Maine State Board of Nursing · NP

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

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MSBN~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 50 hours is the total CME requirement. Maine also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 50-hour total.

General CME[1]
30 hrs
Biennial
A minimum of 30 of the required 50 CE hours must be Category I CE — planned educational activities sponsored by professional bodies such as ANCC, AANP, AMCB, AANA, NONPF, MSNA, APA, AMA, ACCME, or Committee of Continuing Medical Education of the Maine Medical Association. Online educational activities offering Category I contact hours also qualify. 1 contact hour = 50 minutes of participation.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of 30 contact hours must be in Category I, which is defined in subsection 2(A).”
Maine Board of Nursing Chapter 8, Sec. 8.1.BSee 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[1]
3 hrs
Biennial

APRNs with prescriptive authority in Maine

View sourceVerbatim from source
“By December 31, 2017 and thereafter advanced practice registered nurses with prescriptive authority must complete 3 contact hours of Category I continuing education on the prescribing of opioid medication.”
Maine Board of Nursing Chapter 8, Sec. 8.1.BSee source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[2]
15 hrs
Biennial

APRNs who do not hold or use prescriptive authority

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Practitioners who do not prescribe medications must submit documentation of 15 contact hours of continuing education in pharmacology every two years when they renew their license.”
Maine Board of Nursing APRN FAQs / Chapter 8See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Maine 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
Category I CE
min 30 hrs
ANCC-accredited CE, AANP CE, academic credit courses related to practice area, and online CE offering Category I contact hours. 1 contact hour = 50 minutes of participation. At least 30 of 50 hours must be Category I.SourceMaine Board of Nursing Chapter 8, Sec. 8.2.A[1]
Category II CE
max 20 hrs
up to 20 hours may be Category II activities including exhibits/presentations, journal publications, self-instruction (reading advanced nursing journals, audio/video, programmed instruction), peer review participation, grand rounds presentations, APRN program precepting (1 hour/hour), and health-related research. Journal articles/chapters: 10 contact hours each. Presenter credit: one-time 10 contact hours for initial presentation preparation.SourceMaine Board of Nursing Chapter 8, Sec. 8.2.B[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

CE must be targeted for the APRN's level of practice and clinical specialty. Basic staff education (e.g., CPR) and general professional development courses do not count toward the 50-hour APRN CE requirement.

FAQ
What is the Category I and Category II CE structure for Maine APRNs?
Maine Chapter 8 divides APRN CE into two categories. Category I (minimum 30 of 50 hours) includes formal planned educational programs from recognized organizations such as ANCC, AANP, and AMA-accredited bodies, online CE programs offering Category I hours, and academic courses related to the practice area. Category II (up to 20 of 50 hours) includes presentations to health professionals, published articles, self-study activities, peer review, grand rounds, precepting APRN students (1 hour per hour precepted), and health-related research. One contact hour equals 50 minutes.
Does Maine require opioid prescribing CE for NPs?
Yes, for those with prescriptive authority. APRNs who hold prescriptive authority must complete 3 contact hours of Category I CE on opioid prescribing within their 50-hour biennial total, per Maine Chapter 8 effective December 31, 2017. APRNs without prescriptive authority do not face this requirement but must instead complete 15 pharmacology contact hours within the 50-hour total.
Is Maine in the APRN Compact?
No. Maine is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) — which governs the underlying RN license — but is not a member of the APRN Compact. Maine NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must obtain individual APRN licensure in those states.
Where can I find Maine APRN renewal information?
Maine APRN licensing and CE resources are available at https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/licensing/advanced-practice-rn/index.html. The APRN FAQs page at https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/licensing/advanced-practice-rn/faq.html provides CE-specific guidance. Chapter 8 (the APRN regulation) is available at https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/laws-rules/index.html. All renewal applications must be completed online effective January 1, 2020.

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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. Maine Board of Nursing Chapter 8 — Regulations Relating to Advanced Practice Registered Nursing
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-24
    Show verbatim text
    “A minimum of 30 contact hours must be in Category I, which is defined in subsection 2(A).”Maine Board of Nursing Chapter 8, Sec. 8.1.B · Effective 2020-02-26
    “By December 31, 2017 and thereafter advanced practice registered nurses with prescriptive authority must complete 3 contact hours of Category I continuing education on the prescribing of opioid medication.”Maine Board of Nursing Chapter 8, Sec. 8.1.B · Effective 2017-12-31
  2. Maine State Board of Nursing — APRN FAQs
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Practitioners who do not prescribe medications must submit documentation of 15 contact hours of continuing education in pharmacology every two years when they renew their license.”Maine Board of Nursing APRN FAQs / Chapter 8

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 Maine State 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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