Western Schools Massachusetts Nursing Continuing Education Courses

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

Massachusetts Nursing CE Requirements

CE Requirements for RNs & LPNs/LVNs

Total Hours Required: 15
Renewal Cycle: 2 Years

• 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.

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CE Requirements for APNs

Total Hours Required: 15
Renewal Cycle: 2 Years

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

Requirements for RNs 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.

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.

Get full details at the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.