Continuing Education Requirements for Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses
During a typical continuing education accrual period (24 months) an LPN and RN must participate in 30 contact hours of continuing education.
Activities which may meet continuing education requirements
Continuing education requirements may be fulfilled in one of three ways:
- obtain or renew a current nursing specialty certificate (this is not an APRN certification) during the licensure period
- participate in continuing education activities offered by providers of continuing education
- continue formal nursing education through a Board approved or a program with national nursing accreditation
It is the licensee's responsibility to determine whether a current nursing certificate, a continuing education activity, or a professional activity meets the continuing education requirements.
Rules regarding continuing education requirements for LPNs & RNs
16.12.2.10 LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED AND PRACTICAL NURSES:
R. Requirements for relicensure and reactivation. Applicants for relicensure and reactivation must meet CE requirements as stated in these rules, pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act Section 61-3-24 NMSA 1978. The CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period.
(3) 30 hours of approved CE must be accrued within the 24 months immediately preceding expiration of license. CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period.
(a) Certified nurse practitioners must complete a total of 50 hours of approved CE each renewal. CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period. A copy of the specialty certification/recertification card or certificate shall be presented at the time of each subsequent renewal.
(b) Certified registered nurse anesthetists must submit a copy of the recertification card issued by NBCRNA for renewal of the CRNA license.
(c) Clinical nurse specialist must complete a total of 50 hours of approved continuing education each renewal. CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period. A copy of the specialty certification/recertification card or certificate shall be presented at the time of each subsequent renewal.
(d) Exception: if renewing, nurses mobilized for military action are not required to meet the CE requirements while on active duty, other than training, during a military action. A copy of the mobilization order must be submitted along with the renewal application.
[16.12.2.10 NMAC - Rp, 16.12.2.10 NMAC, 10/1/2016; A, 9/12/2017; A, 5/3/2018]
Prorated continuing education requirements for your first renewal
Coming soon