North Carolina Board of Nursing · CRNA

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

Below is exactly what North Carolina Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from NCBN~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 30, 2026

Mandatory topics

North Carolina has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 0-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your North Carolina 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.

ConditionalGeneral CME[1]
Hrs vary

NC requires CRNAs to maintain credentialing through the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists and recertification through the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA's councils) under 21 NCAC 36 .0226(a).

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Only a registered nurse who completes a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, is credentialed as a certified registered nurse anesthetist by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists, and who maintains recertification through the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, shall perform nurse anesthesia activities.”
21 NCAC 36 .0226(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral CME[2]
Hrs vary
Biennial

Underlying NC RN renewal: NCBON requires evidence of completing one of eight continuing competency options every two years.

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Upon application for license renewal or reinstatement, each licensee shall attest to having completed one of the following learning activity options during the preceding renewal cycle: (1) national certification or re-certification related to the nurse's practice role by a national credentialing body recognized by the Board; (2) 30 contact hours of continuing education activities related to the nurse's practice.”
21 NCAC 36 .0232(b)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, North Carolina 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
NBCRNA Class A
NBCRNA Class A credits accepted as part of national certification maintenance.Sourcehttps://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification[3]
NBCRNA_CLASS_B
NBCRNA Class B credits accepted as part of national certification maintenance.Sourcehttps://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification[3]
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

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for North Carolina.

FAQ
How many state-level CE hours do North Carolina CRNAs need?
NC does not impose a CRNA-specific state CE hour total. CRNAs must maintain active NBCRNA national certification, and the underlying RN portion of the license stack is governed by NCBON's general RN continuing-competency rule.
Does North Carolina require NBCRNA certification for CRNA licensure?
Yes. NCBON's Approval to Practice as a Nurse Anesthetist requires current NBCRNA national certification, both at initial application and on a continuing basis.
Is North Carolina part of the APRN Compact?
No, NC has not enacted the APRN Compact as of April 2026. NC is, however, a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for the underlying RN license.
Where can I check my NC CRNA approval status?
Use the NCBON license verification tool linked from https://www.ncbon.com/ or contact NCBON directly.

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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. 21 NCAC 36 .0226 — Nurse Anesthesia Practice
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “Only a registered nurse who completes a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, is credentialed as a certified registered nurse anesthetist by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists, and who maintains recertification through the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, shall perform nurse anesthesia activities.”21 NCAC 36 .0226(a)
  2. 21 NCAC 36 .0232 — Continuing Competence (NC OAH)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “Upon application for license renewal or reinstatement, each licensee shall attest to having completed one of the following learning activity options during the preceding renewal cycle: (1) national certification or re-certification related to the nurse's practice role by a national credentialing body recognized by the Board; (2) 30 contact hours of continuing education activities related to the nurse's practice.”21 NCAC 36 .0232(b)
  3. NBCRNA — Continued Certification
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30

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 North Carolina Board of Nursing, 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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