Medical License Renewal in Pennsylvania — 2026 Complete Guide

1 Step-by-Step: Renewing Your Pennsylvania Medical License

Follow these steps to renew your medical license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine:

1. Complete 100 hours of CME including all mandatory topic requirements
2. Ensure completion of 12 hours in patient safety/risk management
3. Complete DHS-approved 2-hour child abuse recognition and reporting course
4. Log into the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) and complete the renewal application
5. Pay the $360 biennial renewal fee and submit

2 Pennsylvania CME Requirements

100 credit hours per biennial cycle. Must include 12 credits in patient safety or risk management, 2 credits in mandated child abuse recognition and reporting (DHS-approved), and 2 credits in pain management, addiction identification, or opioid prescribing practices.

Tracking your CME across multiple states is one of the most time-consuming parts of credential management. CredentialDOMD automatically monitors your CME progress and alerts you when you're falling behind, so you never miss a requirement.

3 Common Pitfalls to Avoid

These are the mistakes Pennsylvania physicians most commonly make during renewal:

• Pennsylvania requires 100 CME hours biennially -- one of the highest requirements in the nation
• The 12-hour patient safety/risk management requirement is a significant portion that must be specifically categorized
• The child abuse course must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), not just any provider
• MDs and DOs have different renewal deadlines -- MDs by December 31, DOs by October 31

4 Frequently Asked Questions