Massachusetts Continuing Education Requirements

RNs shall earn 15 contact hours every 2 years (excluding those renewing for the first time) for licensure renewal.

• Domestic and Sexual Violence: At least one (1) of the fifteen (15) hours must address Chapter 260 requirements for Sexual and/or Domestic Violence.
  • Massachusetts provides this required course for licensees HERE.

Pursuant to chapter 220 of the acts of 2018, as of November 7, 2018, applicants for initial licensure must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

LPNs shall earn 15 contact hours every 2 years (excluding those renewing for the first time) for licensure renewal.

• Domestic and Sexual Violence: At least one (1) of the fifteen (15) hours must address Chapter 260 requirements for Sexual and/or Domestic Violence.
  • Massachusetts provides this required course for licensees HERE.

Pursuant to chapter 220 of the acts of 2018, as of November 7, 2018, applicants for initial licensure must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

APRNs shall earn fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education every two years for licensure renewal.

• To renew an APRN authorization to practice, you must hold a current MA RN license.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence: At least one (1) of the fifteen (15) hours must address Chapter 260 requirements for Sexual and/or Domestic Violence.
  • Massachusetts provides this required course for licensees HERE.
• Whether you bill MassHealth or not, you still need to enroll as a fully participating provider or as a non-billing provider. You will be asked to provide your individual National Provider Identifier (NPI) when enrolling.
  • MGL c. 112, § 80B was amended to include mandatory enrollment in MassHealth for ALL APRNs for the limited purposes of ordering and referring services covered under this program.

Pursuant to chapter 220 of the acts of 2018, as of November 7, 2018, applicants for initial licensure must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

APRNs with prescriptive authority are required (every two years) to complete education 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
• 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.

These requirements are in accordance with Massachusetts state law M.G.L. c. 94C s.18(e). Please note that M.G.L. c. 94C s.18(e) does not specify a minimum number of contact hours to comply with this education requirement.

If your certification is about to expire, and you have worked for pay as a nurse aide for at least eight hours performing nursing related duties within the past two years, complete the Renewal Application process by going to: healthprofessionlicensing.mass.gov.

Please check with your facility/employer to ensure your continuing education courses are accepted. 

If your certification is about to expire, and you have worked for pay as a nurse aide for at least eight hours performing nursing related duties within the past two years, complete the Renewal Application process by going to: healthprofessionlicensing.mass.gov.

Please check with your facility/employer to ensure your continuing education courses are accepted. 

***NOTE: Beginning December 4, 2023, CNAs who are eligible to renew must use the new Health Profession Licensing System to renew their certification.

Medical assistants in Massachusetts are not required to possess a certification, registration or license to work as a medical assistant.