What are New Jersey's State CE Requirements?

The New Jersey Board of Nursing provides the following guidelines regarding the continuing education requirements for nursing professions in New Jersey.

Licensed Practical Nurses

• LPNs are required to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years.
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be on prescription opioid drugs
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be in implicit and explicit bias if nurse provides care to pregnant persons.
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be on Organ and Tissue Donation and Recovery (one-time only).

Registered Nurses

• RNs are required to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years.
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be on prescription opioid drugs
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be in implicit and explicit bias if nurse provides care to pregnant persons.
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be on Organ and Tissue Donation and Recovery (one-time only).

Advanced Practice Nurses

APNs must maintain their national certification and are required to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years.

• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be on prescription opioid drugs
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be in implicit and explicit bias if a nurse provides care to pregnant persons.
• 2 of the 30 contact hours must be on end-of-life care
  1 of the 30 contact hours must be on Organ and Tissue Donation and Recovery (one-time only).

Advanced Practice Nurse Independent Prescriber

As of April 2026, New Jersey APNs can practice and prescribe independently after completing the required pharmacology education. Additional information on this change can be found here.

• Initial APN Independent Prescriber Requirements
• 14 Hours of controlled substance education
• 6 hours related to controlled substances, including pharmacologic therapy and addiction prevention and management
• 8 hours DEA Mate Act - treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders
• APRN Independent Prescriber Renewal Requirements
• 10 hours of controlled substances
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be on prescription opioid drugs
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be in implicit and explicit bias if a nurse provides care to pregnant persons.
• 2 of the 30 contact hours must be on end-of-life care
• 1 of the 30 contact hours must be on Organ and Tissue Donation and Recovery (one-time only).

APN Independent Prescriber

"As of April 2, 2026, Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in New Jersey who practice independently are held to the same care standards as other independent healthcare professionals. The APN Law, which was enacted on March 30, establishes specific requirements for these practitioners. Notably, APNs must maintain malpractice insurance and complete pharmacology education. They are required to complete 14 continuing education hours focused on pharmacology related to controlled substances, as well as an additional 10 hours every two years. The Board of Nursing will create rules to implement this law."

• Derived from New Jersey Board of Nursing March 30 APN Law signed into order on April 2, 2026. New Jersey BON details the updates here and further information in NJ section 13:37-7.2

If you are an RN or LPN, a one-time payment of $49.99 includes unlimited access to all of Nursing CE Central's RN / LVN course offerings for an entire year. This means you can take as many courses as you need to renew your New Jersey RN / LPN license, and you have the freedom to take even more courses to further expand your knowledge. We've even created the New Jersey Renewal Bundle (included with enrollment), which contains all 30 contact hours in one convenient bundle.

If you are ready to begin your continuing education for your New Jersey RN/ LPN license renewal, click here to enroll now!

If you are an APRN a one-time payment of $149.99 includes unlimited access to all of Nursing CE Central's APRN and RN / LPN course offerings for an entire year. This means you can take as many courses as you need to renew your New Jersey APRN license, and you have the freedom to take even more courses to further expand your knowledge. We've even created the  New Jersey APRN Bundle (included with enrollment), which contains all 30 contact hours in one convenient bundle.

If you are ready to begin your continuing education for your New Jersey APRN license renewal, click here to enroll now!

Nursing CE Central is directly accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the  New Jersey Board of Nursing accepts and honors this national accreditation.

For information on Nursing CE Central's accreditation(s) for your state, click here!

For further information on your renewal requirements, click here for a link to the  New Jersey Board of Nursing website.