Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OKBON) · NP

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

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from OBN(~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 15 hours is the total CME requirement. Oklahoma also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 15-hour total.

Pharmacology[1]
15 hrs
Biennial
Minimum 15 contact hours (or 1 academic credit hour) of education in pharmacotherapeutics per 2-year renewal cycle for APRNs with prescriptive authority. Must address clinical application and use of pharmacological agents in prevention of illness and restoration/maintenance of health. All hours must be from programs approved by OKBON and beyond basic registered nurse preparation. Per OAC § 485:10-16-6.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“minimum of fifteen (15) contact hours, or one academic credit hour of education, or the equivalent, in pharmacotherapeutics”
OAC § 485:10-16-6See source [1] in Primary Sources
Pain management & end-of-life care[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 of the pharmacotherapeutics hours must specifically address pain management OR opioid use/addiction, per OAC § 485:10-16-6. These 2 hours are part of the 15-hour pharmacotherapeutics total, not additive.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“two (2) hours of education in pain management or two (2) hours of education in opioid use or addiction”
OAC § 485:10-16-6See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Oklahoma 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
Category A (up to 100% = 15 hours), Category B (up to 100%), Category C (up to 100%), Category D (up to 20% = max 3 hours), Category E (up to 20% = max 3 hours). All pharmacotherapeutics CE must be from programs approved by OKBON and beyond basic RN preparation.SourceOAC § 485:10-16-6
Board-approved credit
One academic credit hour = 15 contact hours (equivalent to the full 15-hour pharmacotherapeutics requirement). OKBON-approved programs for pharmacotherapeutics CE beyond basic RN preparation. Category D and E limited to 20% of the requirement (3 hours each).SourceOAC § 485:10-16-6
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 Oklahoma.

FAQ
Does Oklahoma require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Yes. OAC § 485:10-16-6 requires 15 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics education per two-year period for APRNs with prescriptive authority, with at least 2 of those hours on pain management or opioid use/addiction. All 15 hours must come from OKBON-approved programs beyond basic RN preparation. Category D and E CE sources are capped at 3 hours each (20% of 15 hours). Academic credit of 1 semester hour is equivalent to the full 15-hour requirement.
Is Oklahoma in the APRN Compact?
No. Oklahoma is an NLC compact member for RN licensure but is not a member of the APRN Compact as of 2026. Oklahoma APRN licensure does not travel to other states under any compact agreement. NPs who practice in multiple states must obtain separate APRN authorization in each state, including Oklahoma. The NLC compact status affects only the underlying RN license layer.
What changed with Oklahoma prescriptive authority in 2025?
Effective November 1, 2025, Oklahoma's HB 2298 created a pathway for qualifying APRNs to obtain independent prescriptive authority, potentially eliminating the requirement for a physician supervision statement for those who qualify. This is a significant change from the prior supervised prescriptive authority model codified in OAC § 485:10-16-6. The pharmacotherapeutics CE requirements (15 hours including 2 on pain/opioid topics) remain in effect. Oklahoma NPs should confirm whether updated administrative rules reflecting HB 2298 have been published and whether their specific prescriptive authority status has changed.
Where can I check my Oklahoma NP/APRN license renewal date?
Oklahoma NPs can access their license renewal through the OKBON Nurse Portal Account at https://oklahoma.gov/nursing/applications.html. Because renewal occurs every two even-numbered years by end of birth month, NPs should calendar their renewal deadline in advance. For APRN prescriptive authority renewal forms and tracking tools, the OKBON practice page at https://oklahoma.gov/nursing/practice.html provides access to the Prescriptive Authority Continuing Education Tracking Form.

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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. Okla. Admin. Code § 485:10-16-6 — Renewal of Prescriptive Authority for APRNs
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “minimum of fifteen (15) contact hours, or one academic credit hour of education, or the equivalent, in pharmacotherapeutics”OAC § 485:10-16-6
    “two (2) hours of education in pain management or two (2) hours of education in opioid use or addiction”OAC § 485:10-16-6

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 Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OKBON), 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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