View sourceVerbatim from source
“2022 – Total 24 hours required for RNs and APRNs (15 hours in pharmacology for APRNs)”
Below is exactly what DC Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 11, 2026
For NPs, 24 hours is the total CME requirement. District of Columbia also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 24-hour total.
“2022 – Total 24 hours required for RNs and APRNs (15 hours in pharmacology for APRNs)”
“2 hours in LGTBQ or Cultural Awareness”
“Ten percent (10%) of the total shall be in subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed necessary.”
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, District of Columbia 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 | DC Board of Nursing recognizes CE from ANCC-accredited providers. National certification maintenance CE may count toward the DC 24-hour total if from recognized providers.Sourcehttps://dchealth.dc.gov/service/education-resources-nurses[3] |
Board-approved credit | CE from board-recognized organizations, accredited educational institutions, and AMA-certified CME.Sourcehttps://dchealth.dc.gov/service/education-resources-nurses[3] |
Effective June 16, 2024, DC nursing licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month rather than a fixed date (D.C. Law 25-191).
APRNs who have not practiced in DC during the previous licensing cycle or who do not see patients in clinical settings may qualify for exemptions.
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your birth month 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.
“Total 24 hours required for RNs and APRNs (15 hours in pharmacology for APRNs)”DC BON CE Methods of Compliance
“2022 – Total 24 hours required for RNs and APRNs (15 hours in pharmacology for APRNs)”DC BON CE Methods of Compliance 2022/2023; 2026 RN/APRN Renewal Notice ('Fifteen (15) hours in pharmacology'); 17 DCMR § 5903.5(c) (verified 2026-07-03)
“2 hours in LGTBQ or Cultural Awareness”DC BON CE Methods of Compliance 2022/2023; D.C. Code § 3-1205.10(b)(5)(A) (statutory 2-credit LGBTQ mandate); 2026 RN/APRN Renewal Notice ('2 HOURS of LGBTQ') (verified 2026-07-03)
“Ten percent (10%) of the total shall be in subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed necessary.”17 DCMR § 5406.1(b)/.2 (current)