Effective January 1, 2020, all health care licensees who have authority to prescribe controlled substances must obtain two (2) hours of continuing education credits between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2022. (MS §214.12 subd. 6) The continuing education credits must include content on:
- best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances; and
- non-pharmacological and implantable device alternatives for treatment of pain and ongoing pain.
You are exempt from completing this requirement if you:
- do not hold DEA registration, or
- participate in the Department of Human Services Opioid Prescribing Improvement Program (OPIP). You are considered a participant if you have prescribed opioids for outpatient pain management to a Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) member in the current or the last calendar year AND received an opioid prescriber report from DHS in the last calendar year. An MHCP member is someone with Minnesota Medicaid or MinnesotaCare insurance.
- You must complete the continuing education at least once by January 1, 2023, and
- Verify compliance with the required education by responding to questions located within your Minnesota Board of Nursing online account and uploading the certificate of completion with the course objectives to the Board.
- The automated system to upload documents will be available in late January and you may upload documents at any time after the system is in place.
- Verification of course completion (certificate of completion and course objectives) may be emailed or sent via US Post to the Board. You must have complete personal identification noted on these documents (full legal name and APRN license number).
- Coursework reported prior to January 1, 2020, will not be accepted.
