North Carolina Nurses CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

North Carolina Nurses

In support of improving patient care, NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The North Carolina Board of Nursing accepts courses from any provider who is ANCC accredited.

Continuing Education Requirement

The North Carolina Board of Nursing accepts NetCE courses.

RNs, LPNs, APRN-CNSs*, and APRN-CRNAs* are required one of the following every two years:

• National certification or re-certification by a national credentialing body recognized by the Board (*APRNs must maintain national certification); or
• Thirty (30) contact hours of continuing education activities; or
• Completion of a Board approved refresher course; or
• Completion of a minimum of two semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of a continuing education activity and completion of a nursing project as principal or co-principal investigator to include statement of the problem, project objectives, methods and summary of findings; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and authoring or coauthoring a published nursing-related article, paper, book or book chapter; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and developing and conducting a nursing education presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours for nurses or other health professionals to include a copy of program brochure or course syllabi, objectives, content and teaching methods, and date and location of presentation; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and 640 hours of active practice within the previous two (2) years.

APRN-NPs are required to maintain national certification, which includes meeting continuing education requirements of 50 contact hours.

APRN-CNMs are required to maintain national certification, which includes meeting continuing education requirements (an average of 10 hours per year) of the Certificate Maintenance Program.

APRNs (NPs and CNMs) authorized to prescribe controlled substances are required 1 hour in controlled substances prescribing practices, signs of abuse or misuse of controlled substances, and controlled substances prescribing for chronic pain management.

Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required 8 hours on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of a substance use disorder, one-time only.

APRN-CRNAs are required to maintain NBCRNA certification/recertification.

View RN and LPN Special Offers
View APRN Special Offers
View Course List

All Accreditations and Approvals
License Renewal Instructions

For More Information

Please contact the North Carolina Board of Nursing at (919) 782-3211, or visit their website at https://www.ncbon.com/.

Additional information regarding your continuing education requirements may be found at:
https://www.ncbon.com/licensure-listing-continuing-competence - RNs and LPNs.
https://www.ncbon.com/licensure-listing-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprn-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprn-requirements - APRNs.
https://www.ncbon.com/licensure-listing-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprn-nurse-practitioner - APRN-NPs.
https://www.ncbon.com/licensure-listing-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprn-certified-nurse-midwife - APRN-CNMs.
https://www.ncbon.com/licensure-listing-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprn-certified-registered-nurse-anesthetist - APRN-CRNAs.
https://www.ncbon.com/licensure-listing-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprn-clinical-nurse-specialist - APRN-CNSs.
http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2021%20-%20occupational%20licensing%20boards%20and%20commissions/chapter%2036%20-%20nursing/21%20ncac%2036%20.0807.html - Rule 21 NCAC 36.0807 for APRN-NPs with prescriptive authority.
http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2021%20-%20occupational%20licensing%20boards%20and%20commissions/chapter%2033%20-%20midwifery%20joint%20committee/chapter%2033%20rules.html - See Rule 21 NCAC 33.0111 [Readopted eff. November 1, 2018] for APRN-CNMs with prescriptive authority.
https://www.ncbon.com/news-publications-statistics-frequently-asked-questions-controlled-substance-reporting-system - FAQs for APRNs with prescriptive authority.