Nursing CE Requirements in Massachusetts – Everything You Should Know

Is it almost time to renew your nursing license?

Then you should start preparing your renewal requirements. 

In Massachusetts, that can be mean several things for different nursing licenses. 

Today, we’re going to talk about the nursing CE requirements in Massachusetts for CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and APRNs. So that there is something for everyone here. 

Without further ado, let’s get to it. 

Massachusetts Nursing CE Requirements

Here is a summary of all the nursing CE requirements: 

Let’s get into more detail for each nursing requirement.

Massachusetts CNA Continuing Education Requirements

Certified Nursing Assistants need to renew their license every 2 years. 

Now, they don’t have to take any CE courses to be eligible for renewal. 

They can renew as long as within 2 years of service, the applicant was able to accomplish a service related to nursing for at least one 8-hour period. 

Massachusetts LPN Continuing Education Requirements 

Licensed Practical Nurses in Massachusetts need to renew their license every 2 years. That is, it will expire on your birthdate of any odd-numbered year. 

As for CE requirements, LPNs must complete 15 contact hours of continuing education. 1 hour should be on Sexual and/or Domestic Violence. The rest can be any nursing-related course approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. 

However, if you are renewing for the first time, the requirements are different. 

You don’t need to take any CE courses. But you do need to complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Massachusetts RN Continuing Education Requirements 

As is often the case, RNs have the same renewal requirements as LPNs. 

The difference is that, this time, RN licenses expire on your birthdate every even-numbered year. 

As for the rest of the requirements, let’s give you a recap:

• First-time renewals must complete a one-time training and education in diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments, i.e Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• For subsequent renewals, RNs must complete 15 CE hours, in which 1 hour must be on Sexual and/or Domestic Violence

Massachusetts APRN Continuing Education Requirements 

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses are basically registered nurses that perform more complex services.

So because of that, they need to present a current RN license when renewing. They should also present a current certification from a Board recognized national professional organization.

On top of that, APRNs also need to complete 15 CE hours (1 hour on Sexual and/or Domestic Violence). This is in addition to the CE requirements to maintain your RN license and certification. 

If you are an APRN with prescriptive authority, you need to study:

• Effective pain management 
• Risk 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
• Opioid antagonists, overdose prevention treatments, and instances in which a patient may be advised on both the use of and ways to access opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments

You should renew your APRN the same time as your RN. That means that it also expires on your birthdate in even-numbered years. 

Key Things to Remember

• 15 hours of continuing education is mandatory for all nurses in Massachusetts (except CNAs). 
• First-time renewals don’t need to take any CE courses. But they do need to take one-time training and education on certain topics
• Massachusetts does not have a list of approved CE programs so the learner should be responsible to follow the Board’s regulatory requirements for a CE program 
• CNA licenses expire every 2 years
• RN and APRN licenses expire on the holder’s birthdate every even-numbered years
• LPN licenses expire on the holder’s birthdate every odd-numbered years 
• CPR (or cardiopulmonary resuscitation) courses or programs are NOT approved for continuing education in Massachusetts
• The Board has the authority to request a verification of your compliance at any time

Conclusion

Those were all the nursing CE requirements in Massachusetts. 

So if your license expiration date is fast approaching, you should consider taking the steps to fulfilling your requirements. 

If you’re a CNA, then you need to fulfill some working hours to renew your license.

If youre a LPN, RN, or APRN, you should start taking your CE requirements right away. Remember, you have to make sure that the courses you take are approved by the Board so that it will satisfy state requirements. 

We hope that this article has been a great help!

Last updated: March 30, 2023 (Requirements taken from Massachusetts BRN website)