Below is exactly what North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026
North Dakota has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 0-hour total.
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.
APRNs (NPs) holding prescriptive authority
“Provide evidence of completion of fifteen contact hours of education during the previous two years in pharmacotherapy related to the scope of practice. These contact hours may fulfill the registered nurse renewal continuing education requirement.”
NPs applying for initial APRN licensure with prescriptive authority
“Initial APRN with prescriptive Authority must have 30 hours of pharmacology specific CE in the past 3 years.”
APRNs applying for APRN licensure without prescriptive authority
“Applicants applying for APRN licensure without prescriptive authority do not require CE if RN licensure is current.”
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, North Dakota 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 system | Notes |
|---|---|
ANCC Contact Hour | ANCC contact hours accepted for pharmacotherapy CE. Certificates must itemize pharmacology content. UpToDate activities, CPR, BLS, agency orientation, and self-directed study do not qualify.SourceN.D. Admin. Code 54-05-03.1-11(5) |
Board-approved credit | Academic credits, approved seminars, and correspondence/home study programs may fulfill the pharmacotherapy CE requirement per 54-05-03.1-11(5). 1 academic credit = up to applicable contact hours per NDBON guidelines.SourceN.D. Admin. Code 54-05-03.1-11(5) |
Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.
No formal waivers or exemptions are published for North Dakota.
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.
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.
“Provide evidence of completion of fifteen contact hours of education during the previous two years in pharmacotherapy related to the scope of practice. These contact hours may fulfill the registered nurse renewal continuing education requirement.”N.D. Admin. Code 54-05-03.1-11(5) · Effective 2020-07-01
“Initial APRN with prescriptive Authority must have 30 hours of pharmacology specific CE in the past 3 years.”NDBON APRN FAQ
“Applicants applying for APRN licensure without prescriptive authority do not require CE if RN licensure is current.”NDBON APRN FAQ