New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON) · NP

New Hampshire CE Requirements for Nurse Practitioners

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from NHBON

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 4, 2026

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 60 hours is the total CE requirement. New Hampshire also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Pharmacology[1]
5 hrs
Biennial
At least 5 of the 30 additional APRN CE hours must be education in pharmacology appropriate to the specialty practice area, per Nur 403.01(d). This is part of the 30 additional APRN hours (not the 30 RN hours), making pharmacology part of the 60-hour combined total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Document at least 30 educational contact hours to satisfy the requirements of RN continuing competence and an additional 30 hours, 5 of which shall be education in pharmacology within 2 years immediately prior to date of application”
N.H. Admin. Code Nur 401.03(a)(1); Nur 403.01(d)See source [1] in Primary Sources
General[1]
20 hrs
Biennial
At least 20 of the 30 additional APRN CE hours must be specific to the NP's specialty practice area, per Nur 403.01(d). These specialty-specific hours are part of the 30 additional APRN hours.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least 20 of the 30 hours shall be specific to the specialty practice area, and 5 hours shall be education in pharmacology appropriate to the specialty practice area.”
N.H. Admin. Code Nur 403.01(d)See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON) accepts ANCC Contact Hour toward the CE requirement for NPs, along with other credit it approves.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
Same accepted CE activities as RN renewal (Nur 403.01) apply. Current national certification may count as 30 of the 60 total hours. Specialty-specific hours must be relevant to the APRN's practice area.SourceN.H. Admin. Code § Nur 401.03 / § Nur 403.01
Board-approved credit
Academic coursework (1 credit = 15 contact hours), publications, professional papers, and other Nur 403.01-approved activities are accepted. All activities count toward meeting the 60-hour combined total and must fall within the 2 years preceding application.SourceN.H. Admin. Code § Nur 403.01
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

National certification may substitute for 30 of the 60 required CE hours

FAQ
Do New Hampshire NPs need separate CE from RNs?
Yes. NH NPs must complete 60 contact hours per biennial cycle: 30 hours (RN requirement) + 30 additional APRN hours. Of the additional 30 APRN hours, at least 20 must be specialty-specific and at least 5 must be pharmacology appropriate to the specialty. Current national certification may be counted as 30 of the 60 hours, reducing the CE accumulation burden for certified NPs.
Does New Hampshire require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Yes. N.H. Admin. Code § Nur 401.03 and Nur 403.01 require at least 5 hours of pharmacology CE appropriate to the specialty practice area as part of the 30 additional APRN CE hours per biennial cycle. This applies to all New Hampshire NPs, not just those with specific prescriptive authority — it is a universal APRN-layer requirement. It counts toward (not in addition to) the 30 additional APRN hours.
Is New Hampshire in the APRN Compact?
No. New Hampshire is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) — which governs the underlying RN license — but is not a member of the APRN Compact as of 2026. New Hampshire NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must obtain individual APRN licensure in those states.
Does New Hampshire require NPs to maintain national certification for APRN renewal?
Yes. N.H. Admin. Code § Nur 401.03 requires current national certification for NPs licensed after September 1984. NPs with lifetime certifications must demonstrate ongoing participation in the certification process. Active certification may also be counted as 30 of the 60 required CE hours per Nur 401.03(a), offering a CE credit pathway for certified NPs.
Where can I check my New Hampshire NP/APRN license renewal date?
New Hampshire NPs can check their license status and renewal date through the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) at https://www.oplc.nh.gov/nursing. APRN renewal information is also available from OPLC at (603) 271-2323 or oplclicensing10@oplc.nh.gov. Renewal is due prior to midnight on the licensee's birthday each biennial cycle.

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Other roles in New Hampshire

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://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rules/state_agencies/nur100-800.html
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “Document at least 30 educational contact hours to satisfy the requirements of RN continuing competence and an additional 30 hours, 5 of which shall be education in pharmacology within 2 years immediately prior to date of application”N.H. Admin. Code Nur 401.03(a)(1); Nur 403.01(d)
    “At least 20 of the 30 hours shall be specific to the specialty practice area, and 5 hours shall be education in pharmacology appropriate to the specialty practice area.”N.H. Admin. Code Nur 403.01(d)

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 New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON), 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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