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New Jersey CME and nursing CE requirements
Continuing education and license renewal rules for physicians, advanced practice clinicians and nurses licensed in New Jersey, 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
- New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners
- License lookup
- Public license verification
- 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
- 100 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. 100 hours per 2 years, at least 40 Category 1. Mandated topics (for example opioid/controlled substances and cultural competency) exist; hours not confirmed 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
- 100 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. 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
- 30 hours every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | At least one hour on prescription opioids, alternatives for pain and risks of abuse, addiction and diversion (RN rule 13:37-5.3(b), applied to APNs) |
| End-of-life / palliative care | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | Two of the credits on end-of-life care (N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8(b), N.J.S.A. 45:11-47.1) |
| Pharmacology | 6 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | Six contact hours of pharmacology related to controlled dangerous substances are an initial prescriptive-authority application requirement, not a renewal topic |
Notes. N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8: every biennial period an APN completes the CE required for RN renewal under 13:37-5.3 (minimum 30 hours, with at least 1 opioid hour) plus the continuing education requirements of the national certifying agency, with two credits on end-of-life care. Up to 15 extra hours may carry over. The 2026 independent-practice law is not separately confirmed here.
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. 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
- 50 hours every 2 years, with at least 50 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | One of the 50 credits must cover prescription opioids, responsible prescribing, alternatives for pain and risks of abuse, addiction and diversion |
| Implicit bias | 1 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | One of the 50 credits on explicit and implicit bias, required at the first renewal after May 5, 2026 for PAs who provide perinatal care to pregnant persons |
Notes. N.J.A.C. 13:35-2B.8 (amended effective 5/5/2025): at least 50 Category I credit hours per biennial renewal from AMA, AAPA, AAFP, AOA or ACCME-approved courses; up to 15 credits earned in the last six months may carry over. The older 40-hour figure is outdated, and the 50-hour figure is confirmed. Renewal proof is required under 13:35-2B.7.
CRNA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | At least one hour on prescription opioids, alternatives for pain and risks of abuse, addiction and diversion (RN rule 13:37-5.3(b), applied to APNs) |
| End-of-life / palliative care | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | Two of the credits on end-of-life care (N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8(b), N.J.S.A. 45:11-47.1) |
Notes. N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.1(a) defines advanced practice nurses to include certified registered nurse anesthetists, so 13:37-7.8 applies: CE required for RN renewal under 13:37-5.3 (30 hours including 1 opioid hour) plus the national certifying agency requirements (NBCRNA recertification), with two credits on end-of-life care.
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. New Jersey is not among the states or jurisdictions listed for anesthesiologist assistant practice by the CU Anschutz AA program. No New Jersey board licensing pathway was found.
New Jersey 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 New Jersey has implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact. A registered or practical nurse whose primary state of residence is New Jersey can hold a multistate license issued by New Jersey, which carries the privilege to practice in the other compact states, and a nurse with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in New Jersey under that privilege. Renewal and CE for a multistate license follow the rules of the home state that issued it. 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. Some details are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them.
- Continuing education
- 30 contact hours every 2 years
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (05-31)
- Board
- New Jersey Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | Prescription opioid drugs, alternatives for pain, and risks and signs of abuse, addiction and diversion (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(b)) |
Notes. N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3: 30 hours in the preceding biennial period, up to 15 extra hours may carry into the next period, and the Board may waive CE for hardship. The renewal cycle runs June 1 to May 31 according to a secondary summary of the Board's CE FAQ, which is not confirmed here, so confirm the expiry date.
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. Some details are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them.
- Continuing education
- 30 contact hours every 2 years
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (05-31)
- Board
- New Jersey Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | Prescription opioid drugs, alternatives for pain, and risks and signs of abuse, addiction and diversion (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(b)) |
Notes. N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3: 30 hours in the preceding biennial period, up to 15 extra hours may carry into the next period, and the Board may waive CE for hardship. The renewal cycle runs June 1 to May 31 according to a secondary summary of the Board's CE FAQ, which is not confirmed here, so confirm the expiry date.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNM)
Not yet verified This nursing entry has not been checked against the board’s own published rules, so confirm it with the board before you rely on it.
- Continuing education
- Not recorded, on a cycle of 2 years, so confirm the figure with the board.
- Other ways to meet it
- The renewal rule (13:35-2A.7) asks for a biennial application, the fee and proof of current ACNM, AMCB or NARM certification and states no CE hour count.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years
- Board
- New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners (midwifery licensing)
- 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. New Jersey licenses midwives, including certified nurse-midwives, under the State Board of Medical Examiners (N.J.A.C. 13:35-2A). The renewal rule (13:35-2A.7) asks for a biennial application, the fee and proof of current ACNM, AMCB or NARM certification and states no CE hour count. A CNM who also holds an APN certificate from the Board of Nursing would follow the APN rule (30 hours with 1 opioid hour and 2 end-of-life credits). It is not settled whether the Medical Examiners' CE rules apply to midwives.
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
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (05-31)
- Board
- New Jersey Board of Nursing
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 1 | Every cycle | Everyone | Prescription opioid drugs, alternatives for pain, and risks and signs of abuse, addiction and diversion (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(b)) |
| End-of-life / palliative care | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | Two of the credits on end-of-life care (N.J.S.A. 45:11-47.1) |
Notes. Clinical nurse specialists are advance practice nurses in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8: an advanced practice nurse completes the RN CE under 13:37-5.3 plus the national certifying agency's CE, with two credits in end-of-life care. The Board's rule does not separately list the certifying agency's hours.
See nursing CE requirements by state to compare New Jersey with other states.
Plan this renewal
Use the free opioid CME planner to see the controlled-substance rules for New Jersey 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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