Nurse Practitioners · Pennsylvania · Continuing education
Pennsylvania Nurse Practitioner CE Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- CRNP30 hours every 2 years, including 2 h opioid prescribing & pain management, 2 h child abuse recognition & reporting, 16 h pharmacology (NP/APRN), 2 h organ & tissue donation (once); renewal on the date shown on your license.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
Pennsylvania CRNP CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 30hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- On license
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- On the date shown on your license
- Accepted credit
- CE addressing the CRNP's specialty from providers listed in 49 Pa. Code §21.334(a) (CRNP programs, national nursing/medical/osteopathic/pharmaceutical organizations, nursing specialty organizations, other boards' APRN-approved programs) or Board-approved courses; 1 hour = 50 minutes; up to 4 hours for teaching, precepting or publications
- Renewal fee
- $81
- Renew online
- www.pals.pa.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing & pain managementCRNPs with prescriptive authority (ABC-MAP/Act 124): pain management, identification of addiction or opioid prescribing/dispensing; part of the total; once per renewal period | 2 | every renewal |
| Child abuse recognition & reportingAll CRNPs; approved training in recognizing and reporting child abuse (3 hours for initial certification) | 2 | every renewal |
| Pharmacology (NP/APRN)CRNPs with prescriptive authority approval; part of the 30 hours | 16 | every renewal |
| Organ & tissue donationAll RNs from May 1, 2026: organ donation and tissue recovery, once within 5 years | 2 | once |
Good to know. Certification renews every 2 years ($81; prescriptive authority renewal $41). Prescribers also need a one-time 4 hours of opioid education (2 h pain management/addiction + 2 h prescribing) when first applying for prescriptive authority. Waivers possible for illness or hardship.
Source: www.pa.gov · 49 Pa. Code §§21.332-21.334; 63 P.S. §218.1(c); 35 P.S. §872.3 (Act 124 of 2016) · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Pennsylvania
05 Questions
How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Pennsylvania?
30 hours every 2 years.
Which CE courses count for nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania?
CE addressing the CRNP's specialty from providers listed in 49 Pa. Code §21.334(a) (CRNP programs, national nursing/medical/osteopathic/pharmaceutical organizations, nursing specialty organizations, other boards' APRN-approved programs) or Board-approved courses; 1 hour = 50 minutes; up to 4 hours for teaching, precepting or publications.
Which CE topics are mandatory for nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania?
Opioid prescribing & pain management — 2 h (every renewal); Child abuse recognition & reporting — 2 h (every renewal); Pharmacology (NP/APRN) — 16 h (every renewal); Organ & tissue donation — 2 h (once).
How do I verify a nurse practitioner license in Pennsylvania?
Use the license lookup of the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/nursing); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
How much does a nurse practitioner license renewal cost in Pennsylvania?
$81 per renewal, as listed by the board.
When is the renewal deadline for nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania?
Licenses renew on the date shown on your license (2 years cycle).