Pennsylvania Continuing Medical Education Credit Requirements

Pennsylvania required number of CME credits per year(s)	100 credits / 2 years
Pennsylvania State-Mandated CME Content/Additional Notes	12 credits risk management or patient safety
Pennsylvania RN required number of CE credits per year(s)	Pennsylvania Board of Nursing State CE Requirements The next renewal deadline for Pennsylvania Nurses with RN licenses is April 30, 2015. Pennsylvania RNs must complete all 30 hours of CE before the end of the renewal period. Any CE hours completed outside of the biennial renewal period may not be used towards the required 30 hours. Nurse.com educational activities are provided by ContinuingEducation.com, accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. CE Requirements for RNs: Pennsylvania RNs must complete 30 hours of Board approved CE during biennial renewal periods. If the expiration date on your RN license is April 31, 2015 then you must complete 30 hours of Board approved CE from 5/1/13 through 4/30/2015. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all Pennsylvania health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal
LPN Required number of CME credits per year(s)	No CE Required.
APRN Required number of CME credits per year(s)	N/A
ANCC accreditation accepted?	Yes
CE for Specialty: Athletic Training	Athletic trainers shall complete the continuing education requirements prescribed by the BOC. The BOC requires 50 CEUs (50 contact hours) every two-year Certification Maintenance Period. Licenses must be renewed biennially. The licensure period spans from January 1st of the odd-numbered year through December 31st of the next even-numbered year. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Audiology/SLP	CE: 20 Contact Hours must be completed by July 31st each 2 year renewal period. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Dietetics/Nutrition	30 hours of continuing education are due every two years from October 1st through September 30th of even years. Continuing education must be approved by the board. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial Pennsylvania license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all Pennsylvania health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Emergency Medical Services	Renewal periods: First Responder: Every 3 years EMT: Every 3 years Paramedic: Annually CE Requirements for EMTs and Paramedics First Responder: 16 hours of continuing education credits every three (3) years. Eight (8) hours must be medical/trauma. EMT: 24 hours of continuing education credits every three (3) years. Twelve (12) of those hours must be in medical/trauma. Paramedic: 18 hours of continuing education every year. Nine (9) of those hours must be in medical/trauma. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Laboratory Technology	EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Massage Therapy	CE: 24 Contact Hours must be completed over a two year renewal period. Licenses expire on January 31st of every odd-numbered year beginning January 31st, 2013. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Medicine and Surgery	CE: 100 total credit hours of CME in the two-year license cycle (with license cycles ending on Dec. 31 of each even year) Twenty (20) of those credit hours must be completed in AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM activities. At least 12 hours of the 100 must be completed in activities related to patient safety or risk management and may be completed in either Category 1 or 2. The remaining credit hours shall be completed in either Category 1 or Category 2 approved activities. Approved activities in the area of patient safety and risk management may include the following topics: Improving medical records and recordkeeping Reducing medical errors Professional conduct and ethics Improving communications Preventative medicine Healthcare quality improvement EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Occupational Therapy	Beginning with the July 1, 2013—June 30, 2015, biennium, an occupational therapist shall complete a minimum of 24 contact hours in each biennial period in acceptable continued competency activities listed in §42.55 (relating to acceptable continued competency activities) as a condition of licensure renewal. Excerpts from §42.55 are listed below. For complete details on acceptable continuing competency activity descriptions, visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure website. Irrespective of the provider, contact hours will only be awarded for continued competency activities that are relevant to the practice of occupational therapy including direct care, management, education and research. Contact hours will not be awarded for activities related to marketing, office management, financial gain or self-promotion. The following activities are acceptable: Educational courses. For continuing education courses, contact hours equal the number of instructional hours. For academic courses, one credit equals 15 contact hours. Acceptable documentation of educational courses consists of an official transcript or certificate of completion indicating the name and date of the course and a description of the course from the school catalog or brochure. Mentorship. Fieldwork supervision. Professional writing. Editing. Presentation and instruction. Unpaid service. License must be renewed June 30th of every odd numbered year. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Pharmacy	30 hours of continuing education must be completed by by September 30 of even numbered year. 2 hours must be completed in the ACPE topic designator “Patient Safety.” For pharmacists with the authorization to administer injectable medications, biologicals and immunizations 2 hours shall concern the administration of injectable medications, biologicals and immunizations, including disease epidemiology, vaccine characteristics, injection technique, emergency response to adverse events and related topics. Home study must be approved by ACPE. ACPE-approved courses for Pennsylvania Pharmacy Technicians end in the letter “T”. ACPE-approved courses pharmacists (only) end in the letter “P”. Courses ending in the letter “P” cannot be used to meet pharmacy technician CE requirements. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial Pennsylvania license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Pharmacy Technician	EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Physical Therapy	CE Requirements: For this biennial renewal only, (January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2014) 15 hours of board approved continuing education earned between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012 can be used for renewal. Hours used for 2012 renewal of a direct access certificate cannot be used again. PTs and PTAs renewal cycle runs from January 1st of each odd numbered year, through December 31st of the next even numbered year i.e. January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014. During each biennial period, a licensee shall complete qualifying continuing education equal to at least 30 contact hours of continuing physical therapy education, including at least 2 contact hours in law or ethics applicable to the practice of physical therapy. 10 hours shall be in evaluative procedures to treat a person without a referral. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Psychology	30 hours of continuing education must be completed every renewal period. All licensees must complete at least 3 hours in ethics. Licenses must be renewed biennially. The renewal period extends from December 1st of an odd numbered year to November 30th of the next odd numbered year. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Radiology Technology	EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Respiratory Therapy	30 hours of continuing education are due every biennial renewal period by December 31 – Even-Numbered Years. 1 hour in Medical Ethics 1 hour in Patient Safety At least 10 continuing education hours shall be obtained through classroom lecture, clinical presentation, real-time webcast or other live sessions where a presenter is involved. No more than 8 continuing education hours in advanced life support, including advanced cardiac life support, neonatal advanced life support/neonatal resuscitation and pediatric advanced life support are allowed per biennial renewal period. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial Pennsylvania license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.
CE for Specialty: Social Work	Renewal: thirty (30) hours social work continuing education must be completed by February 28 of odd-numbered years. Three (3) hours ethics continuing education required. Courses need to be two (2) hours or longer for credit. Twenty (20) hours of home study permitted. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015, all persons applying for issuance of an initial license shall be required to complete 3 hours of DPW-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of licensure. Additionally, EFFECTIVE WITH THE FIRST LICENSE RENEWAL AFTER JANUARY 1, 2015, all Pennsylvania health-related licensees and funeral directors applying for the renewal of a license issued by the Board shall be required to complete at least 2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements as a condition of renewal.

Note: All information should be verified with licensing board

Resources: http://www.acep.org/| http://ce.nurse.com/ | http://about.continuingeducation.com/