Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (MA BORN) · NP

15 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birth month.

Below is exactly what Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (MA BORN) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from MBRN(B~5 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 15 hours is the total CME requirement. Massachusetts also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 15-hour total.

Domestic Violence[1]
Hrs vary
One-time
Domestic violence and sexual violence training required ONCE as a condition for licensure, renewal, revival or reinstatement (Massachusetts Chapter 260, eff. 7/1/2015). Not a recurring biennial requirement; satisfied once. Applies to APRNs as well as RNs. Training must cover the common physiological and psychological symptoms and effects on victims, and the availability of rape and sexual assault shelter/support services.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“applicants and licensees shall participate in at least one domestic violence and sexual violence training as a condition for licensure, renewal, revival or reinstatement of licensure.”
M.G.L. c. 112, § 264 (statute layer captured: massachusetts/np/mgl-112-264, names the board of registration in nursing — reaches APRNs as nursing licensees) + Chapter 260 board fact sheet (enforcement layer, one-time; no hour count in either layer)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia[2]
Hrs vary
One-time
One-time training in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia, required for nurses serving adult populations (Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018, eff. 11/7/2018). Required of applicants for initial licensure and as a condition of renewal. The statute does not specify a contact-hour count. Applies to APRNs as well as RNs.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”
Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018, § 6 (statute layer captured: massachusetts/np/acts-2018-c220 — '1-time completion', RN-scoped, adult populations; reaches NPs via the MA RN license 244 CMR 4.05(3)(b)1. requires for CNP renewal) + MA BORN renewal page (enforcement layer)See source [2] 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.

ConditionalPharmacology[3]
Hrs vary
Biennial

APRNs with prescriptive authority in Massachusetts

View sourceVerbatim from source
“If engaging in prescriptive practice, completion of training required pursuant to M.G.L. c. 94C, § 18(e).”
244 CMR 4.05(3)(b)5. (rule layer, CNP renewal condition) + M.G.L. c. 94C, § 18(e) (statute layer captured: massachusetts/np/mgl-94c-18 — 'as a prerequisite to obtaining or renewing their professional licenses'; topics (i)-(vi), no hour count in either layer)See source [3] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Massachusetts 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
1 contact hour = 60 consecutive minutes. APRNs must maintain current national certification as a condition of Board authorization to practice — certification renewal CE may satisfy part of the 15-hour requirement if the content is qualifying. CE records must be retained for 4 years.Source244 CMR 5.00 / 244 CMR 4.00[3]
Board-approved credit
Same content standards as RN CE (244 CMR 5.04). Qualifying CE must address nursing or health care content with written objectives and qualified faculty. Orientation and in-service activities do not qualify.Source244 CMR 5.04[4]
Documentation & audit

CE documentation must be retained for 4 years; self-maintained (not submitted to Board unless requested).

RN and APRN authorizations expire at 11:59 PM on the licensee's birthday in even-numbered years. Renewal opens 90 days before expiration.

Waivers & exemptions

New licensees (nurses, including APRNs, in their first/current registration period) are not required to submit evidence of continuing education for that current registration period.

FAQ
Does Massachusetts require pharmacology or prescribing CE for NPs?
Yes, for those with prescriptive authority. Massachusetts requires APRNs with prescriptive authority to complete CE on: counseling patients about side effects, addictive nature, and proper storage and disposal of prescription medications; appropriate prescription quantities for high-abuse-risk medications; and opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments. Neither the rule (244 CMR 4.05(3)(b)5.) nor the underlying statute (M.G.L. c. 94C, § 18(e)) specifies a contact-hour count for this training — it may be completed within the standard 15-hour CE total.
Is Massachusetts in the APRN Compact?
No. Massachusetts is not a member of either the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) or the APRN Compact. All nurses practicing in Massachusetts must hold Massachusetts-specific licenses from MA BORN, regardless of licenses held in other states.
Does Massachusetts require national certification for APRN renewal?
Yes. Under 244 CMR 4.00, all Massachusetts APRNs must maintain current national certification through a Board-approved national certifying organization to maintain their APRN authorization to practice. Loss of national certification results in loss of APRN authorization. Accepted certifying organizations include ANCC, AANPCB, NCC, and other MA BORN-recognized bodies for the applicable specialty.
Where can I renew my Massachusetts APRN authorization?
Massachusetts APRN and RN renewal is administered through the MA BORN online renewal system at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/renew-your-nursing-license. APRN authorization expires at 11:59 PM on the licensee's birthday in even-numbered years; renewal opens 90 days before expiration. CE records are self-maintained for four years. Questions may be directed to MA BORN through the contact resources at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursing.

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Other roles in Massachusetts

Nurse Practitioners CME requirements 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://www.mass.gov/info-details/chapter-260-training-in-domestic-sexual-violence
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “applicants and licensees shall participate in at least one domestic violence and sexual violence training as a condition for licensure, renewal, revival or reinstatement of licensure.”M.G.L. c. 112, § 264 (statute layer captured: massachusetts/np/mgl-112-264, names the board of registration in nursing — reaches APRNs as nursing licensees) + Chapter 260 board fact sheet (enforcement layer, one-time; no hour count in either layer) · Effective 2015-07-01
  2. Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing — Renew Your Nursing License (search index)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018, § 6 (statute layer captured: massachusetts/np/acts-2018-c220 — '1-time completion', RN-scoped, adult populations; reaches NPs via the MA RN license 244 CMR 4.05(3)(b)1. requires for CNP renewal) + MA BORN renewal page (enforcement layer) · Effective 2018-11-07
  3. Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing — Mandatory CE for Nurses (search index)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “If engaging in prescriptive practice, completion of training required pursuant to M.G.L. c. 94C, § 18(e).”244 CMR 4.05(3)(b)5. (rule layer, CNP renewal condition) + M.G.L. c. 94C, § 18(e) (statute layer captured: massachusetts/np/mgl-94c-18 — 'as a prerequisite to obtaining or renewing their professional licenses'; topics (i)-(vi), no hour count in either layer)
  4. 244 CMR 5.04 — Criteria for CE Programs/Offerings
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23

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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (MA BORN), 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 medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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