Tennessee · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in Tennessee

High confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board

Renewal cycle

Every 2 years (APN certificate)

Total CE hours

No fixed every year CE total — 'Continued Competence' model: maintain national certification + one additional competence indicator

Pharmacology hours

None separately mandated for routine renewal

Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu

Yes — national certification largely satisfies competence

State-mandated CE topics

Controlled-substance prescribing (TN Chronic Pain Guidelines): 2 hrs — APRNs with Certificate of Fitness.

Sources

Every figure on this page is compiled from the primary board and national certification sources below, cross-checked against reputable aggregators. Requirements change often and some boards publish only in PDFs or login-walled portals — confirm current rules directly before relying on them for renewal.

Tennessee licensing boardTennessee Board of Nursing

AANP certification (national)aanpcert.org/recert

ANCC certification (national)nursingworld.org/globalassets/certification/renewals/ancc-certrenewalrequirements.pdf

DEA MATE Act (federal)samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act

DEA MATE Act (federal)dea.gov

Verify with Tennessee Board of Nursing →

How this fits the national picture

Independent of Tennessee, every NP maintains national certification through AANP (100 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacology, plus 1,000 practice hours) or ANCC (75 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacotherapeutics). State CE sits on top of that.

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Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Tennessee?

No fixed every year CE total — 'Continued Competence' model: maintain national certification + one additional competence indicator. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (APN certificate).

Does Tennessee accept AANP or ANCC certification in lieu of state CE?

Yes — national certification largely satisfies competence.

What topic-specific CE does Tennessee require for nurse practitioners?

Controlled-substance prescribing (TN Chronic Pain Guidelines): 2 hrs — APRNs with Certificate of Fitness.

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in Tennessee?

None separately mandated for routine renewal.

Informational only, not legal or compliance advice. Continuing education rules change frequently. Confirm current requirements with the Tennessee Board of Nursing and your certifying body before relying on any figure here.