Pharmacology Education Requirements for Nurse Practitioners

As with most other licensed health care professionals, nurse practitioners are required to maintain their skills and knowledge through continuing education. Most states require nurse practitioners to hold a national certification, which must be maintained through continuing education. Individual states' boards of nursing can also impose additional requirements, such as education in law/ethics, domestic violence, suicide prevention, pain management and opioid abuse, to name a few required topics. Many states will also include pharmacology-specific continuing education requirements for nurse practitioners.

Prescriptive Authority

Each state is responsible for regulating the duties and responsibilities of its nurse practitioners.  Some states allow NPs to practice independently, while others require a physician's supervision or collaboration. Nurse practitioners might also have the authority to order tests, make formal diagnoses, refer patients to specialists or prescribe medications, including controlled substances. In states that permit NPs to prescribe medications, pharmacology usually forms a mandatory part of the continuing education requirement.

Pharmacology Requirements

Each state may have widely differing requirements for pharmacology-specific continuing education. Pharmacology specific education can range from no requirements in some states to 16 hours of pharmacology continuing education.