Minnesota Continuing Education Requirements

RNs have a couple options for fulfilling their two-year renewal requirements. Participating in continuing education activities, RNs are required to complete 24 contact hours every 2 years.

Continuing education requirements may be fulfilled in one of three ways:

•     Obtain a current nursing specialty certificate.
•     Participate in continuing education activities offered by providers of continuing education.
•     Participate in certain professional activities:
  • Publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal or book on nursing or health care related issues.
  • Delivering a professional paper related to nursing or health care.
  • Serving as a member of a national panel that addresses nursing or health care related issues.
  • Serving as the principal investigator or co-investigator for a nursing or health care related research study.

It is the licensee's responsibility to determine whether a current nursing certificate, a continuing education activity, or a professional activity meets the continuing education requirements.

*A licensee must keep continuing education documents for two years after using the continuing education for renewal. The Board of Nursing randomly selects licensees for an audit of continuing education records. If audited, a licensee must submit proof of having met the continuing education requirements.

12 contact hours every 2 years.

CNP license expires on the same day of your RN license. License expires on the last day of your birth month and in an odd or even year depending on your birth year.

• To maintain a current ARNP license in Minnesota, you must hold:
• A current Minnesota RN license
• Current certification on file with the Board as an advanced practice registered nurse and population for which you are licensed.  

You must renew your RN and ARPN licenses. The APRN must be certified as one of the four APRN roles and one of the six population foci. CNP and CNS beginning practice after July 1, 2014 must practice for at least 2,080 hours within the context of a collaborative management setting in a hospital or integrated clinical setting where APRNs and physicians work together. 

You must work at least 8 hours as a paid nursing assistant every 24 months.

Every two years, each physical therapy assistant shall obtain 20 contact hours of continuing education credits.

Two of the 20 hours of continuing education each cycle shall be on professional ethics directly related to the practice of physical therapy.

Every two years, each physical therapy assistant shall obtain 20 contact hours of continuing education credits.

Two of the 20 hours of continuing education each cycle shall be on professional ethics directly related to the practice of physical therapy.

A licensed occupational therapist must obtain a minimum of 24 contact hours of continuing education in the two-year licensure period.  All continuing education coursework must be obtained between the effective date and expiration date of the license

A licensed occupational therapist must obtain a minimum of 24 contact hours of continuing education in the two-year licensure period.  All continuing education coursework must be obtained between the effective date and expiration date of the license

CRNA license expires on the same day of your RN license. 

CRNA license expires on the same day of your RN license. License expires on the last day of your birth month and in an odd or even year depending on your birth year.

To maintain a current ARNP license in Minnesota, you must hold:

• A current Minnesota RN license
• Current certification on file with the Board as an advanced practice registered nurse and population for which you are licensed.  
• You must renew your RN and ARPN licenses. 

CNP license expires on the same day of your RN license. License expires on the last day of your birth month and in an odd or even year depending on your birth year.

• To maintain a current ARNP license in Minnesota, you must hold:
• A current Minnesota RN license
• Current certification on file with the Board as an advanced practice registered nurse and population for which you are licensed.  

You must renew your RN and ARPN licenses. The APRN must be certified as one of the four APRN roles and one of the six population foci. CNP and CNS beginning practice after July 1, 2014 must practice for at least 2,080 hours within the context of a collaborative management setting in a hospital or integrated clinical setting where APRNs and physicians work together. 

CRNA license expires on the same day of your RN license. License expires on the last day of your birth month and in an odd or even year depending on your birth year.

To maintain a current ARNP license in Minnesota, you must hold:

• A current Minnesota RN license
• Current certification on file with the Board as an advanced practice registered nurse and population for which you are licensed.  
• You must renew your RN and ARPN licenses. 

A licensed occupational therapy assistants must obtain a minimum of 18 contact hours of continuing education in the two-year licensure period.  All continuing education coursework must be obtained between the effective date and expiration date of the license.

Licensure must be renewed annually on or before July 1 of each year.

An athletic trainer shall meet the professional development requirements of the BOC in order to maintain BOC certification.

All of the following requirements must be met or the entire application will be returned:

• Non-refundable criminal background check fee of $32, application fee of $50 and an annual licensure fee of $100 to be prorated at first renewal. Make checks payable to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.
• All your time must be accounted for on the application, from high school to the date of application. During continuous years of education, periods of three months or less (summer break) need not be accounted for.
• The name on the application and your BOC certificate must be the same. If there has been a name change, submit a notarized copy of the documentation, e.g. marriage certificate.
• A full face, recent, 2x3" photograph must be affixed as indicated on the application and notarized as a true likeness.
• Notarized copy of BOC certificate.
• Any other information requested by the Board.

License must be renewed every two years from initial licensure.Licencees must complete 24 hours of board-approved continuing education.