1. A. Every calendar year, a physician holding an active license to practice naturopathic medicine in this state shall complete 20 credit hours of approved continuing medical education activities. At least 10 credit hours shall be in pharmacology as it relates to diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. A physician who is authorized to prescribe schedule II controlled substances and holds a valid U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration number, shall complete at least three hours of opioid-related, substance-disorder-related, or addiction-related continuing medical education each year as required by A.R.S. § 32-3248.02. The three credit hours may be included in the required pharmacology hours. At least one credit hour each year is required in the subject of Ethics. At least eight credit hours shall be from programs approved by one or more of the organizations listed in subsection (B)(1) through (2). One hour of credit is allowed for every 50 minutes of participation in an approved continuing medical education activity unless otherwise noted in R4-18-205(B). A Physician may not carry excess hours of continuing medical education over to the following renewal year. The requirement to complete CME is waived for the initial license renewal.

2. B. The following are approved continuing medical education activities:

   1. 1. Education certified as Category I by an organization accredited by the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education;

   2. 2. Continuing medical educational programs that are approved by:

      1. a. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians or any of its constituent organizations;
      2. b. The Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association;
      3. c. Any naturopathic licensing authority in the United States or Canada; or
      4. d. The North American Naturopathic Continuing Education Accreditation Council.
   3. 3. One credit hour may be claimed for each eight hour day the physician provides training in an internship training program, a preceptorship training program, or a postdoctoral training program approved by the Board. A maximum of eight hours per year may be claimed in this manner. The training must have been provided in the same year credit is being claimed.

   4. 4. One credit hour, not to exceed eight credit hours, may be claimed for each eight hour day of research in subjects listed in A.R.S. § 32-1525(B), if the research is conducted by or sponsored by a school of naturopathic medicine that is accredited or a candidate for accreditation by:

      1. a. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education,
      2. b. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or
      3. c. An accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
   5. 5. One credit hour may be claimed for each hour serving as an instructor of naturopathic medical students or other physicians in a program approved by one of the organizations listed in subsection (B)(2), or an approved school of naturopathic medicine as defined under A.R.S. § 32-1501(8). A maximum of eight hours may be claimed in this manner.
   6. 6. A maximum of four credit hours may be claimed for preparing or writing for presentation or publication, including presentation for the purpose of continuing medical education credits in a program approved by an entity listed in R4-18-205(B)(2)(a), (b), (c), or (d), a medically related paper, report, or book that is presented or published addressing current developments, skills, procedures, or treatment in the practice of naturopathic medicine. Credit may be claimed only for materials presented or published. Credit may be claimed once as of the date of publication or presentation.

   7. 7. A maximum of eight credit hours may be earned for the following activities that provide necessary understanding of current developments, skills, procedures, or treatment related to the practice of naturopathic medicine if the physician maintains a record that includes the name of the activity, the date of the activity, and the amount of time to complete the activity:

      1. a. Self-instruction that utilizes videotapes, audiotapes, films, slides, radio broadcasts, or computers;
      2. b. Independent reading of scientific journals and books;
      3. c. Preparation for specialty board certification or recertification examinations; or
      4. d. Participation on a staff committee or quality of care or utilization review committee in a facility or government agency.
3. C. The Board shall grant an extension of time to complete continuing medical education required in subsection (A) upon written application by a licensee if the licensee fails to meet the requirements due to illness, military service, medical or religious missionary activity, or other extenuating circumstance. An extension, other than for military service, shall not exceed 90 days.
4. D. An applicant for renewal of a license shall certify on the application for renewal, under penalty of perjury, that the applicant has met or will meet, before January 1, the continuing medical education requirements for the calendar year.
5. E. Board staff shall annually select a minimum of ten percent of the active licensees for an audit of required continuing medical education. Failure to complete the required continuing medical education is considered unprofessional conduct.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 3702, effective August 9, 2002 (Supp. 02-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 4392 (November 21, 2025), effective January 4, 2026 (Supp. 25-4).