New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON) · NP

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

Below is exactly what New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from NHBN(~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 60 hours is the total CME requirement. New Hampshire also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 60-hour total.

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 401.03. 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 401.03See source [1] in Primary Sources
General CME[2]
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. 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 403.01See source [2] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your New Hampshire cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, New Hampshire 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
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

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

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

FAQ
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?
New Hampshire's APRN Compact membership status was not confirmed during the Layer 1 data scrape. New Hampshire is a member of the base NLC (Nursing Licensure Compact), which governs the underlying RN license. NPs who practice in multiple states should contact NHBON through OPLC at (603) 271-2323 to confirm whether New Hampshire participates in the APRN Compact.
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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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. N.H. Admin. Code § Nur 401.03 — Specific Renewal Requirements for APRN
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    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
  2. N.H. Admin. Code § Nur 403.01 — Continuing Education Requirements for LPN, RN, and APRN
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “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

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 New Hampshire Board of Nursing (NHBON), 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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