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Texas · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in Texas

High confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (birth month/year)
Total CE hours
20 contact hours in area of practice OR maintain board-approved national certification
Pharmacology hours
+5 contact hours pharmacotherapeutics for Rx authority (in addition to the 20)
Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu
Yes — national certification substitutes for the 20 hrs (not the jurisprudence/ethics requirement)

State-mandated CE topics

  • Pain management/opioid prescribing: 2 hrs — Rx authority.
  • Human trafficking prevention: — Every 2 yrs, HHSC-approved.
  • Nursing jurisprudence & ethics: 2 hrs — At least once every 6 yrs.
  • Geriatric/older-adult CE: 2 hrs — If practice includes that population.

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.

Texas licensing boardTexas 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 Texas Board of Nursing →

How this fits the national picture

Independent of Texas, 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.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Texas?

20 contact hours in area of practice OR maintain board-approved national certification. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (birth month/year).

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

Yes — national certification substitutes for the 20 hrs (not the jurisprudence/ethics requirement).

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

Pain management/opioid prescribing: 2 hrs — Rx authority. Human trafficking prevention: — Every 2 yrs, HHSC-approved. Nursing jurisprudence & ethics: 2 hrs — At least once every 6 yrs. Geriatric/older-adult CE: 2 hrs — If practice includes that population.

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in Texas?

+5 contact hours pharmacotherapeutics for Rx authority (in addition to the 20).

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