Continuing Education Information for Clinical Nurse Specialists

Requirements for continuing education as an APRN is dependent upon whether or not you hold a DEA license associated with your NM APRN license.

Rules regarding continuing education requirements for CNSs

16.12.2.15 ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE (APRN) CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST (CNS):

K.        Maintaining licensure as a clinical nurse specialist.

            (2)       Continuing education.

                        (a)       The CNS shall accrue a minimum of 50 contact hours of approved CE each two year renewal period.

                        (b)       National Certification or recertification as a CNS may not be used to fulfill any portion of the CE requirement.

                        (c)        All CEs shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in 16.12.2.11 and 16.12.2.15 NMAC.

                        (d)       For renewal periods that are less than two years, CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period. When CE obligations are prorated the CNP must obtain all non-cancer pain management CEs and all pharmacology CEs.

                        (e)       CNSs with DEA registration at any time during their most recent renewal period shall obtain:

                                    (i)        30 contact hours for licensure as an RN. CNSs with a compact RN license from another jurisdiction have the same obligation for these 30 contact hours as those holding an RN license from New Mexico;

                                    (ii)       five contact hours related to the CNS’s practice;

                                    (iii)     10 contact hours in pharmacology related to the CNS’s practice;

                                    (iv)      five contact hours in the management of non-cancer pain.

                        (f)        CNSs without DEA registration for the entire most recent renewal period shall obtain:

                                    (i)        30 contact hours for licensure as an RN. CNSs with a compact RN license from another jurisdiction have the same obligation for these 30 contact hours as those holding an RN license from New Mexico;

                                    (ii)       10 contact hours related to the CNS’s practice;

                                    (iii)     10 contact hours in pharmacology related to the CNS’s practice.

            (3)       Reactivation.

                        (a)       To reactivate or reinstate licensure as a CNS, the nurse must provide evidence of meeting the CE requirements: evidence of current national certification must also be provided.

Prorated continuing education requirements for your first renewal

Coming soon