Quick facts
- Board Name
- Hawaii Medical Board
- Renewal Cycle
- Biennial (every 2 years)
- CE Period
- Biennial, ending January 31 of even-numbered years
- Rule Citation
- HAR §16-85-116; HRS §453-8.6
- Hour Requirement
- Hawaii requires active NCCPA certification for license renewal. NCCPA requires 100 CME hours per biennium, with at least 50 being Category 1.
- State-Mandated Topics
- 1 hour on pain and opioid management
- Records Retention
- 4 years
Governing authority and what the rule requires
The Hawaii Medical Board is the governing body responsible for the licensure and regulation of physician assistants in Hawaii. Its authority is granted under Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 453, the Medical Practice Act. The specific rules for physician assistants, including continuing education and licensure, are detailed in the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 16, Chapter 85, Subchapter 13.
How Hawaii PA CE audits typically work
After a renewal cycle the board reviews a sample of attestations. If selected, you will receive a notice through the email or address on file with a defined response window. Most audits close quietly when records match what was attested. The primary basis for CE compliance is found in HAR §16-85-116(a)(3), which mandates current NCCPA certification for renewal. Additionally, HRS §453-8.6 imposes a state-specific requirement for training in pain and opioid management.
- The Hawaii Medical Board randomly selects a percentage of licensees for a CE audit each cycle.
- If selected, you will receive a notification letter from the board, typically by mail or secure email.
- The notice will specify the compliance period being audited.
- You are generally given 30 days from the date of the notice to submit copies of your CE documentation.
- Board staff reviews your submitted certificates to ensure they match the hour requirement and include all mandated topics.
- You will receive a final letter from the board indicating whether you successfully met the audit requirements or if further action is needed.
Documentation commonly requested
Audit notices are usually specific about what they want. Read the notice slowly and make a checklist directly from it. The most common items requested for PAs include:
- Copies of certificates of completion for each CME course taken.
- NCCPA certification maintenance transcript or CME log when applicable.
- Each certificate should clearly show the course provider, title, date(s) of attendance, number of credit hours awarded, AAFP/AMA PRA Category, and your name.
- Proof of completion for any state-mandated topics (opioid prescribing, suicide prevention, implicit bias, etc.) as required by Hawaii.
- A personal CME log or spreadsheet tracking course dates, titles, providers, hours, and category designations.
Hawaii-specific mandated topics
Beyond a total hour count, Hawaii requires specific subject-matter CE within the cycle. Make sure each mandated topic is covered by a certificate that names the topic explicitly.
- Maintenance of NCCPA Certification: Hawaii Administrative Rules require PAs to maintain current certification with the NCCPA. This national requirement includes earning 100 CME hours every two years, of which at least 50 must be Category 1 CME hours.
- Pain and Opioid Management: All licensees must complete 1 hour of continuing education focused on evidence-based pain management, the risks of opioids, and non-opioid and non-pharmacologic treatment options (HRS §453-8.6). This can be counted towards the 100-hour NCCPA requirement.
- Licensees are exempt if they do not hold a DEA registration.
Common pitfalls PAs run into
- Assuming NCCPA certification alone satisfies all requirements, thereby overlooking the separate 1-hour state-mandated opioid and pain management topic.
- Failing to log CME activities with NCCPA in a timely manner, which can cause certification to lapse and therefore violate Hawaii's renewal requirements.
- Not retaining personal CME certificates, making it difficult to provide proof if requested by the Board during an audit.
- Failing to notify the Board of a lapse in NCCPA certification.
How to assemble a clean response
Gather your records in one place. A folder on your desktop, a printed binder, or a shared drive all work. You don't need a complicated system. You just need to be able to find things.
Name each PDF clearly with the date, course title, hours, and Category 1 or 2 designation. Group certificates by category that maps to the board's request: mandated topics, Category 1 CME, Category 2 CME. Add a one-page cover sheet that summarizes total hours and points the reviewer to the matching documents.
If your hours fall short
First-time shortfalls are usually handled administratively. Boards generally allow a defined window to complete makeup hours and submit updated documentation. Honest, prompt communication is far better than silence.
If the shortfall is significant or repeated, the board may move toward formal action. At that point, calm documentation of how you are coming into compliance, plus a written plan to prevent recurrence, makes a meaningful difference.
Possible outcomes
- Non-renewal of license until all CE and certification requirements are met.
- Disciplinary action by the Hawaii Medical Board as authorized under HRS §453-8, which may include fines, formal reprimands, or other sanctions.
- In cases of significant non-compliance or fraudulent documentation, the Board may initiate proceedings to suspend or revoke the physician assistant's license.
- Requirement to complete additional remedial education as directed by the Board.
A simple audit-response checklist
- 1Read the audit notice slowly. Note the deadline and exact list of documents requested.
- 2Make a simple folder labeled with the cycle dates being audited.
- 3Pull certificates of completion for every CE activity in that cycle.
- 4Match each certificate to the topic area or category your board requires.
- 5Save proof of license renewal and any required attestations.
- 6If a certificate is missing, contact the provider for a duplicate before the deadline.
- 7Scan everything as clean PDFs, named with date and course title.
- 8Submit through the channel the board requests. Keep a copy and a confirmation.
Save $106 on MedBridge CEU plans
Continuing education is part of protecting your license. BoardWise has partnered with MedBridge to help physician assistants access high-quality CEU courses at a lower cost. Use code BOARDWISE to save $106 on an individual MedBridge CEU plan.
Explore MedBridge CEU coursesMedBridge is a separate service. BoardWise may receive a referral benefit. The discount code is subject to MedBridge terms.
Frequently asked questions
Real Outcomes Reported by BoardWise Users
BoardWise users have reported outcomes including:
- Complaint dismissals
- Successful responses to board inquiries
- Passing continuing education audits
- Early probation termination
- Improved understanding of licensing board procedures
Individual outcomes vary and depend on the facts of each case.
Optional Attorney Document Review
Before you send anything to the board, BoardWise can match physician assistant in Hawaii with an independent, state-licensed attorney for an optional limited-scope review of the document you prepared:
- We match you with an independent attorney licensed in your state
- They review and suggest revisions to your document before you submit it to the board
- Focused, limited-scope review at a fixed fee rather than a full retainer
- A second set of eyes on wording, tone, and anything that may need a closer look
What does the attorney review cost? Pricing depends on the complexity of your matter and the scope of review, but most BoardWise lawyer reviews are approximately $250–$500. You’ll see the specific fee before deciding whether to proceed.
Optional limited-scope attorney review may be available for an additional fixed fee. Attorney availability, conflicts review, eligibility requirements, and additional terms apply. If an attorney accepts the matter, the client will contract with and pay the independent attorney directly.
Print & FedEx Overnight Delivery
Finishing the document is only part of the job. BoardWise Document Delivery lets physician assistant in Hawaii send the finished packet straight to the board without a trip to the post office:
- FedEx Overnight delivery for street addresses when your deadline is close
- USPS Priority Express and USPS Certified Mail for P.O. Box board addresses
- Printing, packaging, and postage handled for you, with tracking on every order
- Confirmation and tracking details emailed to you as your package moves
What does it cost? $150 for FedEx Overnight and $99 for USPS Priority Express or Certified Mail. You see the exact price and the full address details before you authorize the order.
Printing and mailing are fulfilled by Mailform. You are responsible for meeting your own deadline, so keep an electronic copy and watch the tracking information.
What Professionals Are Saying
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BoardWise is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. This guide is educational only and reflects general practice in the United States. Your state licensing board is the official source for current requirements. If your situation involves formal discipline or a hearing, consider consulting a licensed attorney in your state.