Georgia Board of Nursing · NP

30 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Georgia Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from GBN~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

Georgia has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 30-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Georgia cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
1 hr
Biennial

APRNs authorized under a nurse protocol agreement to issue a prescription drug or device order for hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds thereof

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Effective July 1, 2024, an APRN authorized under a nurse protocol agreement to issue a prescription drug or device order for hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds thereof is required 1 additional hour of continuing education biennially in the appropriate ordering and use of hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds thereof.”
O.C.G.A. § 43-26-9 (2024 amendment)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Georgia 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 systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
ANCC-accredited CE from board-approved providers accepted. CE tracked via CE Broker (cebroker.com).SourceO.C.G.A. § 43-26-9[1]
Board-approved credit
CE from Georgia Board of Nursing-approved providers accepted. The 1-hour APRN opioid CE must be from an appropriate CE provider covering the topic of hydrocodone/oxycodone prescribing.SourceO.C.G.A. § 43-26-9[1]
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

Maintenance of national certification or recertification by a board-recognized national certifying body satisfies the base 30-hour CE requirement for APRN renewal (same five-pathway framework as RN renewal).

Completion of an accredited academic program of study in nursing or a related field satisfies the base continuing competency requirement.

Employer competency verification from a licensed health care facility combined with 500+ nursing practice hours satisfies the base requirement.

FAQ
Does Georgia require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Georgia does not impose a general biennial pharmacology CE requirement on all NPs with prescriptive authority. The 2024 amendment requires only one contact hour specifically on hydrocodone/oxycodone ordering, and only for APRNs whose nurse protocol agreements specifically authorize prescribing those medications. NPs without hydrocodone or oxycodone prescribing authority in their protocol are not subject to this requirement. There is no broader pharmacology CE mandate for Georgia NPs.
Is Georgia in the APRN Compact?
No. Georgia is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) — which governs the underlying RN license — but is not a member of the APRN Compact. Georgia NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must obtain individual APRN licensure in those states. The NLC multistate license allows practice as a registered nurse in member states, but APRN authority requires separate APRN credentials in each state.
Does Georgia require NPs to maintain national certification for APRN renewal?
Yes. Georgia requires APRNs to hold and maintain national certification from a board-recognized certifying body as a condition of APRN licensure. National certification maintenance is one of the five continuing competency pathways and is how many Georgia NPs satisfy their biennial renewal requirement. Accepted certifying organizations include ANCC, AANPCB (AANP), NCC, PNCB, and other board-recognized bodies.
Where can I check my Georgia NP license renewal date and report CE?
Georgia requires CE to be reported through CE Broker at www.cebroker.com. License status verification is available through the Georgia Secretary of State's online verification tool at https://verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/. For renewal and CE questions, the Georgia Board of Nursing can be reached at (404) 424-9966 or (844) 753-7825.

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Sources & Citations

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.

  1. Georgia Board of Nursing — Nursing Continuing Education (search-indexed)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Effective July 1, 2024, an APRN authorized under a nurse protocol agreement to issue a prescription drug or device order for hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds thereof is required 1 additional hour of continuing education biennially in the appropriate ordering and use of hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds thereof.”O.C.G.A. § 43-26-9 (2024 amendment) · Effective 2024-07-01

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Georgia Board of Nursing, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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