It’s June, which means we’re halfway through 2026 (cue the shock!). While most of us are looking forward to summer vacations and poolside relaxation, the calendar moves fast. Before we know it, the "back to school" rush will hit, followed by the holidays, and suddenly it’s time to submit year-end CME.
To avoid losing a week of your life during the busiest season of the year, it’s time for a mid-year CME audit. Think of it like training for a marathon: the "one mile at a time" approach works much better than trying to cram all your training — or your credits — into the final stretch.
In addition to standard credit hours, the DEA and many state boards have implemented mandates that go beyond traditional requirements. It is vital that clinicians stay aware of these specific categories; failing to meet them could jeopardize your medical or nursing license.
Passed in 2023, the MATE Act requires a one-time, eight-hour training on substance use and opioid disorders for all DEA-registered clinicians. If your DEA license is up for renewal this year, you must check an attestation box certifying you have completed this requirement. While you don’t need to submit documentation at the time of renewal, you must have it ready in case of an audit. If you’re looking for Hippo-style education for this, our audio course, OUD Decoded, fulfills the requirement.
Many state boards are shifting focus toward "societal health" mandates. This includes specialized training in dementia, implicit bias, and end-of-life care. While the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) provides a comprehensive PDF of these requirements, here are the current trends:
Earning the credit is often the easy part; tracking the paperwork is the challenge. Luckily, the process is becoming more automated.
The ACCME’s CME Passport is a centralized account where physicians can find and track credits. Many CME providers report directly to the Passport, which then shares the data with collaborating licensing and certifying boards. While this is currently limited to physicians, we hope to see it expand to PAs and NPs soon.
For PAs, NPs, or those who prefer manual tracking, the "paper folder" era is over. Most providers (including Hippo Education) issue digital certificates. Rather than printing them out, simply download them to a dedicated "CME 2026" folder on your computer or cloud drive. Logging hours monthly (rather than annually) reduces the administrative burden and ensures you aren’t surprised by a credit deficit in December.
Before summer hits its stride, take these four steps:
Fill the Gaps: Need credits now? Explore Hippo’s continuing education courses and bundles to find audio and video options that fit into the time you actually have, whether that’s a commute, a workout, or the rare quiet hour in your week.