Indiana State Board of Nursing (INBON) · NP

Indiana CE Requirements for Nurse Practitioners

0 hours. Every two years. On a fixed renewal cycle.

Updated April 2026Sourced from INBON

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated August 18, 2026

These figures are compiled from official board materials — confirm current requirements with the Indiana State Board of Nursing (INBON)

Mandatory topics

No topic requirement applies to all NPs in Indiana. The conditional requirements below apply when the trigger described on each card is met.

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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.

ConditionalAll CME[1]
30 hrs
Biennial

NPs renewing prescriptive authority for the second or later time (subsection (b) of IC § 25-23-1-19.7)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“attest to the board that the applicant has successfully completed at least thirty (30) contact hours of continuing education. The hours must: (1) be completed within the two (2) years immediately preceding the renewal; (2) include at least eight (8) contact hours of pharmacology; and”
IC § 25-23-1-19.7(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[2]
8 hrs
Biennial

NPs renewing prescriptive authority for the second or later time (subsection (b) of IC § 25-23-1-19.7)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“during the two (2) years immediately preceding renewal, including at least eight (8) actual contact hours of pharmacology”
848 IAC 5-1-3(e)(1)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalAll CME[1]
15 hrs
Biennial

NPs renewing prescriptive authority for the first time, with prescriptive authority granted at least 12 months before the expiration date (subsection (a)(2) of IC § 25-23-1-19.7)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“attest to the board that the applicant has successfully completed at least fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education. The hours must: (A) be completed after the prescriptive authority was granted and before the expiration of the prescriptive authority; (B) include at least four (4) contact hours of pharmacology; and”
IC § 25-23-1-19.7(a)(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[1]
4 hrs
Biennial

NPs renewing prescriptive authority for the first time, with prescriptive authority granted at least 12 months before the expiration date (subsection (a)(2) of IC § 25-23-1-19.7)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“(A) be completed after the prescriptive authority was granted and before the expiration of the prescriptive authority; (B) include at least four (4) contact hours of pharmacology; and”
IC § 25-23-1-19.7(a)(2)(A)-(B)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral[1]
0 hrs
Biennial

NPs renewing prescriptive authority for the first time, with prescriptive authority granted less than 12 months before the expiration date (subsection (a)(1) of IC § 25-23-1-19.7)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“less than twelve (12) months before the expiration date of the prescriptive authority, no continuing education is required”
IC § 25-23-1-19.7(a)(1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Indiana State Board of Nursing (INBON) accepts ANCC Contact Hour toward the CE requirement for NPs, along with other credit it approves.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
CE from nationally approved sponsors of continuing education for nurses accepted. ANCC-accredited programs qualify.SourceIC § 25-23-1-19.7(b)(3)
Board-approved credit
CE approved by the board and listed by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency as approved hours.Source848 IAC 5-1-3(e)(1)
Documentation & audit

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

Waivers & exemptions

No CE required for first prescriptive authority renewal if authority was granted less than 12 months before expiration

FAQ
Does Indiana require CE for NP license renewal?
Indiana imposes no CE requirement for the APRN license itself. The CE obligation in Indiana attaches specifically to the prescriptive authority permit — not the APRN license. NPs who hold prescriptive authority must complete CE as a condition of renewing that permit: 30 contact hours (including 8 in pharmacology) for standard renewals, or 15 contact hours (including 4 in pharmacology) for a first renewal when authority was held for at least 12 months. NPs who do not hold prescriptive authority have no state-mandated CE requirement for APRN or RN license renewal. This is confirmed by IC § 25-23-1-19.7 and the absence of any CE mandate in IC § 25-23-1-16.1.
How many CE hours do Indiana NPs need for prescriptive authority renewal?
The answer depends on whether this is the NP's first renewal of prescriptive authority. For standard renewal (second renewal or later, or following any lapse), IC § 25-23-1-19.7(b) requires 30 contact hours within the two years immediately preceding renewal, including at least 8 hours of pharmacology. For a first renewal when prescriptive authority was granted at least 12 months before expiration, the requirement is 15 contact hours including at least 4 hours of pharmacology under IC § 25-23-1-19.7(a)(2). For a first renewal when authority was granted less than 12 months before expiration, no CE is required. (Note: Indiana's separate 2-hour opioid prescribing CE for Controlled Substance Registration renewal, under IC 35-48-3-3.5, expired July 1, 2025 and no longer applies.) Be aware that the administrative rule 848 IAC 5-1-3 states 8 pharmacology hours without distinguishing first-renewal applicants — the statute controls, but NPs should contact INBON to confirm how the board processes first-renewal applications.
Does Indiana require a collaborative agreement for NP prescribing?
Yes. Indiana requires NPs seeking or renewing prescriptive authority to maintain a current written collaborative practice agreement with a licensed practitioner. The agreement requirements are set out in 848 IAC 5-1-1(a)(7) and include contact information for both parties, office locations authorized for prescribing, certification documentation, chart-sampling requirements (at least a 5% random sample of charts and prescribed medications), and regular prescribing practice reviews. The collaborative agreement must be submitted as part of the prescriptive authority renewal application under 848 IAC 5-1-3(e)(2). Indiana does not have independent prescriptive authority for NPs — the collaborative agreement is a condition of both initial and renewal prescriptive authority, not a transitional requirement.
Is Indiana in the APRN Compact?
No. Indiana is not a member of the APRN Compact, which is a separate agreement from the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). Indiana is an NLC member state, meaning Indiana RNs (including those who are also NPs) may be eligible for a multistate RN license. However, the APRN Compact — which would allow NPs to hold a single multistate APRN license valid in member states — does not include Indiana. NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in Indiana must hold a state-specific Indiana APRN license and, if prescribing, a separate Indiana prescriptive authority permit. NPs practicing in multiple states should consult each state's APRN licensing requirements individually, as compact reciprocity for APRN practice is not available in Indiana.

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Other roles in Indiana

CE requirements for Nurse Practitioners in other states

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. https://iga.in.gov/laws/current/ic/titles/25/#25-23-1-19.7
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “attest to the board that the applicant has successfully completed at least thirty (30) contact hours of continuing education. The hours must: (1) be completed within the two (2) years immediately preceding the renewal; (2) include at least eight (8) contact hours of pharmacology; and”IC § 25-23-1-19.7(b)
    “attest to the board that the applicant has successfully completed at least fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education. The hours must: (A) be completed after the prescriptive authority was granted and before the expiration of the prescriptive authority; (B) include at least four (4) contact hours of pharmacology; and”IC § 25-23-1-19.7(a)(2)
    “(A) be completed after the prescriptive authority was granted and before the expiration of the prescriptive authority; (B) include at least four (4) contact hours of pharmacology; and”IC § 25-23-1-19.7(a)(2)(A)-(B)
    “less than twelve (12) months before the expiration date of the prescriptive authority, no continuing education is required”IC § 25-23-1-19.7(a)(1)
  2. 848 IAC Article 5 — Advanced Practice Nurses; Prescriptive Authority (official Indiana Administrative Rules portal)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-07-03
    Show verbatim text
    “during the two (2) years immediately preceding renewal, including at least eight (8) actual contact hours of pharmacology”848 IAC 5-1-3(e)(1)

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

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