1. (a) Osteopathic physicians and surgeons shall report the total number of continuing medical education (CME) hours as provided in subsection (b) to the Board with the renewal application.

2. (b) For the purposes of Section 1635, satisfactory documentation shall mean a written statement to the Board, signed and dated by the osteopathic physician and surgeon (“licensee”), that includes disclosures of all of the following:

   1. (1) The following personally identifying information:

      1. (A) Licensee's full legal name (first, middle, last, suffix (if any)),
      2. (B) Licensee's license number,
      3. (C) Mailing address,
      4. (D) Telephone number; and,
      5. (E) Email address, if any.

   2. (2) Whether during the two years immediately preceding their license expiration date, the licensee completed a minimum of 50 hours of American Osteopathic Association (AOA) CME, of which at least:

      1. (A) 20 hours were completed in AOA Category 1 CME as defined in Section 2454.5 of the Code, and,
      2. (B) the remaining 30 CME hours were earned for coursework accredited by either the AOA or the American Medical Association (AMA).
   3. (3) Whether within four years of their initial licensure or by their second renewal, the licensee completed a one-time 12-hour CME course in the subjects of pain management and the treatment of terminally ill or dying patients (“pain management course”) as specified by Section 1635.

   4. (4) If the licensee has not completed the pain management course referenced in subsection (b)(3), whether the licensee meets any of the following criteria:

      1. (A) The licensee is practicing in pathology or radiology specialty areas,
      2. (B) The licensee is not engaged in direct patient care as defined in Section 1635,
      3. (C) The licensee does not provide patient consultations regarding a patient located in California,
      4. (D) The licensee completed a one-time continuing education course of 12 credit hours in the subject of treatment and management of opiate-dependent patients, including eight hours of training in buprenorphine treatment, or other similar medicinal treatment, for opioid use disorders; or,
      5. (E) The licensee meets one of the conditions listed in paragraph (5) of subsection (f) of Section 1635 for a “qualifying physician.”
   5. (5) Whether during the two years immediately preceding their license expiration date, the licensee completed a course on the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs as specified in Section 1635, including a course in pain management as referenced in subsection (b)(3).
   6. (6) Whether the licensee obtained a waiver from the Board for all or any portion of the current CME requirements specified in Section 1635 for this CME reporting period in accordance with Section 1637.
   7. (7) A certification by the licensee under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that all statements made in response to disclosures required by subsections (b)(1)-(6) are true and correct.
3. (c) Licensees who have reported CME compliance as specified in this section shall be subject to random audit of their CME hours. Within 65 days of the date of the Board's written request, those licensees selected for audit shall be required to document their compliance with the CME requirements of this article and shall be required to respond to any inquiry by the Board regarding compliance with this article and/or provide to the Board the records retained pursuant to subsection (d).

4. (d) Each licensee shall retain documents demonstrating compliance as provided in this subsection for each CME requirement period for six years from the completion date of the course(s) or condition(s) claimed as credit towards satisfaction of, or exemption from, the requirements of Section 1635. Those licensees selected for audit shall be required to submit documentation of their compliance with the CME requirements as specified by this article. Documents demonstrating compliance include any of the following:

   1. (1) A copy of their individual CME Activity Summary report as compiled from documents submitted to the AOA's Continuing Medical Education Program by both sponsors and the licensee, which includes, at a minimum, all of the following on official AOA letterhead or other document issued by the AOA bearing an AOA insignia:

      1. (A) Licensee's name,
      2. (B) Licensee's license number and,
      3. (C) All CME course credits reported to the AOA during the relevant CME reporting requirement period, including: 1. CME course or activity name, 2. CME sponsor/provider name, 3. CME credit type (e.g., Category type, such as Category 1A or 1B), 4. CME credit hours earned or each course or activity by the licensee and submitted by the licensee for AOA approval, 5. all credits applied or accepted by the AOA by course or activity, and, 6. completion dates for each CME course or activity.

   2. (2) Copies of any transcripts or certificates of completion from a CME course provider accredited by the AOA or AMA, which list, at a minimum, all of the following:

      1. (A) the name of the licensee,
      2. (B) the title of the course(s)/program(s) attended,
      3. (C) the amount of CME credit hours earned,
      4. (D) the dates of attendance,
      5. (E) the name of the CME provider; and,
      6. (F) For AOA accredited courses, CME credit type (e.g., Category type, such as Category 1A or 1B).

   3. (3) For AMA accredited CME course hours earned, reports from any CME course provider accredited by AMA, to be furnished by the licensee, and listing at a minimum:

      1. (A) the name of the licensee,
      2. (B) the title of the course(s)/program(s) attended,
      3. (C) the amount of CME credit hours earned,
      4. (D) the dates of attendance; and,
      5. (E) the name of the CME provider.

   4. (4) For any exemptions from CME requirements claimed by the licensee in paragraph (4) of subsection (b), the following documentation, as applicable:

      1. (A) For claims of practice exemption per (b)(4)(A)-(C), copies of employment records or letters or other documents from an employer showing the licensee's name, dates of practice, and confirming the type of practice claimed as represented by the licensee on their report;
      2. (B) For claims of completion of alternative CME coursework as specified in (b)(4)(D) or (E), any of the documents specified in paragraphs (1)-(3) of this subsection.

      3. (C) 1. For claims of exemption as a “qualifying physician” based on specialty certification as specified in (b)(4)(E), certification received directly from the applicable certifying body of the licensee's certification in a specialty that includes a document containing, at minimum, the following:

         1. a. Licensee's name;
         2. b. Licensee's address,
         3. c. Name of the specialty board,
         4. d. Name of specialty,
         5. e. Date certification in the specialty was issued,
         6. f. Date certification in the specialty expires, and,

         7. g. on official letterhead or other document issued by the specialty organization bearing their insignia.

            Submission of a licensee's Official Physician Profile Report from the American Osteopathic Association directly to the Board electronically that lists the specialty certifications claimed by the licensee shall be deemed compliant with the requirements of this paragraph.

         8. 2. For claims of exemption as a “qualifying physician” due to the licensee being an investigator in one or more clinical trials leading to the approval of a narcotic drug as specified by Section 1635, a copy of a letter or other document, signed and dated by the sponsor showing submission of a statement from the sponsor to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services that includes the licensee's name and that the licensee was an investigator in one or more clinical trials leading to the approval of a specified narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V for maintenance or detoxification treatment.

Note: Authority cited: Osteopathic Act (Initiative Measure, Stats. 1923, p. xciii), Section 1; and Sections 2018, 2451 and 3600-1, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 2190.5, 2190.6, 2452 and 2454.5, Business and Professions Code.

History

1. Repealer of Chapter 16 (Sections 1600-1697, not consecutive) and new Chapter 16 (Sections 1600-1697, not consecutive and Appendix) filed 12-10-87; operative 1-9-88 (Register 87, No. 52). For prior history, see Registers 81, No. 50; 81, No. 36; 81, No. 9; 80, No. 40; 78, No. 15; 77, No. 21; and 63, No. 25.

2. Amendment of first paragraph, subsection (a) and Note filed 1-26-95; operative 1-26-95 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(d) (Register 95, No. 4).

3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (c) and Note filed 1-15-2025 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2025, No. 3).

4. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 7-10-2025; operative 10-1-2025 (Register 2025, No. 28).