Opioid & Pain Management CE for Nurses by State (2026)

A handful of states require opioid, pain or substance use CE for every nurse, including New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon, Delaware and Rhode Island. More states add controlled-substance CE for APRNs who prescribe. Separately, every DEA-registered nurse practitioner had to complete a one-time eight-hour substance use disorder training at their first DEA registration or renewal after June 27, 2023.

Last verified 2026-10-17 against the official sources linked in each row · Spot an error?

Key facts

All nurses New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon, Delaware and Rhode Island have a standing topic; West Virginia has a first-year rule for new RNs
APRNs Texas, Kentucky, Florida, Arizona, New Hampshire and Arkansas add prescriber hours
Federal one-time DEA 8-hour MATE attestation (June 27, 2023 onward)

Which states require opioid or pain management CE for nurses?

For RNs and LPNs, the states with a standing opioid, pain or substance use topic include New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon, Delaware and Rhode Island, and West Virginia sets a first-year requirement for new RNs. Hours range from one to three. Several count toward the state's total CE hours rather than adding to them.

State	Requirement (board's name)	Who	Hours	How often	Counts toward total?	Rule + source
Delaware	Substance abuse	RNs and LPNs	At least 3 contact hours	Each renewal period	Yes, part of the renewal hours	Board Rules 9.2.1.1.1 · official source
Michigan	Pain and symptom management	RNs and LPNs	At least 2 of the 25 hours	Every renewal	Yes, part of the 25 hours	LARA Nursing Licensing Guide · official source
New Jersey	Prescription opioid drugs, alternatives for pain and the risks of addiction	RNs and LPNs	1 contact hour	Each biennial renewal	Not stated on the board page	NJ Board of Nursing CE FAQ · official source
Oregon	Pain management (Oregon Pain Management Commission course)	LPN, RN and APRN renewal applicants	1 hour	Within the last 36 months	Not stated on the board page	OSBN competency requirements · official source
Rhode Island	Substance abuse	Nurses renewing a license	2 of the 10 hours	Every 2-year cycle	Yes, part of the 10 hours	RIDOH nurse licensing page · official source
West Virginia	Safe prescribing and drug diversion	Newly licensed RNs (waiver if you didn't prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances)	3 contact hours	One-time, within 1 year of initial licensure	Not stated on the board page	WV RN Board CE page · official source

What opioid CE do nurse practitioners need?

It depends on your state and your DEA registration. Many states require extra pharmacology or controlled-substance hours for APRNs who prescribe, such as Texas, Florida and Kentucky. On top of that, the federal MATE Act required a one-time eight-hour substance use disorder training for every DEA-registered practitioner.

State	Requirement (board's name)	Who	Hours	How often	Counts toward total?	Rule + source
Arizona	Opioid-related, substance use disorder-related or addiction-related CE	APRNs with an active DEA registration	At least 3 hours	At renewal	Not stated	A.R.S. §32-3248.02 (per AZBN) · official source
Arkansas	Pharmacotherapeutics	APRNs with prescriptive authority	5 additional contact hours	Each renewal	No, additional hours	Arkansas State Board of Nursing CE page · official source
Florida	Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances	APRNs	3 hours	Each APRN renewal; the certification exemption doesn't cover it	Not stated	Florida Board of Nursing APRN renewal · official source
Kentucky	Treating and managing opioid or other substance use disorders	APRNs with a DEA registration	At least 8 hours	Once, before the next DEA registration after June 27, 2023	Not stated	201 KAR 20:215 · official source
New Hampshire	Opioid prescribing, pain management or substance use disorder	APRNs with an active DEA number	3 of the 5 pharmacology hours	Each renewal	Yes, part of the 5 pharmacology hours	NH Board of Nursing (OPLC) education and training page · official source
Texas	Pharmacotherapeutics	APRNs with prescriptive authority	5 contact hours	Every licensing period	No, on top of the 20 hours	Board Rule 216.3 · official source
Texas	Pain management and prescription of opioids	APRNs whose prescriptive authority agreement covers opioids	2 hours a year (4 per licensing period)	Every licensing period	Yes, counts toward the 20 hours	Board Rule 216.3 · official source

What is the DEA 8-hour MATE Act training?

It's a one-time federal requirement from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. DEA-registered practitioners, including nurse practitioners, attest at their first DEA registration or renewal on or after June 27, 2023 that they completed eight hours on opioid or other substance use disorders. Past DATA-waived trainings count toward the eight hours.

Scope	Requirement	Source
Federal (all DEA registrants, including NPs)	One-time attestation of 8 hours of training on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, at the first DEA registration or renewal on or after June 27, 2023. Deemed met by graduating within 5 years of June 27, 2023 from an advanced practice nursing (or other qualifying) program whose curriculum included at least 8 hours on the topic. Past DATA-waived trainings count.	DEA MATE Act Q&A

This is a DEA condition of registration, not a state board CE rule. Kentucky's board rule mirrors it for APRNs with a DEA registration.

Do Texas APRNs need opioid CE every year?

Texas APRNs whose prescriptive authority agreement covers opioids need at least two hours a year, four per licensing period, on pain management and opioid prescribing. Those hours count toward the 20 required for all nurses. Any APRN with prescriptive authority also needs five extra pharmacotherapeutics hours each period.

See the Texas page.

Does opioid CE count toward my total hours?

Usually. Michigan's pain hours are part of its 25, Rhode Island's substance abuse hours are part of its 10, and Texas APRN opioid hours count toward the 20. Texas's five pharmacotherapeutics hours are the exception: they're added on top of the 20. Check each state's wording before you plan your hours.

States without a requirement

Most other states we track list no requirement on this topic for RN renewal. Check your state page or the printable CE chart for every state's mandatory topics.

Free options

Oregon's required pain management course is offered through the Oregon Pain Management Commission. For verified free courses, see free CE for mandatory nursing topics. We don't repeat that list here.

FAQ

Do nurses need opioid CE?

Only in some states. New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon, Delaware and Rhode Island require an opioid, pain management or substance use topic for nurses, and other states add controlled-substance CE for APRNs who prescribe.

Do nurse practitioners need the DEA 8-hour training?

Yes, if they hold or apply for a DEA registration. It is a one-time attestation of 8 hours of training on opioid or other substance use disorders, made at the first DEA registration or renewal on or after June 27, 2023.

How many opioid CE hours do Texas APRNs need?

APRNs whose prescriptive authority agreement covers opioids need 2 hours a year, or 4 per licensing period, on pain management and opioid prescribing. These count toward the 20 hours required for all nurses.

Is Oregon's pain management CE every renewal?

Oregon requires a 1-hour pain management course within the last 36 months, available through the Oregon Pain Management Commission.

Sources & last verified

Rules last verified 2026-10-17 against DEA's MATE Act guidance and the state board pages linked in each row.

Opioid, pain management and substance use CE for nurses and APRNs (2026)