Massachusetts Advanced Practice Registered Nurses CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing does not pre-approve continuing education. It is the responsibility of the nursing professional to select appropriate continuing education courses.

Continuing Education Requirement

The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing accepts NetCE courses.

RNs and LPNs are required 15 contact hours every two years.

Licensees must fulfill a one-time requirement at initial licensure or renewal on the topic of diagnosis, treatment, and care of the patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

As a condition of licensure, registration, or certification, and any renewal, all nurses are required to complete training and education on the issue of domestic violence and sexual violence.*

APRNs are required 15 contact hours every two years and must also maintain national certification. As a condition of licensure, registration, or certification, and any renewal, all nurses are required to complete training and education on the issue of domestic violence and sexual violence.*

APRNs with prescriptive authority are required training relative to:

• Effective pain management;
• Risks of abuse and addiction associated with opioid medication;
• Identification of patients at risk for substance use disorders;
• Counseling patients about the side effects, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal of prescription medications;
• Appropriate prescription quantities for prescription medications that have an increased risk of abuse; and
• Opioid antagonists, overdose prevention treatments and instances in which a patient may be advised on both the use and ways to access opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments.

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.

Certifying healthcare providers must complete a continuing education program, one-time only, prior to issuing written certifications for the medical use of marijuana on the proper use of marijuana, including side effects, dosage, and contraindications, including with psychotropic drugs, as well as on substance abuse recognition, diagnosis, and treatment related to medical marijuana.

*NetCE does not offer Massachusetts domestic violence and sexual violence training. Please go to https://www.mass.gov/how-to-domestic-and-sexual-violence-training-chapter-260 for more information.

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For More Information

Please contact the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing at (617) 973-0900 or (800) 414-0168, and visit their website at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-in-nursing.

Additional information regarding your continuing education requirements may be found at:
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/mandatory-continuing-education-for-nurses - All Licensees.
https://www.mass.gov/regulations/244-CMR-500-continuing-education - RNs and LPNs Rule 244 CMR 5.00.
https://www.mass.gov/law-library/244-cmr - APRNs 244 CMR.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter94C/Section18 - MGL Title XV, Section 18, Rule (e) for APRNs with prescriptive authority.