03/19/2020

Medical Board will suspends enforcement of the continuing education requirements for the renewal of a license

The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO, Medical Board) met on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and voted on several items to better allow licensees to respond and provide essential health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning immediately, the Medical Board will suspend enforcement of the continuing education requirements for the renewal of a license issued by the State Medical Board of Ohio. This includes, but is not limited to, the requirement for Ohio physicians to obtain 50 hours of Category 1 CME at the time of their license renewal.

The exercise of this enforcement discretion is effective the day the State of Ohio declared an emergency, March 9, 2020, and will apply to renewals due by March 1, 2021. All existing board orders and consent agreements for individual licensees remain in effect and will be enforced.

• Effective March 9, 2020 - March 1, 2021, SMBO will suspend enforcement of CE requirements for all license renewals, including physicians
• This does NOT include any existing board orders and consent agreements for individual licensees. Those remedial education expectations must be met.
• Licensees are reminded that this does not excuse the legal requirement for CE, the Board is only suspending enforcement. Licensees who do not complete their required CE by the time of their renewal will indicate that on their license renewal and enforcement will not be taken.