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

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 RNs, 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. 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/rn/mgl-112-264, names the board of registration in nursing) + Chapter 260 board fact sheet (enforcement layer, 'at least one … training' = one-time; neither layer sets an hour count)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.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“applicants for **initial licensure** must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments”
Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018, § 6 (statute layer captured: massachusetts/rn/acts-2018-c220 — '1-time completion', RNs 'who serve adult populations') amending M.G.L. c. 112, § 74See source [2] in Primary Sources
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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 of organized learning activity per 244 CMR 5.04. 1 CEU = 10 contact hours; 1 semester hour = 15 contact hours; 2 clinical hours (100 minutes) = 1 contact hour. CE must meet learner objective and content quality standards under 244 CMR 5.04.Source244 CMR 5.04[3]
Board-approved credit
nursing science/practice, nursing education, healthcare research, management/administration, social/economic/political/legal healthcare aspects, health education, formal program requirements, and competency-improving content. Orientation and employer-specific in-services do not qualify. Faculty must document subject-matter competency and adult education knowledge.Source244 CMR 5.04[3]
Documentation & audit

Evidence of CE completion must be retained for the most recent 2 consecutive renewal periods (4 years) — not submitted to the Board unless requested.

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

Waivers & exemptions

New licensees are not required to submit evidence of continuing education for the registration period in which they were first licensed.

FAQ
What CE qualifies for Massachusetts RN renewal?
Under 244 CMR 5.04, qualifying CE must have written learner objectives, address nursing or health care content (including nursing science and practice, research, management, and legal aspects of care), and be developed and delivered by qualified faculty. One CEU equals 10 contact hours; one semester credit equals 15 contact hours. Orientation and employer-specific standard operating procedures do not qualify. Providers must furnish a completion record specifying the provider, title, date, contact hours, and successful completion.
Is Massachusetts in the NLC nursing compact?
No. Massachusetts is not a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). All nurses practicing in Massachusetts must hold a Massachusetts-specific RN license from MA BORN, regardless of any compact licenses held in other states. There is no multistate license option for Massachusetts nurses.
When does a Massachusetts RN license expire?
Massachusetts RN and APRN licenses expire at 11:59 PM on the licensee's birthday in even-numbered years. LPN licenses expire in odd-numbered years. Online renewal opens 90 days before the expiration date. Nurses should confirm their renewal date through the MA BORN portal at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/renew-your-nursing-license.
Does Massachusetts require domestic violence CE for nurses?
Yes. Massachusetts requires all licensed nurses to complete training on domestic violence and sexual violence once, as a condition of licensure, renewal, revival, or reinstatement — this is a one-time requirement, not a recurring biennial obligation. Neither the statute (M.G.L. c. 112, § 264) nor the Chapter 260 board materials specify a contact-hour count for this training.

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Other roles in Massachusetts

Registered Nurses 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/rn/mgl-112-264, names the board of registration in nursing) + Chapter 260 board fact sheet (enforcement layer, 'at least one … training' = one-time; neither layer sets an hour count) · Effective 2015-07-01
  2. https://www.mass.gov/how-to/renew-your-nursing-license
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “applicants for **initial licensure** must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments”Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018, § 6 (statute layer captured: massachusetts/rn/acts-2018-c220 — '1-time completion', RNs 'who serve adult populations') amending M.G.L. c. 112, § 74 · Effective 2018-11-07
  3. 244 CMR 5.04 — Criteria for Qualification of Continuing Education 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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