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Bill

HB 4951

Requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Adam Burkhammer and 8 co-sponsors

West Virginia bill requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education for license maintenance to ensure physicians maintain current medical knowledge and competency standards.

Chapter 260, Acts, Regular Session, 2026
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Bill Summary · HB 4951

Legislative bill overview

HB 4951 mandates that physicians (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) licensed in West Virginia complete continuing education requirements to maintain their medical licenses. The bill establishes standards for what qualifies as acceptable continuing education and creates compliance mechanisms for license renewal.

Why is this important

Continuing education requirements directly impact the quality of medical care patients receive by helping ensure physicians maintain current knowledge of medical practices, new treatments, and safety protocols. This affects licensing decisions for thousands of West Virginia healthcare providers and can influence healthcare costs and accessibility depending on implementation costs and burden on physicians.

Potential points of contention

  • Burden on physicians: Depending on hour requirements and costs, mandatory continuing education could strain rural or solo practitioners differently than larger healthcare systems, potentially affecting provider retention in underserved areas
  • Definition of acceptable education: Disputes may arise over what counts as qualifying education—whether only in-person courses qualify, how online/telemedicine training is valued, and whether specialty-specific versus general education is required
  • Enforcement and compliance costs: Questions about who bears costs (physicians, patients, licensing board) and how violations are penalized could significantly impact implementation feasibility and healthcare affordability

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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