Licensure Requirements for Virginia
The Virginia Board of Medicine reviewed and updated regulations in Chapter 20 for MD’s, DO’s, DPM’s, and DC’s that went into effect on February 27, 2025. To read Chapter 20 in full, please click on the following link: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency85/chapter20/.
Changes made to continued competency requirements are below.
18VAC85-20-235. Continued competency requirements for renewal of an active license.
A. In order to renew an active license biennially, a practitioner shall attest to completion of at least 30 hours of continuing learning activities within the two years immediately preceding renewal. The hours shall be in Type 1 activities or courses offered by an accredited sponsor or organization sanctioned by the profession.
- Type 1 hours in chiropractic shall be clinical hours that are approved by a college or university accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or any other organization approved by the board.
- Type 1 hours in podiatry shall be accredited by the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Council of Certified Podiatric Physicians and Surgeons or any other organization approved by the board.
B. A practitioner shall be exempt from the continuing competency requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia.
C. The practitioner shall retain in the practitioner's records all supporting documentation for a period of six years following the renewal of an active license.
D. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board.
E. The board may grant an extension of the deadline for continuing competency requirements for up to one year for good cause shown upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date.
F. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters.
G. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for a licensee who:
1. Is practicing solely in an uncompensated position, provided the licensee's practice is under the direction of a physician fully licensed by the board; or
2. Is practicing solely as a medical examiner, provided the licensee obtains six hours of medical examiner training per year provided by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. -
What constitutes Category 1/Type 1 credit?
Category 1 CME (or AMA PRA Category 1 credit) are those formal activities that are based on a planning process that includes a needs assessment, learning objectives, educational design, and assessment. These activities are planned in full compliance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, and the AMA gifts to physicians from industry policy. These activities are certified by an accredited provider.
Review the Virginia Board of Medicine Newsletters and Alerts.
