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

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated 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/Substance Use[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
“a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education that shall, commencing with the biennial renewal period beginning on June 1, 2020, include at least one hour in topics concerning prescription 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
Organ and Tissue Donation[2]
1 hr
One-time
One-time organ and tissue donation/recovery training (1 credit hour), satisfiable by a board-approved online course. Per N.J.S.A. 45:11-26.1(d), required as a condition of relicensure for nurses licensed before the act's effective date who did not receive organ/tissue donation instruction in their nursing-program curriculum; nurses educated after the act satisfy it through curriculum. Applies to APNs through their underlying RN license.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A licensed professional nurse licensed to practice nursing in this State prior to the effective date of this act, who was not required to receive and did not receive instruction in organ and tissue donation and recovery as part of his nursing program curriculum, shall be required, as a condition of relicensure, to document completion of such training to the satisfaction of the board no later than three years after the effective date of this act. The training may be completed through an on-line, one credit hour course developed by or for the organ procurement organizations and approved by the board.”
N.J.S.A. 45:11-26.1(d) (P.L.2008, c.48; amended 2021, c.72)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Palliative Care[3]
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
“two credits of the continuing education completed pursuant to (a) above shall be in programs or topics related to end-of-life care.”
N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8(b)See source [3] 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[4]
10 hrs
Biennial

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

View sourceVerbatim from source
“the advance practice nurse shall have completed 10 contact (c) the advance practice nurse shall have completed 10 contact hours of continuing professional education in pharmacology each biennial period;”
S2996 (P.L.2026) enrolled, §(c) — signed 2026-03-30See source [4] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[4]
14 hrs
One-time

APNs applying for independent practice status for the first time

View sourceVerbatim from source
“the advanced practice nurse shall have completed 14 contact (b) the advanced practice nurse shall have completed 14 contact hours of continuing professional education in pharmacology related to controlled substances, including pharmacologic therapy and addiction prevention and management.”
S2996 (P.L.2026) enrolled, §(b) — signed 2026-03-30See source [4] in Primary Sources
ConditionalControlled Substance Prescribing[5]
8 hrs
One-time

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

View sourceVerbatim from source
“The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 enacted a new **one-time**, eight-hour training requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners, except veterinarians, on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.”
DEA Diversion Control — MATE Act (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023)See source [5] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[6]
30 hrs
One-time

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

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Continuing education program certificate(s) for 30 contact hours in continuing professional education which:”
NJBON APN Certification pageSee source [6] 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, so the APN certification is single-state. New Jersey IS a member of the base Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), though — the NLC pertains to RN and LPN licenses only, so the underlying RN license can be a multistate license, but the APN certification cannot. Every APN practicing in New Jersey must hold a New Jersey APN certification.
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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Other roles in New Jersey

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. N.J. Admin. Code § 13:37-5.3 — Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education that shall, commencing with the biennial renewal period beginning on June 1, 2020, include at least one hour in topics concerning prescription 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
  2. https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2020/A3500/3199_R1.PDF
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “A licensed professional nurse licensed to practice nursing in this State prior to the effective date of this act, who was not required to receive and did not receive instruction in organ and tissue donation and recovery as part of his nursing program curriculum, shall be required, as a condition of relicensure, to document completion of such training to the satisfaction of the board no later than three years after the effective date of this act. The training may be completed through an on-line, one credit hour course developed by or for the organ procurement organizations and approved by the board.”N.J.S.A. 45:11-26.1(d) (P.L.2008, c.48; amended 2021, c.72)
  3. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-13-37-7-8
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “two credits of the continuing education completed pursuant to (a) above shall be in programs or topics related to end-of-life care.”N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8(b)
  4. https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S3000/2996_U1.PDF
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “the advance practice nurse shall have completed 10 contact (c) the advance practice nurse shall have completed 10 contact hours of continuing professional education in pharmacology each biennial period;”S2996 (P.L.2026) enrolled, §(c) — signed 2026-03-30 · Effective 2026-03-30
    “the advanced practice nurse shall have completed 14 contact (b) the advanced practice nurse shall have completed 14 contact hours of continuing professional education in pharmacology related to controlled substances, including pharmacologic therapy and addiction prevention and management.”S2996 (P.L.2026) enrolled, §(b) — signed 2026-03-30 · Effective 2026-03-30
  5. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/docs/MATE_training.html
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 enacted a new **one-time**, eight-hour training requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners, except veterinarians, on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.”DEA Diversion Control — MATE Act (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023) · Effective 2023-06-27
  6. New Jersey Board of Nursing — APN Certification Page
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Continuing education program certificate(s) for 30 contact hours in continuing professional education which:”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 medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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