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Hawaii CME and nursing CE requirements
Continuing education and license renewal rules for physicians, advanced practice clinicians and nurses licensed in Hawaii, as recorded by ClinLicense for planning.
Planning aid only. ClinLicense is not legal or compliance advice. Boards change rules between cycles, so confirm every requirement with the board before you rely on it.
- Licensing board
- Hawaii Medical Board
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
MD CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-10-31 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-10-31. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details below are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 40 hours every 2 years, with at least 40 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
No mandated topics are recorded for this profession in this state. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. 40 Category 1 hours per 2 years (confirm); the board also has other rules not captured here.
DO CME requirements
Not yet verified Not yet verified, confirm with the board. This entry has not been checked against the board’s own published rules.
- Total hours
- 40 hours every 2 years, with at least 40 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
No mandated topics are recorded for this profession in this state. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. Copied from the MD block as a planning default; the osteopathic rules were not separately confirmed. Confirm with the board.
NP CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 30 hours every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 8 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | At least 8 of the 30 hours in pharmacology |
Notes. Hawaii Board of Nursing APRN renewal page: APRNs with prescriptive authority submit proof of current national certification and at least 30 hours of continuing education, at least 8 in pharmacology; APRN license renews with the RN license by June 30 of odd-numbered years (current period July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027). APRNs without prescriptive authority are not subject to these additional hours, and all nurses must meet the continuing competency requirement (HRS 457-9) through one of the learning-activity options.
PA CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- Not recorded every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
No mandated topics are recorded for this profession in this state. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. Hawaii Medical Board PA renewal page: all PAs must submit proof of current NCCPA certification with the renewal, and the supervising physician license must also be renewed. No separate state CME hour count is stated; CME follows NCCPA maintenance. PA renewal $150 active, renewed by January 31 of even-numbered years.
CRNA CME requirements
Not yet verified Not yet verified, confirm with the board. This entry has not been checked against the board’s own published rules.
- Total hours
- Not recorded every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
No mandated topics are recorded for this profession in this state. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. CRNAs are APRNs in Hawaii. The 30-hour/8-pharmacology renewal requirement on the board APRN page applies to APRNs with prescriptive authority; the page does not address CRNAs separately, and RN continuing competency (HRS 457-9) applies to all nurse licensees. Confirm with the board whether a CRNA without prescriptive authority owes any hours beyond national certification maintenance.
CAA CME requirements
Not yet verified Not yet verified, confirm with the board. This entry has not been checked against the board’s own published rules.
- Total hours
- Not recorded, and the renewal cycle is not recorded
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
No mandated topics are recorded for this profession in this state. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. Secondary source; confirm with the board. Hawaii is not among the states or jurisdictions listed for anesthesiologist assistant practice by the CU Anschutz AA program, and the Hawaii Medical Board application list shows no AA license.
Hawaii nursing CE requirements
Nursing boards usually count continuing education in contact hours rather than CME credits, and the nursing license renews on its own schedule, which may differ from the medical board dates above. Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists have their own sections above.
Nurse Licensure Compact Hawaii is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Nurses practicing in Hawaii need a Hawaii license, and a multistate license from a compact state does not cover practice there. The compact covers RN and LPN/LVN licenses only, and advanced practice authority is still granted state by state. This compact list was last reviewed on November 3, 2026. Read the compact guide for RNs and LPNs.
Registered nurses (RN)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 30 contact hours every 2 years
- Other ways to meet it
- Hawaii requires one continuing competency learning activity per biennium (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027); the options are 30 CE contact hours, a board-approved refresher course, 2 post-licensure semester credits, 120 preceptor hours, a research or evidence-based practice project, a published article or book chapter, developing and presenting CE, a nurse residency program, or another pre-approved activity. Current national certification in the nurse's role exempts the licensee, and a graduate within 12 months of the first renewal date is exempt, while one 12 to 24 months out needs 15 CE hours or another listed activity.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (06-30)
- Board
- Hawaii Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
No mandated topics are recorded for this license. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. Hawaii requires one continuing competency learning activity per biennium (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027); the options are 30 CE contact hours, a board-approved refresher course, 2 post-licensure semester credits, 120 preceptor hours, a research or evidence-based practice project, a published article or book chapter, developing and presenting CE, a nurse residency program, or another pre-approved activity. Current national certification in the nurse's role exempts the licensee, and a graduate within 12 months of the first renewal date is exempt, while one 12 to 24 months out needs 15 CE hours or another listed activity. The board names no mandatory CE topics.
Licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPN/LVN)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 30 contact hours every 2 years
- Other ways to meet it
- Hawaii requires for LPNs and RNs alike one continuing competency learning activity per biennium (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027); the options are 30 CE contact hours, a board-approved refresher course, 2 post-licensure semester credits, 120 preceptor hours, a research or evidence-based practice project, a published article or book chapter, developing and presenting CE, a nurse residency program, or another pre-approved activity. Current national certification in the nurse's role exempts the licensee, and a graduate within 12 months of the first renewal date is exempt, while one 12 to 24 months out needs 15 CE hours or another listed activity.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (06-30)
- Board
- Hawaii Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
No mandated topics are recorded for this license. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. Hawaii requires for LPNs and RNs alike one continuing competency learning activity per biennium (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027); the options are 30 CE contact hours, a board-approved refresher course, 2 post-licensure semester credits, 120 preceptor hours, a research or evidence-based practice project, a published article or book chapter, developing and presenting CE, a nurse residency program, or another pre-approved activity. Current national certification in the nurse's role exempts the licensee, and a graduate within 12 months of the first renewal date is exempt, while one 12 to 24 months out needs 15 CE hours or another listed activity. The board names no mandatory CE topics.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNM)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 30 contact hours every 2 years
- Other ways to meet it
- APRN rule from the board's 2025-2027 manual: an APRN with current national certification in the practice role is exempt from the continuing competency activity, and an APRN with prescriptive authority must also complete 30 contact hours of CE in the biennium, at least 8 in pharmacology and at least 22 in the specialty.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (06-30)
- Board
- Hawaii Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 8 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | At least 8 of the 30 hours in pharmacology (APRNs with prescriptive authority only) |
Notes. APRN rule from the board's 2025-2027 manual: an APRN with current national certification in the practice role is exempt from the continuing competency activity, and an APRN with prescriptive authority must also complete 30 contact hours of CE in the biennium, at least 8 in pharmacology and at least 22 in the specialty. The 30 hours are therefore owed only by prescribers. The RN license must be renewed at the same time, and the renewal deadline is June 30 of odd-numbered years.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- 30 contact hours every 2 years
- Other ways to meet it
- APRN rule from the board's 2025-2027 manual: an APRN with current national certification in the practice role is exempt from the continuing competency activity, and an APRN with prescriptive authority must also complete 30 contact hours of CE in the biennium, at least 8 in pharmacology and at least 22 in the specialty.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (06-30)
- Board
- Hawaii Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 8 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | At least 8 of the 30 hours in pharmacology (APRNs with prescriptive authority only) |
Notes. APRN rule from the board's 2025-2027 manual: an APRN with current national certification in the practice role is exempt from the continuing competency activity, and an APRN with prescriptive authority must also complete 30 contact hours of CE in the biennium, at least 8 in pharmacology and at least 22 in the specialty. The 30 hours are therefore owed only by prescribers. The RN license must be renewed at the same time, and the renewal deadline is June 30 of odd-numbered years.
See nursing CE requirements by state to compare Hawaii with other states.
Plan this renewal
Use the free opioid CME planner to see the controlled-substance rules for Hawaii next to other states, or the license cost calculator to estimate fees. Read how multi-state CME works if you hold more than one license.
Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants usually also maintain national certification, which has its own cycle. The recertification basics guide explains how that fits alongside state rules. Nurses who hold licenses in more than one state can read the Nurse Licensure Compact for RNs and LPNs.
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