Below is exactly what Colorado Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026
Colorado has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 0-hour total.
These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.
NPs with prescriptive authority (APRN with Schedule II–V prescribing) in Colorado
“Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with prescriptive authority must complete 2 contact hours in Substance Use Prevention with each renewal cycle.”
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Colorado Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.
| Credit system | Notes |
|---|---|
ANCC Contact Hour | ANCC contact hours from approved providers. National certification maintenance CE is accepted to the extent it satisfies the 2-hour Substance Use Prevention requirement. |
Board-approved credit | Colorado Board of Nursing-approved CE. The Substance Use Prevention requirement should be met through board-approved or ANCC-accredited programming on substance use topics. |
Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.
No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Colorado.
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.
Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.
“Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with prescriptive authority must complete 2 contact hours in Substance Use Prevention with each renewal cycle.”3 CCR 716-1: F-2.i