Pennsylvania Licensure Information

The Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (SBOM) regulates licensure and registration of doctors of osteopathic medicine and surgery; the certification of physician assistants and respiratory therapists; certification of athletic trainers; and the registration of acupuncturists.

Pennsylvania has a two-year licensure cycle which runs from November 1 of an even year through October 31 of the next even year.  The current cycle runs from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2024.

On average, the SBOM reports renewal licenses are issued within three calendar days.  Renewal must be completed online through PALS.  Click here to learn more about the license renewal process.

CME Requirements for Unrestricted Osteopathic Physician License Renewal
The SBOM requires the following CME requirements for unrestricted osteopathic physician license renewal:

  • A minimum of 100 CME credits;
  • At least 20 Category 1-A AOA CME credits obtained by an accredited AOA CME sponsor such as POMA;
  • At least 12 patient safety/risk management credits (Category 1 or Category 2);
          Approved activities may include the following topics:
    • Improving medical records and record keeping
    • Reducing medical errors
    • Professional conduct and ethics
    • Improving communications
    • Preventative medicine
    • Healthcare quality improvements
  • 2 hours of board-approved education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements (Category 1 or Category 2). Verification of completion must be sent electronically and directly from the course provider. Completion of this requirement can be seen in the licensee's PALS record;
  • At least 2 hours of continuing education in pain management, the identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids (Category 1 or Category 2).

CME Requirements for Active/Retired Osteopathic Physician License Renewal
The SBOM requires the following CME requirements for active/retired osteopathic physician license renewal:

  • 2 hours of board-approved education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements (Category 1 or Category 2). Verification of completion must be sent electronically and directly from the course provider. Completion of this requirement can be seen in the licensee's PALS record.
  • If the licensee has a current DEA registration or uses another person or entity's DEA registration to prescribe any controlled substances, at least 2 hours of board-approved continuing education in pain management, the identification of addiction, or the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids (Category 1 or Category 2) are required.

Licensing Process
The PA Department of State has published the Osteopathic Medicine Guide to provide transparency, inform applicants of expected timeframes for receiving your license, and outline steps you can take to reduce mistakes and mitigate delays.  Osteopathic physicians, osteopathic graduate medical trainees and physician assistants under the direction and supervision of an osteopathic physician should reference the guide for additional information.

More Information
For more detailed explanations of Pennsylvania's CME requirements for osteopathic physician licensure, please
click here.

Licensees must retain proof of completion of CME for at least two years after completion of the CME or after the biennial registration for which the CME was required, whichever is later.

It is the licensee's responsibility to maintain/track their personal CME credit hours.

Your CME Record at POMA
POMA members have access to POMA's CME module which helps licensees track their credits for Pennsylvania license renewal.  POMA automatically records credits for programs we offer.  The CME module also records information earned outside of POMA that members either self-report or submit to POMA for entry.  Click here to access the POMA CME module.

Documentation for credits earned outside of POMA can be faxed to (717) 939-7255, emailed to [email protected] or uploaded directly into our the POMA CME module.

POMA Provides the CME You Need!
POMA is a valuable resource for osteopathic physicians to earn high-quality, affordable osteopathic CME.  Below is a list of the current and upcoming offerings:

  • 2024 POMA Clinical Assembly (May 1-4) - In-person at Kalahari or Asynchronous On-Demand - Offers 34 Category 1A AOA CME credits, including patient safety credits, opioid credits and mandated reporter credits.
  • POMA District 8 Winter Seminar (January) - Offers up to 24 Category 1A AOA CME credits, including patient safety and opioid credits, and mandated reporter training in cycle years.
  • POMA DOes Podcast Series - COVID Vaccine Hesitancy episode (released August 26, 2022); Sleep Apnea episode (TBD Spring 2023)
  • On-Demand courses sponsored by POMA

POMA is in the process of developing a mandated reporter training course that will be available for in-person presentations, online webinars, and on-demand viewing.  We anticipate it will be fully accredited by the State by December 2025.  A free, online course is available through the University of Pittsburgh Child Welfare Resource Center.  Upon completion, Pitt will send your information to the State and a certificate will be available.  Please allow 7-10 days for the processing of your credits.

Have Questions?
Contact the SBOM at (717) 783-4858, email [email protected] or visit the SBOM website.

Contact POMA at (717) 939-9318, email [email protected].