RN and APRN licenses expire at 11:59PM on your birthday in even numbered years. Renew up to 90 days before expiration at https://onlineservices.hhs.state.ma.us/. Late fee charged after expiration. Practice with expired license subject to fines & imprisonment. Paper renewal form by request only at renew.bymail@state.ma.us or call the Help Desk at 617-973-0935. Paper renewal may take up to 14 days after receipt by the Board.
THE BOARD NO LONGER ISSUES PAPER RENEWAL REMINDERS OR PAPER LICENSES.
The Board uses email to communicate renewal reminders and important changes in statute, regulations and policies.
FAILURE TO PROVIDE A WORKING EMAIL ADDRESS WILL PREVENT YOU FROM RECEIVING IMPORTANT UPDATES.
Log onto the Online Services at https://onlineservices.hhs.state.ma.us to add or change your email address.
The database does not work w/iPhones, iPads, Safari or Google Chrome. The website fully supports Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher and Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or higher.
You or your employer can verify and print licensure verification by accessing the Board “Check a License”. The link is considered Primary Source Verification and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. RN license numbers have "RN" as a prefix and LPN license numbers have "LN" as a prefix. License numbers are not available by telephone.
Domestic & Sexual Violence Training: Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112 §264, all LPNs, RNs and APRNs must complete a one-time training on domestic and sexual violence. Visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/domestic-and-sexual-violence-integration-initiatives for compliance information. Nurses who participated in an approved in-person training program will be considered to have met the requirement and do not need to take the online course by DPH. This mandatory training can be included as a portion of the 15 contact hours required for license renewal.
Alzheimer’s Training: Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112 §74, licensees must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. There is no prescribed course or number of education hours for this training. If you received any course of training or education in your academic nursing program, through professional staff development, conferences, seminars or continuing education specific to the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, the above requirements have been met. You must complete the course by November 7, 2022 to satisfy license renewal requirements.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES (APRN)
Current APRN Certification Required To Renew APRN Authorization: To practice as a Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Nurse Midwife (CNM), Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (PCNS) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), you must hold a current, valid RN license and current certification from a Board recognized national professional organization, having met all certification requirements mandated by that organization [ref: 244 CMR 9.04(4) and 244 CMR 4.05]. Should APRN certification lapse for any reason, the APRN must inform the Board by completing a Request to remove APRN authorization and cease APRN practice until such time that certification becomes current. The Board does not have a “grace period”.
Because they are connected, APRNs pay to renew their authorization to practice as an APRN at the same time they renew their RN license. If, for any reason, an APRN does not intend to renew their APRN authorization, he or she must complete a Request to remove APRN authorization, allowing time for the Board to process (14 days). Complete process prior to renewal to avoid paying for APRN authorization. Once payment is made, it is non-refundable. Expired APRN does NOT affect your RN status.
MassHealth Enrollment: All APRNs must apply to enroll in MassHealth as a billing or non-billing provider pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112 §80B. To satisfy license renewal requirements, you must submit a thoroughly completed application to be a fully participating provider or non-billing provider and a signed provider contract with MassHealth. For details, visit: https://www.mass.gov/the-aca-orp-requirements-for-masshealth-providers.
Mandatory Continuing Education for Prescribers: Per MGL 94C, Section 18(e), all prescribers, upon initial application for MA Controlled Substance Registration and subsequently during each license renewal period, must complete education relative to:
Nurse prescribers may choose any program that meets the required content and is consistent with the Board’s continuing education requirements, such as the free course work at https://www.scopeofpain.org/core-curriculum/online-training/ or https://www.drugabuse.gov/opioid-pain-management-cmesces. Neither the law nor the Board stipulates a specific number of continuing education hours required to fulfill this requirement.
Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Enrollment: Per MGL c. 94C, all MA prescribers must enroll and use the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool (MassPAT). Visit www.mass.gov/dph/dcp/onlinepmp for details.
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