New Jersey Board of Nursing (NJBON) · NP

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

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from NJBN(~5 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. New Jersey also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
1 hr
Biennial
1 contact hour per biennial renewal on prescription opioid drugs, including alternatives and risks of opioid abuse. Same as RN requirement. Counts toward the 30-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“1 hour of continuing education on the prescription of opioid drugs, including alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain, and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion”
N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries[1]
1 hr
Biennial
1 contact hour per biennial renewal in Organ and Tissue Recovery and Donation. This is an APN-specific mandatory topic in addition to what RNs must complete. Counts toward the 30-hour APN total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“1 hour of continuing education in Organ and Tissue Recovery and Donation”
NJBON APN CE requirementSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Palliative care[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2-hour course on End-of-Life care each biennial renewal. APN-specific mandatory requirement that does not apply to general RN renewal. Counts toward the 30-hour APN total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A 2-hour course on End-of-Life care each renewal”
NJBON APN CE requirementSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your New Jersey cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
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[1]
10 hrs
Biennial

APNs who hold or seek independent practice status (effective March 30, 2026)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“10 pharmacology continuing education hours each biennial period”
NJ APN Independent Practice Law (March 30, 2026)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[1]
14 hrs
Biennial

APNs applying for independent practice status for the first time

View sourceVerbatim from source
“14 continuing education hours in pharmacology related to controlled substances (including pharmacologic therapy and addiction prevention and management) [one-time requirement for APNs seeking independent practice status]”
NJ APN Independent Practice Law (March 30, 2026)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
8 hrs
Biennial

DEA-registered APNs (beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners... are required 8 hours on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of a substance use disorder, one-time only.”
DEA MATE Act / 21 U.S.C. § 823(m)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[1]
30 hrs
Biennial

APNs whose initial pharmacology coursework is more than 5 years old at time of APN certification application

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Nurses whose pharmacology course is more than five years old must provide either a new graduate-level 3-credit pharmacology course completed within five years prior to application, OR continuing education program certificate(s) for 30 contact hours...”
NJBON APN Certification pageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, New Jersey 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
CE must be approved by an ANCC-accredited credentialing agency. Employer-provided courses acceptable if ANCC-approved with credit designations.SourceN.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3
Board-approved credit
Same 16 approved credit methods as RN CE (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(d)). APN-specific mandatory topics (opioid, organ donation, end-of-life) must be included within the 30-hour total.SourceN.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(d)
Documentation & audit

Documentation retention: Board recommends retaining certificates at least 5 years.

Waivers & exemptions

Inactive license status

Hardship waiver

CE carryover

FAQ
Does New Jersey require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Yes, in two contexts. First, APNs seeking or holding independent practice status (the new framework effective March 30, 2026) must complete 14 hours of pharmacology CE one-time at initial application, plus 10 hours per biennial renewal. These pharmacology hours are additive to the standard 30-hour APN CE. Second, APNs whose initial graduate pharmacology coursework is more than 5 years old at the time of APN certification application must meet pharmacology currency requirements through a new graduate-level course or 30 CE hours in pharmacology-focused content.
Is New Jersey in the APRN Compact?
No. New Jersey is not a member of the APRN Compact and is also not a member of the base NLC (Nursing Licensure Compact). All nurses and APNs practicing in New Jersey must hold New Jersey-issued licenses. There is no multistate license option available through New Jersey.
What is the new APN independent practice law in New Jersey?
New Jersey enacted an APN independent practice law effective March 30, 2026, allowing APNs to apply for independent practice status — removing the requirement for a collaborative physician agreement for prescribing. APNs seeking this status must complete a one-time 14-hour pharmacology CE in controlled substances-related content. APNs holding independent practice status must complete 10 pharmacology CE hours per biennial renewal in addition to the standard 30-hour APN CE. This is the most significant recent change to New Jersey APN practice regulation.
Where can I find New Jersey APN renewal and CE information?
New Jersey APN certification and CE requirements are available at the NJBON APN Certification page at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/APN-Certification.aspx and the general CE FAQ at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/pages/continuing-education-faq.aspx. The full Board website is at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur.

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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. New Jersey Board of Nursing — APN Certification Page
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “1 hour of continuing education on the prescription of opioid drugs, including alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain, and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion”N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(b) · Effective 2020-06-01
    “1 hour of continuing education in Organ and Tissue Recovery and Donation”NJBON APN CE requirement
    “A 2-hour course on End-of-Life care each renewal”NJBON APN CE requirement
    “10 pharmacology continuing education hours each biennial period”NJ APN Independent Practice Law (March 30, 2026) · Effective 2026-03-30
    “14 continuing education hours in pharmacology related to controlled substances (including pharmacologic therapy and addiction prevention and management) [one-time requirement for APNs seeking independent practice status]”NJ APN Independent Practice Law (March 30, 2026) · Effective 2026-03-30
    “Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners... are required 8 hours on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of a substance use disorder, one-time only.”DEA MATE Act / 21 U.S.C. § 823(m) · Effective 2023-06-27
    “Nurses whose pharmacology course is more than five years old must provide either a new graduate-level 3-credit pharmacology course completed within five years prior to application, OR continuing education program certificate(s) for 30 contact hours...”NJBON APN Certification page

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 Jersey Board of Nursing (NJBON), 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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