Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing — CRNP Advisory Committee · NP

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

Below is exactly what Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing — CRNP Advisory Committee requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from PSBN—CAC~6 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 4, 2026

Mandatory topics

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

Abuse Reporting & Mandatory Reporter[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 of the 30 CRNP CE hours must be in Board-approved training on child abuse recognition and reporting per 49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2). Required at every biennial renewal. Part of the 30-hour total, not additive.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Verify completion of a minimum of 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education in the 2 years prior to renewal, including at least 2 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with §  21.508(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).”
49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2)See source [1] 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[1]
16 hrs
Biennial

CRNPs holding prescriptive authority approval

View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least 16 hours of Board-approved continuing education in pharmacology.”
49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2) / Act 124 of 2016See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid/Substance Use[1]
2 hrs
Biennial

CRNPs with prescriptive authority approval AND a DEA registration

View sourceVerbatim from source
“At least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in pain management, the identification of addiction or the practices of prescribing or dispensing opioids in the 2 years prior to renewal if the licensee is renewing a prescriptive authority approval and holds a current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration or is utilizing the DEA registration of another.”
49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral[1]
2 hrs
One-time

CRNPs who held RN licensure before May 1, 2026

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Effective May 1, 2026, verify completion of at least 2 of the 30 hours in Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process in accordance with §  21.131(a.1) (relating to continuing education) within 5 years of certification renewal. Certificate holders who obtain certification on or after the effective date shall verify completion of the 2 hours within 5 years of initial certification.”
49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(6)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Pennsylvania 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
ANCC contact hours from Board-approved CE providers count toward both the 30-hour CRNP CE total and the pharmacology sub-requirement. Pharmacology CE must address pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of drug categories or drugs used in the CRNP's specialty.Source49 Pa. Code § 21.331
Board-approved credit
Board-approved CE from approved providers. CE may not carry over from one biennial period to the next. CRNP CE certification co-expires with the underlying RN license.Source49 Pa. Code § 21.331
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 Pennsylvania.

FAQ
Does Pennsylvania require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Yes. Under 49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2) and Act 124 of 2016, Pennsylvania CRNPs holding prescriptive authority approval must complete at least 16 of their 30 biennial CE hours in pharmacology. The pharmacology CE must specifically address pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug categories, and their relationship to physiologic and pathologic responses in the CRNP's specialty. CRNPs who hold a DEA registration must include 2 of those 16 pharmacology hours on pain management, addiction identification, or opioid prescribing/dispensing practices.
Is Pennsylvania in the APRN Compact?
No, Pennsylvania has not enacted the APRN Compact as of 2026 — there is no compact mechanism that authorizes CRNP practice in Pennsylvania based on out-of-state CRNP certification; all CRNPs practicing in Pennsylvania must hold a Pennsylvania CRNP certification. Pennsylvania IS, however, a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), fully implemented July 7, 2025, for the underlying RN license — eligible Pennsylvania nurses may hold a multistate RN license, and per the Board's own NLC FAQ, "a multistate license may be used to meet the RN licensure pre-requisite for CRNP and CNS certifications."
Does Pennsylvania require NPs to maintain national certification for renewal?
Yes, for CRNPs certified after February 7, 2005. Under 49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(3), CRNPs certified after that date must demonstrate current national certification at each biennial renewal. Documentation of active certification from a Board-recognized certifying body must be provided at renewal. CRNPs who allow their national certification to lapse risk CRNP certification denial until certification is restored.
Where can I check my Pennsylvania CRNP renewal date?
Pennsylvania CRNPs can access renewal information through the PABON renewal information page at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing/renewal-information.html. Because the CRNP certification co-expires with the RN license, nurses can also check their RN license expiration for the CRNP renewal date. For questions, PABON can be reached at 1-833-DOS-BPOA (1-833-367-2762) or ST-NURSE@pa.gov.

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Other roles in Pennsylvania

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. 49 Pa. Code § 21.331 — Biennial Renewal of CRNP Certification
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Verify completion of a minimum of 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education in the 2 years prior to renewal, including at least 2 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with §  21.508(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement).”49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2)
    “At least 16 hours of Board-approved continuing education in pharmacology.”49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2) / Act 124 of 2016
    “At least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in pain management, the identification of addiction or the practices of prescribing or dispensing opioids in the 2 years prior to renewal if the licensee is renewing a prescriptive authority approval and holds a current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration or is utilizing the DEA registration of another.”49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(2) · Effective 2017-07-01
    “Effective May 1, 2026, verify completion of at least 2 of the 30 hours in Board-approved continuing education in organ and tissue donation and recovery process in accordance with §  21.131(a.1) (relating to continuing education) within 5 years of certification renewal. Certificate holders who obtain certification on or after the effective date shall verify completion of the 2 hours within 5 years of initial certification.”49 Pa. Code § 21.331(c)(6) · Effective 2026-05-01

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 Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing — CRNP Advisory Committee, 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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