Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Nursing (DOPL) · NP

Utah CE Requirements for Nurse Practitioners

0 hours. Every two years. On a fixed renewal cycle.

Updated April 2026Sourced from DOPL

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 30, 2026

Mandatory topics

Utah names specific topics that NPs must cover, and each one is listed below.

Suicide Prevention[1]
0.5 hrs
Biennial
All Utah APRNs must complete at least one DOPL-approved online suicide prevention training module per renewal period (0.5 CE credit). Options: 'Suicide Safety Planning with Patients,' 'Talking to Patients About Suicide,' or 'Counseling on Access to Lethal Means.'
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Completed at least ONE of the following online suicide prevention trainings (these qualify for CE credit):”
Utah DOPL APRN Renewal Page / R156-31b-303See 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/Substance Use[2]
3.5 hrs
Biennial

APRNs authorized to prescribe controlled substances must complete 3.5 CE hours in controlled substance prescribing per renewal period

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A controlled substance prescriber shall complete at least 3.5 hours of continuing education in one or more controlled substance prescribing classes”
Utah Code § 58-37-303(3); APRN applicability from R156-31b-303(3)(b)(ii); separate 0.5-hour database tutorial is waivable under R156-37-402(3)(c)See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid/Substance Use[2]
3.5 hrs
One-time

APRNs authorized to prescribe controlled substances — one-time SBIRT-training class

View sourceVerbatim from source
“each controlled substance prescriber shall complete at least 3.5 continuing education hours in an SBIRT-training class”
Utah Code § 58-37-303(2)(b)(i) (SBIRT-training class, licensing periods beginning after 1/1/2024); once-only per § 58-37-303(2)(b)(iii)(A): 'need only take the SBIRT-training class once during the controlled substance prescriber's licensure in the state'. § 58-37-303(1)(a) defines controlled substance prescriber functionally (Schedule II/III authority within scope of practice), which reaches APRNs with CS prescriptive authority.See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral[3]
30 hrs
Biennial

APRNs licensed prior to July 1, 1992 who do not hold current specialty certification may use the grandfathered renewal pathway

View sourceVerbatim from source
“if licensed before July 1, 1992, complete 30 hours of approved continuing education and 400 hours of practice”
Utah Admin. Code R156-31b-303(3)(b)(i)(B)See source [3] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Nursing (DOPL) accepts ANCC Contact Hour toward the CE requirement for NPs, along with other credit it approves.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
ANCC-accredited CE accepted. National certification (ANCC, AANPCB, NCC, PNCB, etc.) is the primary renewal requirement for APRNs licensed after July 1, 1992.SourceUtah Admin. Code R156-31b-303
Board-approved credit
CE from nationally recognized approvers of professional continuing education is accepted for controlled substance CE hours. The separate 0.5-hour controlled substance database tutorial may be waived based on the renewal attestation in R156-37-402(3)(c).SourceUtah Admin. Code R156-31b-303
Documentation & audit

NPs are responsible for retaining CE documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

Licenses expired for more than 2 years are not eligible for standard renewal

FAQ
Do Utah NPs need separate CE from RNs?
Utah APRNs and RNs operate on different renewal frameworks with different expiration dates. The RN license expires January 31 of odd years and uses a three-pathway practice/CE model. The APRN license expires January 31 of even years and requires current national certification (for post-1992 licensees). NPs with controlled substance prescribing authority must additionally complete 3.5 CE hours per APRN renewal period. Both licenses require the suicide prevention module (0.5 CE credit) each renewal period. Because the licenses expire in alternating years, Utah NPs effectively have a renewal obligation every year.
Does Utah require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Utah does not require pharmacology CE per se, but it does require at least 3.5 CE hours in controlled substance prescribing for APRNs who hold controlled substance prescribing authority. This applies per APRN biennial renewal period and is in addition to — not part of — the national certification renewal that satisfies the base APRN requirement. A separate 0.5-hour controlled substance database tutorial may be waived when the prescriber makes the attestation specified in R156-37-402(3)(c). Utah APRNs have independent prescriptive authority without a physician collaborative agreement requirement.
Is Utah in the APRN Compact?
Yes, Utah has enacted the APRN Compact, but it is not yet operational as of 2026 because seven states must enact before activation. Current enacting states are Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah. Utah is also a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) for the underlying RN license. Until the APRN Compact activates, Utah NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must obtain individual APRN credentials in each additional state.
Does Utah require NPs to maintain national certification for APRN renewal?
Yes, for all APRNs licensed after July 1, 1992. Utah Admin. Code R156-31b-303 requires that APRNs must be currently certified or re-certified in their specialty area as the primary renewal condition. DOPL accepts certification from ANCC, AANPCB, NCC, PNCB, NBCRNA, and other recognized national certifying bodies appropriate to the APRN's specialty. APRNs should track their national certification renewal timeline separately from the Utah APRN renewal cycle (January 31 of even years) to ensure both are current. A grandfathered pathway exists for APRNs licensed before July 1, 1992, who may alternatively document 400 practice hours plus 30 CE hours.
Where can I check my Utah NP/APRN license renewal date?
Utah APRNs can verify their license status through the Utah DOPL nursing portal at https://commerce.utah.gov/dopl/nursing/. The APRN-specific renewal page is at https://commerce.utah.gov/dopl/nursing/renew-a-license/advanced-practical-registered-nurse/. Utah APRN licenses expire January 31 of even-numbered years. For APRNs with controlled substance authority, the renewal requirements page is at https://commerce.utah.gov/dopl/nursing/renew-a-license/advanced-practical-registered-nurse-with-controlled-substance/.

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Other roles in Utah

CE requirements for Nurse Practitioners 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. Utah DOPL — APRN Renewal Page
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Completed at least ONE of the following online suicide prevention trainings (these qualify for CE credit):”Utah DOPL APRN Renewal Page / R156-31b-303
  2. Utah Code § 58-37-303 — Controlled Substance Prescriber Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-07-02
    Show verbatim text
    “A controlled substance prescriber shall complete at least 3.5 hours of continuing education in one or more controlled substance prescribing classes”Utah Code § 58-37-303(3); APRN applicability from R156-31b-303(3)(b)(ii); separate 0.5-hour database tutorial is waivable under R156-37-402(3)(c)
    “each controlled substance prescriber shall complete at least 3.5 continuing education hours in an SBIRT-training class”Utah Code § 58-37-303(2)(b)(i) (SBIRT-training class, licensing periods beginning after 1/1/2024); once-only per § 58-37-303(2)(b)(iii)(A): 'need only take the SBIRT-training class once during the controlled substance prescriber's licensure in the state'. § 58-37-303(1)(a) defines controlled substance prescriber functionally (Schedule II/III authority within scope of practice), which reaches APRNs with CS prescriptive authority.
  3. Utah Admin. Code R156-31b-303 — LPN, RN, and APRN License Renewal and Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “if licensed before July 1, 1992, complete 30 hours of approved continuing education and 400 hours of practice”Utah Admin. Code R156-31b-303(3)(b)(i)(B)

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CE requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Nursing (DOPL), or any other state licensing board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Nurse practitioners are solely responsible for verifying their own current CE requirements directly with their state licensing board before relying on any information presented here.

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