There Is No Single National CE Total for Nurse Practitioners
Nurse practitioners may have several education and renewal obligations at once. Requirements can apply to an RN license, advanced practice recognition, prescriptive authority, controlled-substance privileges, and national certification—and each may use a different renewal cycle.
That is why continuing education requirements for nurse practitioners should be checked credential by credential. A course that counts toward one requirement may not satisfy another state’s topic, provider, or documentation rules.
The overview below is a planning tool, not a substitute for current board instructions. State requirements can change, and some published summaries differ. Before enrolling in courses or submitting a renewal, confirm your requirements with the relevant nursing board and certifying organization.
State-by-State Planning Overview
This table summarizes the general NP renewal pathway reported in a 2026 cross-state guide. Where a state uses a certification, practice, or alternative pathway instead of a straightforward CE-hour total, that distinction is noted. Prescribing and topic-specific education may apply in addition to the general pathway.
| Jurisdiction | General NP renewal planning baseline |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 24 hours every 2 years. Pharmacology and controlled-substance education may apply. |
| Alaska | 30 hours every 2 years; additional education can apply to prescriptive authority and controlled substances. |
| Arizona | No general hour total listed; 4-year renewal cycle. Practice and prescribing-related conditions may apply. |
| Arkansas | 15 hours every 2 years; the guide lists 20 hours for NPs with prescriptive authority. |
| California | 30 hours every 2 years. Check applicable topic-specific requirements. |
| Colorado | No general hour total listed; 2-year cycle. Prescribing-related education may apply. |
| Connecticut | 50 hours every 2 years, with required subject areas. |
| Delaware | 30 hours every 2 years; substance-use and prescribing-related topics may apply. |
| District of Columbia | 24 hours every 2 years, including specified topics. |
| Florida | 27 hours every 2 years in the cited guide, including a controlled-substance course and other required topics. Confirm the pathway that applies to your license. |
| Georgia | 30 hours every 2 years; check additional prescribing-related education. |
| Hawaii | 30 hours for prescribers every 2 years; the guide identifies pharmacology and specialty education. |
| Idaho | No general hour total listed; 2-year renewal cycle. Verify current APRN renewal requirements directly. |
| Illinois | 80 hours every 2 years, including pharmacotherapeutics and other required subjects. |
| Indiana | No general hours listed for basic renewal; the guide lists 30 hours every 2 years for prescriptive-authority renewal. |
| Iowa | 36 hours every 3 years. Mandatory reporting and other topic requirements may apply. |
| Kansas | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Kentucky | 14 hours per year; check prescribing and other required topic education. |
| Louisiana | 30 hours every 2 years; pharmacology and controlled-substance education may apply. |
| Maine | 50 hours every 2 years; check prescribing-related education. |
| Maryland | No general hour total listed; 2-year renewal cycle. Topic-specific requirements may apply. |
| Massachusetts | 15 hours every 2 years; additional topic requirements may apply, particularly for prescribers. |
| Michigan | 25 hours every 2 years, with required topic education. |
| Minnesota | 24 hours every 2 years. |
| Mississippi | National certification is listed as the general APRN pathway; additional controlled-substance CE may apply. |
| Missouri | No general hour total listed; 2-year renewal cycle. |
| Montana | No general hour total listed; 2-year renewal cycle. |
| Nebraska | NP national certification and practice-hour requirements are listed; RN renewal has its own pathway. |
| Nevada | 45 hours every 2 years, with additional required subjects. |
| New Hampshire | 60 hours every 2 years; pharmacology and prescribing topics may apply. |
| New Jersey | 30 hours every 2 years, with pharmacology and other specified topics. |
| New Mexico | Certification-based pathway listed; no general hour total. Verify prescribing-related CE. |
| New York | No general hour total listed; 3-year cycle. Separate required courses may apply. |
| North Carolina | 50 hours every 2 years are listed in the guide; confirm whether a certification or other alternative applies to your situation. |
| North Dakota | APRN renewal is listed as certification-based; RN requirements and prescribing-related pharmacology may be separate. |
| Ohio | 24 APRN hours every 2 years are listed; RN renewal may add a separate requirement. |
| Oklahoma | Certification-based pathway listed; prescribing-related pharmacology may apply. |
| Oregon | Certification-based pathway listed; separate required topics may apply. |
| Pennsylvania | 30 hours every 2 years; the guide identifies 16 pharmacology hours for prescriptive authority. Other required courses may apply. |
| Rhode Island | 10 hours every 2 years are listed; check substance-use and other topic requirements. |
| South Carolina | Certification-based pathway listed; prescribing-related pharmacology may apply. |
| South Dakota | No general hour total listed; 2-year renewal cycle. |
| Tennessee | No general hour total listed; prescribing-related education may apply. |
| Texas | 20 hours every 2 years, with required topics and pharmacology for prescribers. |
| Utah | No general hour total listed; 2-year renewal cycle. Check topic-specific requirements. |
| Vermont | No general hour total listed; 2-year renewal cycle. |
| Virginia | Certification-based pathway listed; prescriptive-authority pharmacology may apply. |
| Washington | 30 hours every 2 years, with a higher total listed for prescriptive authority; additional RN and topic requirements may be separate. |
| West Virginia | 24 hours every 2 years; pharmacology and controlled-substance education may apply. |
| Wisconsin | 16 hours every 2 years are listed, with prescribing-related education. |
| Wyoming | No general hour total listed; prescribing-related education may apply. |
The figures and pathways in this table are drawn from the 2026 state-by-state NP CE guide. For another planning reference, see the NPACE state CE/CME grid. These summaries are not substitutes for each state board’s current rules.
Track Each Credential Separately
Create a renewal checklist for each active license and certification. Include:
- The renewal date and reporting period.
- The required total or approved alternative pathway.
- Required subject areas and pharmacology hours.
- Course-provider or accreditation rules.
- Documentation you need to retain.
- Any one-time course requirement and whether it has already been met.
Do not assume hours carry over into another renewal period or automatically count for more than one credential. Confirm how the board treats courses that overlap multiple requirements.
National certification has its own renewal standards and schedule. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and other certifying organizations publish their own requirements, so track those separately from state licensure.
Pennsylvania CRNPs: Review the Requirements Together
Pennsylvania CRNPs should verify both their general renewal requirements and any additional education associated with prescriptive authority. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing is the primary place to confirm current state requirements.
For additional context on Pennsylvania CRNP collaboration and prescribing rules, see NP Collaborator’s Pennsylvania state guide. Use it as a planning reference, then confirm current CE and renewal requirements with the board.
Make CE Planning Part of Your Annual Routine
Waiting until renewal is close can make it harder to find courses that fit your schedule and required topics. Review your renewal calendar at least once a year, save completion certificates as you earn them, and check for rule changes before renewal.
When in doubt, ask the licensing board or certifying organization which pathway applies to your specific credential and practice status.
The Bottom Line
NP continuing education is not one national number. Requirements may depend on the state, license type, prescribing authority, certification, and renewal pathway.
Use a state-by-state overview to organize your research, but verify the details directly with the applicable board before relying on a course plan.
