Texas ethics CME for physicians: what counts and where to get it free

Key facts: Texas ethics CME

Hours

2 formal (Category 1 or 1A), within the 24 formal (22 TAC §161.35(a)(2)(B))

Who / how often

All physicians, every renewal period (TMB CME Hours Chart)

Professional responsibility includes

Risk management, domestic abuse, child abuse (not limited to these) (TMB CE page)

Approval

Must be approved for ethics or professional responsibility credit by the accrediting agency (TMB CE page)

Also counts as ethics

Human trafficking; pain management/opioid; Life of the Mother Act course (required specialties only) (TMB CE page FAQs)

Board cert / MOC / residency

DOES cover ethics (TMB CME Hours Chart)

Carry forward

No (§161.35(c)(3); TMB CME Hours Chart)

CE Broker

Report under Medical Ethics and/or Professional Responsibility; trafficking and opioid entries can apply automatically (TMB CE page; TMB Quick FAQs)

Last verified October 17, 2026. Not affiliated with TMB or CE Broker.

How many ethics CME hours do Texas physicians need?

Two formal hours of medical ethics or professional responsibility every renewal period, which is every two years. They're part of the 24 formal Category 1 or 1A credits, not on top of the 48. Every physician needs them, including those who don't see patients, unless alternate compliance like board certification or MOC covers them.

Sources: 22 TAC §161.35(a)(2) ("as part of the 24 formal credits"); TMB CME Hours Chart ("All physicians," "each renewal period").

What counts as ethics or professional responsibility CME in Texas?

Formal courses approved for ethics or professional responsibility credit by their accrediting body count. TMB says professional responsibility includes risk management, domestic abuse and child abuse. TMB ended its own ethics course approval process in 2016, so look for the accredited provider's ethics designation on the certificate rather than a TMB stamp.

TMB's wording: "Formal courses must be approved for ethics or professional responsibility credit by the accrediting agency," and at its October 14, 2016 meeting the Board "decided to end the process for CME course approval in medical ethics" (TMB CE requirements). The rule still lists the board as a possible designator for ethics credit (22 TAC §161.35(a)(1)(F)), but TMB no longer runs a general approval process.

In practice, a risk management or abuse-recognition course counts when the accredited provider designates it for ethics or professional responsibility credit. A course on an ethics-sounding topic that carries only general credit doesn't.

Which other required courses count toward Texas ethics hours?

Human trafficking and pain management/opioid prescribing CME both count toward the ethics requirement, TMB says. If your specialty requires the Life of the Mother Act course, it counts as ethics too, though it isn't Category 1 credit. Report human trafficking and opioid courses in their own CE Broker categories, and CE Broker can apply them to ethics automatically.

Sources: TMB CE requirements (FAQs); TMB Quick FAQs. By statute, the trafficking hours "must be designated by the board as medical ethics or professional responsibility education" (Tex. Occ. Code §156.060(c)).

SB 31 caveat: only physicians in TMB's designated specialties can take the MyTMB course for credit. Others can view the slides for information only, with no credit. So it isn't a free ethics source for everyone. (TMB CE requirements)

Where can Texas physicians get free ethics CME?

Several routes cost nothing. HHSC's HEART human trafficking training is free, on HHSC's approved list, and counts toward ethics under TMB's rule. TMA's Education Center has about 70 courses with ethics credit, free to TMA members. If your specialty is on TMB's list, the free Life of the Mother Act course in MyTMB counts too.

• HEART (HHSC): HHSC's course list shows "HEART Training (2027)" as free, 1.5 hours, online (HHSC course list). Check the credit designation on your certificate.
• TMA Education Center: Texas Medicine reported in July/August 2026 that the catalog has 70 courses with ethics credits and that all of it is free to TMA members (TMA).
• Life of the Mother Act: free in MyTMB for TMB's listed specialties; ethics only, not Category 1.

Our maintained list: ethics courses on the Find CME page. Trafficking options: Texas human trafficking CME.

Do board certification or MOC cover the ethics requirement?

Yes. TMB's CME hours chart says board certification or recertification within the prior 36 months, current MOC or OCC participation, and residency or fellowship training each cover the ethics requirement, along with most formal and informal hours. They don't cover human trafficking, and they may or may not cover opioid CME, depending on the specialty board.

The chart's wording is "DOES cover the ethics" for all three (TMB CME Hours Chart). Board certification counts for one registration period; MOC can be used for multiple periods while you keep meeting it. Statute: Tex. Occ. Code §156.052.

Can I carry extra ethics hours to my next Texas renewal?

No. 22 TAC §161.35(c)(3) bars carrying forward any of the required formal topics, and ethics is one of them. You need 2 new ethics hours every registration period. Extra general credits, up to 48, can carry to the next period only. CE Broker's Texas overview says excess ethics hours can bank only as general formal hours.

Sources: 22 TAC §161.35(c); TMB CME Hours Chart ("May NOT be carried forward"); CE Broker Texas overview.

How do I report ethics CME in CE Broker?

Click Report CE and choose Medical Ethics and/or Professional Responsibility, then enter the details from your certificate and attach it. If you're counting a human trafficking or opioid course, report it in its own category instead; TMB says CE Broker can apply it to ethics automatically. Then compare the Requirements tab with your Course History to confirm ethics is covered.

On a free Basic account, the Requirements tab is a general outline, so click the course in Course History to see which subject area it was awarded (CE Broker: Why Am I Not Complete?). If ethics still shows as missing, see why CE Broker says "Not Complete".

Related: Texas opioid CME · New Texas CME requirements for 2027 (SB 31) · CME FAQ · full requirements guide.