Massachusetts Continuing Education Requirements for Nurses and License Renewal

Meet your Massachusetts nursing CE requirements with ease. If you'd like a refresher on what's needed to renew your license, see the requirements below.

0 Mandatory Hours
15 Elective Hours
15 Total Hours
Shop Courses

Here's what you need to renew your Massachusetts Nursing license

The information below is a summary of the minimum requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. For a more detailed requirements breakdown, please see the board's site.
If you hold Nursing licenses in multiple states, please make sure to check each state's requirements.

Massachusetts Nursing: RN (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 15
Mandatory Hours: 0
Elective Hours: 15
Renewal Cycle in Years: 2

Online Info

Mandatory Subjects:

  • None

Additional information required for renewal:

  • All nurses are required to complete training and education on the issue of domestic violence and sexual violence. 
    Elite does not offer this course but it is available at no charge on the State Board Website: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/domestic-and-sexual-violence-training-chapter-260
    For more information, please visit the Chapter 260 Training - FAQ.
     
  • There is a one-time requirement for training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
    There is no prescribed course or number of education hours for this this training.  If you received any training or education in your academic nursing program, through professional staff development, conferences, seminars or continuing education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments including but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at any time then you meet the requirements of the training. 
     
  • Continuing education contact hours are not required for 1st renewal period. Thereafter, 15 contact hours of CE are required.

Online Limitations

There are no online limitations.

Roster

No roster required

Governing Agency

Name: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
Phone: 6179730900
Fax:
Address: 239 Causeway St 5th floor Suite 500 Boston, 02114

Massachusetts Nursing: LVN-LPN (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 15
Mandatory Hours: 0
Elective Hours: 15
Renewal Cycle in Years: 2

Online Info

Mandatory Subjects:

  • None

Additional information required for renewal:

  • All nurses are required to complete training and education on the issue of domestic violence and sexual violence. 
    Elite does not offer this course but it is available at no charge on the State Board Website: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/domestic-and-sexual-violence-training-chapter-260
    For more information, please visit the Chapter 260 Training - FAQ.
     
  • There is a one-time requirement 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.
    There is no prescribed course or number of education hours for this this training.  If you received any training or education in your academic nursing program, through professional staff development, conferences, seminars or continuing education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments including but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at any time then you meet the requirements of the training. 
     
  • Continuing education contact hours are not required for 1st renewal period. Thereafter, 15 contact hours of CE are required.

Online Limitations

There are no online limitations.

Roster

No roster required

Governing Agency

Name: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
Phone: 6179730900
Fax:
Address: 239 Causeway St 5th floor Suite 500 Boston, 02114

Massachusetts Nursing: APN (Continuing Education)

Total Hours Required: 15
Mandatory Hours: 0
Elective Hours: 15
Renewal Cycle in Years: 2

Online Info

NEW! DEA MATE ACT:
Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required to complete 8 hours of one-time training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.
 

Continuing education contact hours are not required for 1st renewal period. Thereafter, 15 contact hours of CE are required.

Requirements for APNs with prescriptive authority:
Minimum number of CE contact hours (not specified by Board) must be relative to: 

  • effective pain management
  • the risks 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, AND
  • 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

Additional requirements for renewal:
As a condition of licensure, registration, or certification, and any renewal, all nurses are required to complete training and education on the issue of domestic violence and sexual violence.
Elite does not offer this course but it is available at no charge on the State Board Website:

https://www.mass.gov/how-to/domestic-and-sexual-violence-training-chapter-260

For more information, please visit the Chapter 260 Training - FAQ.


One-time requirement for initial licensure:
Pursuant to chapter 220 of the acts of 2018, as of November 7, 2018, applicants for initial licensure must 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.

There is no prescribed course or number of education hours for this this training.  If you received any training or education in your academic nursing program, through professional staff development, conferences, seminars or continuing education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments including but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at any time then you meet the requirements of the training.

Online Limitations

There are no online limitations.

Roster

No roster required

Governing Agency

Name: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
Phone: 6179730900
Fax:
Address: 239 Causeway St 5th floor Suite 500 Boston, 02114

Good to know

Other facts and insights about completing your CE

Note: This license renewal information is provided as a convenience only and is subject to change at any time. It's ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to be sure that he or she is meeting all requirements for each license and corresponding renewal period.