA registered provider can prescribe
IAFP CME Webinar: Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy
IAFP CME Webinar: Buprenorphine Case Presentations: An Illustration of Best Practices
Every licensed healthcare professional who directly interacts with patients aged 26 and older must complete a one-hour training on diagnosing, treating, and caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Physicians licensed for the first time during the 2023–2026 licensure period must complete the dementia training once before renewal in 2026 and then have six years to complete it again. Illinois law (20 ILCS 2105/2105-365)
IAFP CME Webinar: Early Detection and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia 2024
IAFP CME Webinar: Brain Trust 2.0: Creating and Managing a Dementia Friendly Primary Care Clinic
Every licensed healthcare professional in Illinois, including physicians, is required to complete one CME hour on cultural competency, which is defined as “a set of integrated attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enables a healthcare professional or organization to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities.”
