Texas physician CME checklist for the November 30, 2026 renewal

Who this checklist is for

This is for Texas MDs and DOs whose license expires November 30, 2026. Even-numbered licenses expire in even years, and TMB opens online renewal 60 to 90 days before the expiration date, so many November renewers can already renew. Check your exact date in MyTMB. (TMB physician renewal)

Your CME counts if you completed it during your current 24-month registration period, which ends on your expiration date.

The checklist

Every box below matches what the free TexasCMELog tracker checks for you.

• ☐ 48 total credits this period. At least 24 formal (AMA PRA Category 1, AAFP Prescribed, AOA Category 1-A, or TMA-approved). No more than 24 informal credits count. (22 TAC §161.35(a))
• ☐ 2 formal hours of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility. Human trafficking and pain/opioid courses also count toward this. (§161.35(a)(2)(B))
• ☐ Pain management and opioid prescribing, 2 formal hours, only if due. It applies only if you provide direct patient care, and only within 1 year of license issuance, at the next renewal, and then every 4th renewal. (Tex. Occ. Code §156.055)
• ☐ Human trafficking prevention, at least 1 hour from an HHSC-approved course, only if due. Direct patient care only: your first renewal period after licensure, then every 3rd renewal. If you did it in the prior 2 cycles, report that completion or the CE Broker exemption. (Tex. Occ. Code §156.060)
• ☐ Life of the Mother Act course (SB 31), if your specialty is on TMB's list. That list includes OB/GYN, family medicine and emergency medicine. It's one-time and free, and you take it in MyTMB only.
• ☐ Everything reported in CE Broker, with status showing Complete. The free Basic account is enough. (TMB CE tracking)
• ☐ Proof of lawful presence submitted to TMB.
• ☐ Fingerprints, if TMB asked you for them.
• ☐ Renewal fee paid online: $491.48.

What's not due for a November 2026 renewal

Forensic evidence collection (HB 47) starts with licenses that expire February 28, 2027. The statute covers physicians who treat patients in an emergency room setting, and TMB's guidance adds urgent care. No approved course exists yet. If you don't work in an ER, CE Broker has a "Not Working in an ER Setting" attestation you can file.

Nutrition and metabolic health (SB 25) starts with licenses that expire in May 2027 (TMB's wording: on or after May 30, 2027).

Both are covered in New Texas CME requirements for 2027.

How to tell if opioid or human trafficking CME is due for you

These two run on their own cycles, which is why so many physicians either overdo them or miss them. TMB's own examples:

The TexasCMELog tracker works this out from your number of prior renewals. Enter your expiration date and how many times you've renewed, and it shows whether each topic is due.

Exemptions that save hours

• Board certification or recertification within the past 36 months covers the hours for one registration. So do ABMS MOC / AOA OCC participation and residency or fellowship (in training, or finished within 6 months).
• None of these cover human trafficking. Whether they cover the opioid course depends on your specialty board, so check TMB's CME Hours Requirement Chart.
• No direct patient care? CE Broker's attestation removes the opioid and human trafficking requirements. (CE Broker exemptions)

Carry-forward from your last period

You can carry up to 48 excess credits from your previous registration period, in their own category. Ethics, pain/opioid and human trafficking credits can't be carried forward. The rule (§161.35(c)(3)) excludes all three. TMB's web page names only ethics and opioid, so we follow the stricter rule text.

Short on hours with weeks left?

Start with free, accredited options. HHSC's HEART training is free and on HHSC's approved human trafficking list. TMA members get mandated-topic and ethics courses through the TMA Education Center. Your specialty society likely has free Category 1 activities too. Our Find CME page lists them by Texas topic.

Don't plan on fixing a shortfall after your expiration date. TMB won't open online renewal until CE Broker shows Complete.

Timeline

Source: TMB physician renewal. For the full rules, see our Texas physician CME requirements guide and the renewal dates page.