Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education · RN

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

Below is exactly what Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from RIBNRNE~8 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 10 hours is the total CME requirement. Rhode Island also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 10-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 of the required 10 CE hours must specifically address substance abuse. Per the RIDOH nurses licensing page.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Nurses seeking to renew a nursing license must complete 10 continuing education hours during every two year licensing cycle, two of those hours must be about substance abuse.”
RIDOH Nursing Licensing Page / 216-RICR-40-05-3See source [1] in Primary Sources
Alzheimer’s & dementia[1]
1 hr
Custom
One-time Alzheimer's disease education (1 contact hour) required once per nursing career. Effective August 1, 2019. Not recurring per renewal period — only required once in career.
View detailsEditorial summary
RIDOH Nursing Licensing PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Rhode Island 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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
8 hrs
Biennial

New DEA-registered practitioners (nurses who obtain new DEA registration)

View detailsEditorial summary
New DEA-registered practitioners must complete 8 hours of opioid use disorder training before renewing DEA registration. This is a federal MATE Act requirement (21 U.S.C. § 823(m)), not a state nursing board requirement.
Federal MATE Act / RIDOH Nursing PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Rhode Island 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 from ANCC-accredited providers or ANCC local chapter accepted.Source216-RICR-40-05-3.5(B)
Board-approved credit
CE from other recognized professional nursing organizations, departments/schools of nursing approved by a board of nursing, or other professional/labor organizations approved by the Board.Source216-RICR-40-05-3.5(B)
Documentation & audit

CE records must be retained for 4 years. Attestation of compliance required at renewal. Random audits may be conducted by the Department.

Waivers & exemptions

6-month hardship extension

FAQ
Is the 2-hour substance abuse CE a topic restriction or a standalone requirement?
The 2-hour substance abuse requirement is a topic restriction within the 10-hour biennial total, not an additional requirement beyond it. Rhode Island nurses must complete 10 contact hours per renewal period, and at least 2 of those hours must be dedicated to substance abuse topics. Completing 8 hours of general nursing CE and 2 hours of substance abuse CE satisfies the full 10-hour requirement. A nurse who completed 10 hours of general CE without including any substance abuse content would not have met the requirement even though the contact hour total appears correct. Qualifying substance abuse content includes courses addressing substance use disorder, opioid awareness, addiction recognition and referral, and related clinical topics.
Is Rhode Island in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?
No. Rhode Island is not a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact. Unlike the nearly forty states that participate in the NLC and allow eligible nurses to hold a single multistate license, Rhode Island requires all nurses practicing in the state to obtain a separate, state-issued Rhode Island nursing license. A compact multistate license issued by any other state does not authorize nursing practice in Rhode Island. Nurses who live or work in Rhode Island must obtain a Rhode Island license through the RIDOH, complete the state's biennial CE requirements for renewal, and maintain that license independently of any compact license they may hold in their home state.
What is the Alzheimer's training requirement for Rhode Island nurses?
Rhode Island requires all nurses to complete one contact hour of Alzheimer's disease education once per nursing career — not once per renewal cycle. This one-time requirement took effect on August 1, 2019, and applies to all licensees regardless of specialty or practice setting. Nurses who completed this training after August 1, 2019, have permanently satisfied the requirement and do not need to repeat it at subsequent renewals. Nurses who have not yet completed it should do so during their current renewal period to come into full compliance. The training is described on the RIDOH nurses licensing page, though it does not appear in the specific text of 216-RICR-40-05-3.5 as retrieved — it may be codified in a related regulation section or published as a board policy.
Where can I check my Rhode Island RN license renewal date?
Rhode Island nurses can look up their license status and renewal information through the Rhode Island Department of Health licensing portal at health.ri.gov/licensing/nurses. This page links to the state's online license verification and renewal system, where nurses can confirm their current license expiration date and initiate the renewal process. Renewal notices are distributed to the licensee's address on file with the Department, so nurses should keep their contact information current through the RIDOH portal to ensure they receive timely renewal reminders.

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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. Rhode Island Department of Health — Nurses Licensing Page
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-24
    Show verbatim text
    “Nurses seeking to renew a nursing license must complete 10 continuing education hours during every two year licensing cycle, two of those hours must be about substance abuse.”RIDOH Nursing Licensing Page / 216-RICR-40-05-3

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 Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education, 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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