Tennessee State Board of Nursing · NP

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

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from TSBN~6 min read

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

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 2 hours is the total CME requirement. Tennessee also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 2-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
APRNs holding a Certificate of Fitness (CF) must complete a minimum of 2 contact hours of CE designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices, including instruction in the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines (i.e., TDH treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol). This is the NP/APRN-specific CE requirement beyond the base RN competency items.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of two (2) contact hours of continuing education designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices. The continuing education must include instruction in the Tennessee Department of Health's treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol, and may include such other topics as medicine addiction and risk management tools.”
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(c)(3)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.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial

APRNs holding a Certificate of Fitness (CF) — Tennessee's prescriptive authority credential — must complete the 2-hour controlled substance CE in addition to base RN competency items

View detailsEditorial summary
Certificate of Fitness (CF) is the Tennessee APRN prescriptive authority designation. CF holders must meet: (1) current national certification, (2) one RN competency item, AND (3) 2 CE hours specifically on controlled substance prescribing including TDH chronic pain guidelines.
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(c)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Tennessee 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 certification (e.g., FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC) satisfies the national certification requirement. CE from ANCC-accredited providers counts toward controlled substance CE hours.SourceTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(b) and (c)
Board-approved credit
CE from nationally recognized certification bodies (ANCC, AANPCB, NBCRNA, etc.) and board-approved providers accepted. CE Broker is the official tracking system.SourceTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18
Documentation & audit

Documentation must be retained for 4 years. Licensees must produce evidence within 30 days of a board request.

Waivers & exemptions

APRNs who have not practiced for five years or more and do not intend to practice in the future are not required to comply with the competency rule.

FAQ
Does Tennessee require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Yes, for Certificate of Fitness holders. Rule 1000-01-.18(2)(c)(3) requires CF holders to complete a minimum of 2 contact hours of CE designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices per renewal period. The CE must include instruction in the Tennessee Department of Health's treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol. This 2-hour requirement is additive to the base APRN requirements (national certification plus one RN-list item) and applies every biennial renewal cycle.
Is Tennessee in the APRN Compact?
No. Tennessee is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), which governs the underlying RN license layer, but Tennessee is not a member of the APRN Compact. The APRN Compact is a separate multi-state agreement for advanced practice nurses, and as of 2026 it has a smaller membership than the NLC. Tennessee NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in multiple states must hold individual APRN licenses or certifications in each state where they practice advanced practice nursing, in addition to their Tennessee APRN license.
Does Tennessee require NPs to maintain national certification for APRN renewal?
Yes. Under Rule 1000-01-.18(2)(b) and (c), current national certification in the APRN's specialty area is the foundational requirement for all APRN renewals in Tennessee. The Board recognizes certifications from ANCC, AANPCB, NBCRNA, and other recognized bodies appropriate to the specialty. An NP whose national certification has lapsed cannot satisfy the APRN renewal requirement until certification is reinstated. NPs should track their national certification renewal timelines independently, as certifying body schedules may not align with Tennessee's biennial renewal cycle.
Where can I check my Tennessee NP/APRN license renewal date?
Tennessee NPs can verify license status and expiration dates through the Tennessee Department of Health Health Licensure Verification portal at https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/. The Tennessee State Board of Nursing's main page at https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board.html provides board contact information and links to current rules. CE Broker also tracks Tennessee APRN licensee renewal status for enrolled practitioners.

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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. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18 — Standards of Nursing Competence (April 2026 PDF)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-24
    Show verbatim text
    “A minimum of two (2) contact hours of continuing education designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices. The continuing education must include instruction in the Tennessee Department of Health's treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol, and may include such other topics as medicine addiction and risk management tools.”Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(c)(3) · Effective 2024-10-08

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 Tennessee State 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's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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