Senate Bill 31 (also known as “The Life of the Mother Act”) requires Texas physicians who provide obstetric care to complete a one-time, mandatory course on pregnancy-related medical emergencies. This course is free and is available from the Texas Medical Board through myTMB. (1)


Physicians in the following specialties are required to complete the course when they apply for a medical license or before their next license renewal, regardless of whether the physician currently provides obstetrical care: 


• obstetrics-gynecology;
• maternal-fetal medicine;
• critical care medicine ob-gyn;
• family medicine;
• emergency medicine; and
• obstetrical anesthesia

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Please see the TMB FAQs for a full list of applicable specialties and board certifications. (2) The TMB will “provide additional notice for those physicians who have reported a Board Certification, or a primary or secondary specialty to the Board that may involve obstetric medicine.” (1)
 

Any licensee required to complete this course will be unable to proceed with their renewal until the course shows as complete in the TMB system.” (1) 

The TMB has made a copy of the course available here for informational purposes only. Physicians cannot obtain credit for reviewing this copy of the course. (2) 

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Ethics credit only

It is also important to note that the SB 31 course is not available for CME credit. (The TMB is not an accredited provider of CME.) Completing the course only qualifies a physician for medical ethics and/or professional responsibility credit. 

Once a physician completes the SB 31 course, the TMB will note that the requirement for completion is satisfied. The physician will receive a certificate of completion for recordkeeping purposes, but the certificate only needs to be added to CE Broker if the physician wishes to report completion of the course for medical ethics and/or professional responsibility credit. (3)
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Learn more at the TMB website.  

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Sources 

1. Texas Medical Board. Continuing education requirements for physicians. Other specialty type requirements. Available at https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/apply-renew/physician/continuing-education-requirements-for-physicians. Accessed August 26, 2026.
2. . Texas Medical Board. Continuing education requirements for physicians. FAQs. Available at https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/apply-renew/physician/continuing-education-requirements-for-physicians. Accessed August 26, 2026.
3. West P. TMB provides guidance on mandated Life of the Mother Act CME for affected specialties. Texas Medicine Today. August 21, 2026. Available at https://www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=68420 . Accessed August 26, 2026.