Tennessee Nurse Practitioner CE Requirements

Renewal cycle

2 years (biennial)

Total CE hours

No fixed total CE hours. Under Rule 1000-01-.18(2), an APRN renews by showing (1) current national certification (ANCC, AANP, etc.) and (2) ONE item from the RN continued-competence menu (one menu option is 10 contact hours of CE per renewal period, but employer evaluation, peer letter, self-evaluation, etc. also satisfy it).

Pharmacology CE

None per renewal. Pharmacology requirements (3 quarter hours of graduate pharmacology instruction) apply only to the initial Certificate of Fitness application, not to biennial renewal. Ongoing pharmacology is effectively deferred to national certification maintenance.

Controlled-substance CE

2 contact hours (minimum) per biennial renewal of CE specifically addressing controlled substance prescribing practices, required for every APRN holding a Certificate of Fitness (prescriptive authority). Must include instruction in the TN Department of Health treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol (Rule 1000-01-.18(2)).

Good to know

Verified from the Board's official Continuing Competence Requirements document (updated 06/2025, Rule 1000-01-.18(2)(a)(b)(c)). Key split: APRN WITHOUT Certificate of Fitness = certification + 1 RN competence item; APRN WITH Certificate of Fitness = certification + 1 RN competence item + the 2-hour controlled-substance CE. A PMHNP who prescribes (holds a CF) must complete the 2-hour requirement. Evidence must be retained 4 years and produced on Board request.

Official sources