Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) · NP

6 hours. Every year. On a fixed renewal cycle.

Below is exactly what Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from LSBN(~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 6 hours is the total CME requirement. Louisiana also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 6-hour total.

Pharmacology[1]
6 hrs
Annual
APRNs with prescriptive authority must obtain 6 contact hours of CE in pharmacotherapeutics in their advanced nursing role and population foci annually. Since renewal is biennial, audited APRNs must provide 12 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics CE for the 2-year period. The pharmacotherapeutics CE must be delineated on the certificate — general CE certificates do not satisfy this requirement.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“each year APRNs with prescriptive authority must obtain six contact hours of CE in pharmacotherapeutics in their advanced nursing role and population foci.”
La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLVII-4513See source [1] in Primary Sources
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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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[2]
3 hrs
Annual

APRNs with active prescriptive authority AND an active controlled dangerous substance (CDS) license

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Senate Bill 55 (Act 76) of the 2017 Louisiana Legislature mandates that prescribers of controlled substances in Louisiana obtain three credit hours of continuing education (CE) as a prerequisite of license renewal. This is a one-time requirement.”
Louisiana Act 76 (SB 55, 2017) / LSBN APRN CE requirementsSee source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Louisiana 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
Pharmacotherapeutics CE must be accredited by ANCC or approved by a board-approved national certifying organization or LSBN-approved provider. The certificate must clearly indicate the number of contact hours awarded specifically for pharmacotherapeutics/pharmacology content and must include an accreditation statement.SourceLa. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLVII-4513[1]
Board-approved credit
Pharmacotherapeutics CE may also come from board-approved national certifying organizations. Certificate requirements for APRN pharmacotherapeutics audit: provider name, APRN name, CE topic/title clearly indicating pharmacology/pharmacotherapeutics, contact hours awarded specifically for that content, date awarded, and accreditation/approval statement from recognized organization.SourceLa. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLVII-4513[1]
Documentation & audit

CE records must be retained for 5 years.

Waivers & exemptions

APRNs who are nationally board certified meet Louisiana RN renewal requirements through certification maintenance — they do not need to separately complete 30 CE contact hours for the RN credential.

APRNs initially licensed under grandfathering provisions (R.S. 37:912(B)(3)(4)) who are not advanced practice certified must submit documentation per § 4507.E rather than certification renewal documentation.

FAQ
Does Louisiana require pharmacology CE for NPs?
Yes. APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete 6 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics CE annually per La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLVII-4513. The CE must address pharmacotherapeutics in the APRN's advanced nursing role and population focus, and this must be clearly indicated on the certificate. CE audited APRNs must present 12 hours for the 2-year period. Certificates must include a statement of accreditation by ANCC or a board-approved national certifying organization.
Is Louisiana in the APRN Compact?
No. Louisiana is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) — which governs the underlying RN license — but is not a member of the APRN Compact. Louisiana NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must obtain APRN licensure in those states. The NLC multistate license applies to the RN credential only.
Does Louisiana require national certification for APRN renewal?
Yes. La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLVII-4507 requires APRNs to demonstrate current national certification from a board-recognized certifying body as a condition of APRN license renewal. Certification must be maintained and documentation of renewal submitted to LSBN. An APRN whose certification lapses has an inactive APRN license until certification is reinstated and documented.
Where can I find Louisiana APRN renewal information?
Louisiana APRN CE guidance is available at the LSBN website at https://www.lsbn.state.la.us, including the CE FAQs page, the APRN Required CEs PDF, and the CE Brochure. LSBN can be reached at (225) 755-7500, and renewal questions can be sent via the message center in the Nurse Portal under the category "Renewal." LSBN's address for mailed audit documents is 17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.

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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. Louisiana State Board of Nursing — CE/Nursing Practice Requirements FAQ
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “each year APRNs with prescriptive authority must obtain six contact hours of CE in pharmacotherapeutics in their advanced nursing role and population foci.”La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § XLVII-4513
  2. LSBN CE Requirements for APRNs with Controlled Substance Authority
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-24
    Show verbatim text
    “Senate Bill 55 (Act 76) of the 2017 Louisiana Legislature mandates that prescribers of controlled substances in Louisiana obtain three credit hours of continuing education (CE) as a prerequisite of license renewal. This is a one-time requirement.”Louisiana Act 76 (SB 55, 2017) / LSBN APRN CE requirements

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 Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN), 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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