Continuing Education Requirements
For Prescriptive Authority
 
State
Initial Licensure/Certification
Renewal
Alaska 15 hours of pharmacology and clinical management of pharmacology drug therapy within 2 year period prior to licensure. 8 contact hours in pharmacology.
Arizona 45 hours continuing education in pharmacology in the last 2 years (3 hours college credit or 45 CE contact hours). Will be able to apply for prescriptive privileges immediately after completion of Nurse Practitioner program if 3 college credits of pharmacology are included in the curriculum. No specific contact hours other than general continuing education requirements.
California 6-month MD supervised experience in furnishing drugs or devices and a Board approved course in pharmacology. No renewal requirements.
Connecticut 15 contact hours or its equivalent, 8 hours of which shall be pharmacology, of continuing education related to specialty in the preceding licensure year. 8 hours of continuing education in pharmacology for advanced nursing practice for licensure year. (Very limited group of ANPs affected by this law.)
Delaware 30 hours of advanced pharmacology and therapeutics program within 5 years prior to application. 15 hours of pharmacology and therapeutics continuing education within the area of specialization and licensure biennially.
Hawaii 30 contact hours of continuing education in the practice specialty area, 8 hours in pharmacology, including pharmacotherapeutics, related to the applicant's specialty area.
Idaho 30 contact hours past basic education in pharmaco-therapeutics. 10 hours approved pharmacology-related CE in 24 months preceding application for renewal.
Illinois 50 hours/licensure cycle.
Indiana Successful completion of a graduate level course in pharmacology providing at least 2 semester hours of academic credit. Two year renewal requirements. 
Reqiure continuing education
Kentucky There are no CE requirements for initial licensure as an ARNP. 30 contact hours every two years for relicensure which shall include 5 hours of pharmacology. 
State
Initial Licensure/Certification
Renewal
Maine 45 contact hours (or 3 credits) of pharmacology, within 2 years prior application date. No renewal requirement.
Maryland The state does not require licensure, but APNs must have the renewal and recertification requirements of their certifying body for licensure.
Massachusetts Minimum of 24 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics beyond those acquired through a generic nursing education program. No renewal requirements.
Michigan All RNs need 25 contact hours every 2 years. No special requirement for delegated prescriptive authority. Effective 1/1/97.
Montana 15 hours of education in pharmacology and/or clinical management of drug therapy, which has been obtained within 2 year period immediately prior to application receipt. 5 of the contact hours must be from face-to-face courses. 6 of the 15 contact hours must have been obtained 1 year prior to date of application. Documentation of 6 contact hours of continuing education in pharmacology or pharmacology management during the 2 year period immediately preceding renewal.
Nebraska 30 contact hours for licensure. 10 contact hours for renewal. 45 academic contact hours for practice without protocols. 45 contact hours (3 credits) of pharmacology beyond those acquired through generic nursing education program. 10 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutic and clinical management of drug therapy during 2 years prior to relicensure.
New Hampshire No additional requirements beyond AP licensure. 4 hours of pharmacology. 60 hours hours continuing education in practice category. 900 hours active in practice within 4 years immediately preceding application.
New Jersey A master's degree in nursing, 3 contacthours of graduate level pharmacology education and professional certification are required. Family Planning NPs have until May, 2002 before a master's degree is required.
State
Initial Licensure/Certification
Renewal
New Mexico Successful completion of a 3 hour graduate level course in pharmacology. 15 hours of pharmacology within a 2 year period or as directed by the certifying organization.
New York 3 semester hours or equivalent in pharmacology in NP program to include drug management of clients in NP specialty and NY state and fed laws related to prescriptive authority and record keeping. No renewal requirement.
North Carolina 30 hours every two years with three hours focusing on the study of medical and social effects of substance abuse of prescription drugs, controlled substances and illicit drugs.
North Dakota 30 hours of pharmacotherapy education within 3 years before application. 15 hours of pharmacotherapy continuing education within at least 2 years.
Ohio Pilot programs only:30 hours of pharmacology within 3 years prior to application for approval. Pilot programs only:12 hours of pharmacology during 2 preceding years.
Oklahoma ARNPs, CNMs, and CNSs need 3 academic hours or 45 contact hours or the equivalent within 3 years immediately preceding the receipt of application for prescriptive authority. CNS must have a pharmacotherapeutic management course and 320 clock hours of preceptorship. CRNAs must provide evidence of a minimum of 15 units of CE in advanced pharmacology related to the administration of anesthesia as recognized by the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. ARNPs, CNMs, and CNSs must submit every 2 years concurrent with RN licensure evidence of attendance at 15 contact hours or 1 academic hour or the equivalent. For CRNAs, evidence must be submitted which shows attendance of a minimum of 8 units of CE, completed during the 2 previous years, in advanced pharmacology relating to the administration of anesthesia as recognized by the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists. 
Oregon
There are no specific renewal requirements. The BON requires 100 clock hours every 2 years for NP certificate renewal.
Rhode Island 30 hours of pharmacology 3 years immediately prior to application. 30 hours of pharmacology continuing education every 6 years.
Rhode Island 30 hours of pharmacology 3 years immediately prior to application. 30 hours of pharmacology continuing education every 6 years.
South Carolina 45 contact hours of education in pharmacotherapeutics within 2 years of application or authorization. 15 hours of continuing education contact hours every 2 years in pharmacotherapeutics.
State
Initial Licensure/Certification
Renewal
Tennessee Master's degree including 3 academic quarter hours or equivalent of advanced pharmacology. No renewal requirements.
Texas APNs wanting to prescribe must authorized to practice as an APN by BON and be approved by BON to prescribe (i.e. have prescriptive authority number).Requirements for initial authorization to practice as an APN are 1) licensure as RN, 2) national certification if graduated after 1/1/96, 3) 400 hours of current practice within 2 years (if not a new graduate), and 4) 20 hours of CE in advanced specialty area and role.Approval to prescribe requires courses in pharmaco-therapeutics, advanced assessment, diagnosis and management of problems within clinical specialty, and pathphysiology. NPs, CNMs and CRNAs are considered to have met on basis of courses completed in educational program. CNSs must demonstrate that have completed the courses.  Requirements for biennial renewal of authorization to practice as APNs are 1) current national certification if graduated after 1/1/96, 2)400 hours of current practice within the previous 2 years and 3) 20 hours of CE in advanced specialty area and role.Renewal of approval to prescribe requires five hours in pharmaco-therapeutics required for approval.
Utah 30 contact hours in pharmacology within 30 months immediately preceding application. Current consultation and referral plan.
Vermont Evidence that a pharmo-therapeutic offering with prescriptive authority focus has been completed. No renewal requirements.
Washington 30 hours of pharmacotherapeutic education within specialty area. 15 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics during previous 2 years.
West Virginia 45 contact hours of pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy of which 15 completed within 2 years before licensure. 8 contact hours of pharmacology during previous 2 years prior to renewal.
Wisconsin 45 contact hours in pharmacology therapeutics in preceding 3 years. 8 contact hours per year in clinical pharmacological/ therapeutics relevant to the APN's area of practice. Submission of evidence of continuing education to BON on a schedule consistent w/schedule established by the APN's a national certifying body.
Wyoming 30 contact hours in pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy or pharmacotherapeutics within the 5 year period immediately prior to application. 12 contact hours of pharmacology and/or pharmacotherapeutics during previous 2 years prior to renewal.

© Data compiled by Winifred Y. Carson, ANA Nurse Practice Counsel
Revised 2/00

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