As with all licenses, your nursing license will eventually expire.
And to renew it, you need to complete some requirements.
However, prerequisites for renewal may vary depending on whether you’re a CNA, an LPN, an RN, or an APRN.
To help you out, we’ve created a guide for all nursing CE requirements in New Jersey to ensure you have all the details you need about your renewal.
So shall we?
New Jersey Nursing CE Requirements
There’s a lot of information regarding continuing education requirements for nurses in New Jersey. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick reference guide you can use.
| Type | Requirement |
| CNA(Certified Nurse Assistant) | No CE Required! Although CNAs need to fulfill renewal requirements, continuing education hours are not part of these. |
| LPN(Licensed Practical Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * Must include 1 hour on opioids |
| RN(Registered Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * Must include 1 hour on opioids One Time Requirement — 1 hour on organ and tissue donation and recovery |
| APRN(Advanced Practical Registered Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * Must include 2 hours on end-of-life care One Time Requirement — 1 hour on organ and tissue donation and recovery If with prescriptive authority — one time requirement of additional 6 hours in pharmacology |
If you want to take a deeper look at the various requirements, continue reading!
New Jersey CNA Continuing Education Requirements
45 days before your CNA license expires, you’ll receive a notice or reminder from PSI. Although Certified Nursing Aides in New Jersey don’t have to complete any CE requirements, there are other things they need to fulfill.
At the time of renewal, their certification must be current and valid. If it has lapsed, they’ll need to undergo a different process.
They also need at least 7 paid hours as a nursing aide within the last 24 months.
What’s more, the certificate must not have been suspended or revoked at any time during the renewal cycle. And, these nurses even need to complete a history background check, which includes fingerprinting.
New Jersey LPN Continuing Education Requirements
Unlike other states, LPNs in New Jersey only have CE requirements for their license renewal. They don’t need to complete a specific number of practice hours.
So if you’re a Licensed Practical Nurse, you need to complete 30 CE hours every 2 years.
29 of these are elective. This means you’re free to choose subjects that genuinely interest you or those that you feel will benefit you most in your current environment.
Note: make sure that the subjects you choose are Board-approved.
The remaining 1 hour SHOULD be on the prescription of opioids. These must include topics such as the following:
- Alternatives for managing and treating pain
- Risks and signs of opioid use, addiction, and diversion
New Jersey RN Continuing Education Requirements
Like other states, the renewal requirement for Registered Nurses is similar to LPNs’.
You also need to earn 30 contact hours within the 24 months directly preceding your renewal date.
Out of the 30 hours, only 1 is mandatory, and it must be about prescription opioid drugs. The content must include alternatives to opioids for treating and managing pain. It must also cover the various risks of opioid use and signs of addiction and diversion.
The rest are elective hours, so you have the freedom to select subjects of your choice.
On top of that, Registered Nurses have to take 1 hour on organ and tissue donation and recovery. It is on top of the 30 hours but is only a one-time requirement. It means you don’t need to go through it each time you renew your license.
New Jersey APRN Continuing Education Requirements
Advanced Practical Registered Nurses in New Jersey need to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years.
2 hours must be on end-of-life care. Remember that it is part of your 30 hours.
Like RNs, APRNs have to take a 1-hour course on organ and tissue donation and recovery. It’s also a one-time requirement, so it’s not something you have to complete each time you renew your license.
If you have prescribing authority, you’ll have additional requirements. On top of the required 30 contact hours, you need to complete a 6-hour course on pharmacology related to controlled substances.
It should cover the following:
- Pharmacologic therapy
- Addiction prevention and management
- Issues concerning opioids (this includes the various topics required of RNs in their 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs)
Know that the 6 contact hours on pharmacology are a one-time requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my New Jersey CNA certification if it’s already lapsed?
The process varies depending on how long ago your certification expired.
If more than 5 years have passed, you need to undergo the following:
- A 90-hour nurse aid program or an 85-hour personal care assistant program
- Written or oral examination
- Skills evaluation
If it’s been less than 5 years, you can skip the required nursing program and go through the exams and skills evaluation.
How often do RNs, LPNs, APRNs need to renew their licenses in New Jersey?
Nurses in New Jersey need to renew every 2 years. Licenses expire on May 31st, 24 months after it was first issued.
So for example, if you got your license on June 30, 2019, its expiration date is May 31, 2021. If you got it in 2021, you need to renew it by May 31, 2023.
All this applies, regardless of whether you’re an LPN, an RN, or an APRN.
Do my contact hours need to be in-person?
No. The New Jersey Nursing Board allows you to go through online courses for your CE requirements. Just don’t forget to download your certificate of completion for safekeeping.
We recommend that you have these in file for at least 5 years for documentation purposes.
Can I carry over CE hours if I exceed 30?
Some activities earn you more contact hours than necessary. For example, you already have 26 hours, but you’re attending a course that runs for 8.
Although you’ll hit 30 halfway through it, you have to finish the course if you want to get your certificate of completion.
Don’t look at it as a waste of time. In New Jersey, you can carry over up to 15 hours to your next renewal cycle.
Is there a multistate license of APRNs?
Unfortunately, although New Jersey is a compact state, the Nurse Licensure Compact only applies to LPNs and RNs.
Conclusion
Nursing requirements are different for each state. It also varies depending on what type of license you carry.
But with this guide on the nursing CE requirements in New Jersey, we hope that your requirements are clear in your mind.
So, if you’re due for license renewal, now you know what you have to complete.
Good luck!
