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District of Columbia · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in District of Columbia

Medium confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (expires June 30, odd years)
Total CE hours
24 contact hours (may reflect general RN/APRN requirement)
Pharmacology hours
2 hrs pharmacology for prescribers; controlled-substance prescribers also safe-opioid/addiction training
Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu
Verify

State-mandated CE topics

  • HIV/AIDS: 3 hrs .
  • LGBTQ cultural competency: 2 hrs — D.C. Code §3-1205.10.

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.

District of Columbia licensing boardDC Board of Nursing, DC Health
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 DC Board of Nursing, DC Health

How this fits the national picture

Independent of District of Columbia, 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 District of Columbia?

24 contact hours (may reflect general RN/APRN requirement). Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (expires June 30, odd years).

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

Whether District of Columbia accepts AANP or ANCC certification in lieu of state hours is not clearly documented in our dataset — confirm directly with the DC Board of Nursing, DC Health.

What topic-specific CE does District of Columbia require for nurse practitioners?

HIV/AIDS: 3 hrs . LGBTQ cultural competency: 2 hrs — D.C. Code §3-1205.10.

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in District of Columbia?

2 hrs pharmacology for prescribers; controlled-substance prescribers also safe-opioid/addiction training.

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