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CE Requirements

New Jersey Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education Requirements

See required hours, mandatory topics and exceptions for your renewal.

Last researched

Showing findings with official source evidence. Check the conditions for each requirement and confirm your circumstances with the board.

Use the boxes to track your preparation. Checking an item does not verify compliance.

Continuing education

  • The Board will accept courses completed through your employer if the courses carry a credit-hour designation (1 contact hour per 60 minutes) and the employer provides a certificate of successful completion; the employer must be approved by the ANCC.

    Applies when: For NJ active RN/APN license renewal CE courses completed through the licensee’s employer.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      ** The Board will accept courses completed through your employer provided that the courses carry a credit-hour designation, i.e., one contact hour for each 60 minutes of instruction, and the employer provides you with a certificate of successful completion.
    2. 2. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      The employer must be approved by the ANCC.

  • Continuing education courses related to nursing must be approved by a credentialing agency accredited by the American Nurses Crediting Servises (ANCC).

    Applies when: For NJ nursing license renewal CE used by licensees/renewing cohort (includes APNs as covered in the Board’s renewal CE materials).

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      ** Continuing education courses related to nursing must be approved by a credentialing agency accredited by the American Nurses Crediting Servises (ANCC).

  • Retain proof of course completion in the event that the Board requests it for audit purposes.

    Applies when: For NJ active nursing license renewal CE documentation.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      Retain proof of course completion in the event that the Board requests it for audit purposes.

  • Advanced Practice Nurses must complete 30 contact hours of continuing professional education every two years to renew.

    Applies when: For NJ APN renewal (active license renewal CE requirement).

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      13:37-5.3, Advanced Practice Nurses, Registered Nurses (including Forensic Nurses-CSA) and Licensed Practical Nurses are required to complete 30 contact hours of continuing professional education every two years.

  • CE courses must be offered by an approved provider.

    Applies when: For CE used to meet NJ nursing renewal CE requirements (including APN renewal CE).

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      These courses must be offered by an approved provider.

  • First time APNs are not required to complete continuing education.

    Applies when: For first-time APN renewal (including those with anesthesia specialty who were formally CRNAs).

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      First time APNs (including those with anesthesia specialty who were formally CRNAs) are not required to complete continuing education and should answer "yes" to this question.

  • Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement; however, compliance with CE is necessary to make a change from inactive to active status.

    Applies when: For NJ nursing licensees in inactive status changing to active.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement, however, compliance with the CE requirements will be necessary in order to make a change from inactive to active status

  • CE courses must be offered by an approved provider.

    Applies when: For CE used toward NJ nursing renewal CE requirements.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      These courses must be offered by an approved provider.

  • Advanced Practice Nurses are required to complete 30 contact hours of continuing professional education every two years.

    Applies when: For NJ APN renewal CE.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      13:37-5.3, Advanced Practice Nurses, Registered Nurses (including Forensic Nurses-CSA) and Licensed Practical Nurses are required to complete 30 contact hours of continuing professional education every two years.

  • Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement; however, compliance with CE is necessary to change from inactive to active status.

    Applies when: For NJ inactive-to-active change.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement, however, compliance with the CE requirements will be necessary in order to make a change from inactive to active status

Records and audits

  • Licensees are required to maintain documentation for at least 4 years of continuing education hours to verify program attendance and/or activity completion.

    Applies when: For NJ nursing CE documentation that must be retained for verification/audit purposes.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      13:40A-5.8, licensees or certificate holders are required to maintain documentation for at least four years of continuing education hours completed in order to verify program attendance and/or activity completion.

Renewal steps

  • You will have the opportunity to renew your APN and/or Forensic nursing credential(s) on the Review Group segment of your RN renewal.

    Applies when: During RN renewal using the Review Group segment.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      You will have the opportunity to renew your APN and/or Forensic nursing credential(s) on the Review Group segment of your RN renewal.

  • You will have the opportunity to renew your APN credential(s) on the Review Group segment of your RN renewal.

    Applies when: For APNs renewing through the RN renewal flow.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      You will have the opportunity to renew your APN and/or Forensic nursing credential(s) on the Review Group segment of your RN renewal.

  • You will have the opportunity to renew your APN and/or Forensic nursing credential(s) on the Review Group segment of your RN renewal.

    Applies when: For APNs renewing through the RN renewal flow.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      You will have the opportunity to renew your APN and/or Forensic nursing credential(s) on the Review Group segment of your RN renewal.

Late, expired or inactive licenses

  • Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement; however, compliance with CE is necessary in order to make a change from inactive to active status.

    Applies when: When moving from inactive to active status.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement, however, compliance with the CE requirements will be necessary in order to make a change from inactive to active status

  • Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement, but compliance is necessary to change from inactive to active status.

    Applies when: For NJ inactive-to-active status change.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      Inactive status licensees are exempt from the CE requirement, however, compliance with the CE requirements will be necessary in order to make a change from inactive to active status

Board and official links

  • Health care boards are prohibited from issuing or renewing a license without first determining that no information exists on file in the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) that may disqualify the applicant from being licensed or otherwise authorized to practice.

    Applies when: For NJ license issuance/renewal applications subject to P.L. 2021, c. 335 NPDB screening.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      BOARD ALERTS Pursuant to P.L. 2021, c. 335, all health care boards are prohibited from issuing or renewing a license without first determining that no information exists on file in the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) which may disqualify the applicant from being licensed or otherwise authorized to practice as a health care professional.

  • The board licenses registered nurses and practical nurses, and regulates the nursing profession in New Jersey. The board certifies advanced practice nurses.

    Applies when: APN certification and regulation in NJ.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      This board licenses registered nurses and practical nurses, and regulates the nursing profession in New Jersey.
    2. 2. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      The board certifies advanced practice nurses, sexual assault forensic nurses, and certified homemaker-home health aides.

  • New Jersey Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses and practical nurses and regulates the nursing profession in New Jersey.

    Applies when: APN certification and renewal context in NJ.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      This board licenses registered nurses and practical nurses, and regulates the nursing profession in New Jersey.

  • NJ certifies clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, and master's prepared certified registered nurse anesthetists as Advanced Practice Nurses.

    Applies when: Board scope for APN certification in NJ.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      Please note that presently, New Jersey certifies clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners and master's prepared certified registered nurse anesthetists as Advanced Practice Nurses.

  • New Jersey Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses and practical nurses and regulates the nursing profession in New Jersey.

    Applies when: APN certification and renewal matters in NJ.

    Source evidence
    1. 1. njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗
      This board licenses registered nurses and practical nurses, and regulates the nursing profession in New Jersey.
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