As with all licenses, your nursing license will eventually expire.
And to renew it, you need to complete some requirements.
However, prerequisites for renewal may vary depending on whether you’re a CNA, an LPN, an RN, or an APRN.
To help you out, we’ve created a guide for all nursing CE requirements in New Jersey to ensure you have all the details you need about your renewal.
So shall we?
New Jersey Nursing CE Requirements
There’s a lot of information regarding continuing education requirements for nurses in New Jersey. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick reference guide you can use.
| Type | Requirement |
| CNA(Certified Nurse Assistant) | No CE Required! Although CNAs need to fulfill renewal requirements, continuing education hours are not part of these. |
| LPN(Licensed Practical Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * Must include 1 hour on opioids |
| RN(Registered Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * Must include 1 hour on opioidsOne Time Requirement — 1 hour on organ and tissue donation and recovery |
| APRN(Advanced Practical Registered Nurse) | 30 CE hours every 2 years * Must include 2 hours on end-of-life careOne Time Requirement — 1 hour on organ and tissue donation and recovery If with prescriptive authority — one time requirement of additional 6 hours in pharmacology |
If you want to take a deeper look at the various requirements, continue reading!
New Jersey CNA Continuing Education Requirements
45 days before your CNA license expires, you’ll receive a notice or reminder from PSI. Although Certified Nursing Aides in New Jersey don’t have to complete any CE requirements, there are other things they need to fulfill.
At the time of renewal, their certification must be current and valid. If it has lapsed, they’ll need to undergo a different process.
They also need at least 7 paid hours as a nursing aide within the last 24 months.
What’s more, the certificate must not have been suspended or revoked at any time during the renewal cycle. And, these nurses even need to complete a history background check, which includes fingerprinting.
New Jersey LPN Continuing Education Requirements
Unlike other states, LPNs in New Jersey only have CE requirements for their license renewal. They don’t need to complete a specific number of practice hours.
So if you’re a Licensed Practical Nurse, you need to complete 30 CE hours every 2 years.
29 of these are elective. This means you’re free to choose subjects that genuinely interest you or those that you feel will benefit you most in your current environment.
Note: make sure that the subjects you choose are Board-approved.
The remaining 1 hour SHOULD be on the prescription of opioids. These must include topics such as the following:
- Alternatives for managing and treating pain
- Risks and signs of opioid use, addiction, and diversion
New Jersey RN Continuing Education Requirements
Like other states, the renewal requirement for Registered Nurses is similar to LPNs’.
You also need to earn 30 contact hours within the 24 months directly preceding your renewal date.
Out of the 30 hours, only 1 is mandatory, and it must be about prescription opioid drugs. The content must include alternatives to opioids for treating and managing pain. It must also cover the various risks of opioid use and signs of addiction and diversion.
The rest are elective hours, so you have the freedom to select subjects of your choice.
On top of that, Registered Nurses have to take 1 hour on organ and tissue donation and recovery. It is on top of the 30 hours but is only a one-time requirement. It means you don’t need to go through it each time you renew your license.
New Jersey APRN Continuing Education Requirements
Advanced Practical Registered Nurses in New Jersey need to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years.
2 hours must be on end-of-life care. Remember that it is part of your 30 hours.
Like RNs, APRNs have to take a 1-hour course on organ and tissue donation and recovery. It’s also a one-time requirement, so it’s not something you have to complete each time you renew your license.
If you have prescribing authority, you’ll have additional requirements. On top of the required 30 contact hours, you need to complete a 6-hour course on pharmacology related to controlled substances.
It should cover the following:
- Pharmacologic therapy
- Addiction prevention and management
- Issues concerning opioids (this includes the various topics required of RNs in their 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs)
Know that the 6 contact hours on pharmacology are a one-time requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my New Jersey CNA certification if it’s already lapsed?
The process varies depending on how long ago your certification expired.
If more than 5 years have passed, you need to undergo the following:
- A 90-hour nurse aid program or an 85-hour personal care assistant program
- Written or oral examination
- Skills evaluation
If it’s been less than 5 years, you can skip the required nursing program and go through the exams and skills evaluation.
How often do RNs, LPNs, APRNs need to renew their licenses in New Jersey?
Nurses in New Jersey need to renew every 2 years. Licenses expire on May 31st, 24 months after it was first issued.
So for example, if you got your license on June 30, 2019, its expiration date is May 31, 2021. If you got it in 2021, you need to renew it by May 31, 2023.
All this applies, regardless of whether you’re an LPN, an RN, or an APRN.
Do my contact hours need to be in-person?
No. The New Jersey Nursing Board allows you to go through online courses for your CE requirements. Just don’t forget to download your certificate of completion for safekeeping.
We recommend that you have these in file for at least 5 years for documentation purposes.
Can I carry over CE hours if I exceed 30?
Some activities earn you more contact hours than necessary. For example, you already have 26 hours, but you’re attending a course that runs for 8.
Although you’ll hit 30 halfway through it, you have to finish the course if you want to get your certificate of completion.
Don’t look at it as a waste of time. In New Jersey, you can carry over up to 15 hours to your next renewal cycle.
Is there a multistate license of APRNs?
Unfortunately, although New Jersey is a compact state, the Nurse Licensure Compact only applies to LPNs and RNs.
Conclusion
Nursing requirements are different for each state. It also varies depending on what type of license you carry.
But with this guide on the nursing CE requirements in New Jersey, we hope that your requirements are clear in your mind.
So, if you’re due for license renewal, now you know what you have to complete.
Good luck!