Nebraska Physician Assistant license renewal and CE requirements

Summary

Nebraska physician assistants must complete 50 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Medicine and Surgery). Nebraska physician assistant licenses expire October 1 of each odd numbered year and renew every two years. There is no separate physician assistant board: the license is issued by the DHHS Licensure Unit under the Board of Medicine and Surgery. Note that this is a different date from the physician license, and from the October 31 even year date used for nurses. Nebraska also mandates specific subjects. Continuing education regarding prescribing opiates, including the prescription drug monitoring program: 3 CME credits every renewal cycle (physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances). Up to 25 excess CME credits carry over to the next cycle.

Nebraska Physician Assistant renewal and continuing education rules

"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.

The department gives physician assistants a choice of two ways to renew. Either complete 50 hours of category 1 continuing education approved by the ACCME, the AOA or the AAPA, earned in the 24 months immediately before the license expires, with up to 25 excess hours carried into the next renewal period; or meet the NCCPA re-registration requirements within those same 24 months. Because both routes are stated as alternatives, current NCCPA certification is not by itself mandatory for renewal, but it does satisfy the requirement. All 50 hours are category 1, which is why the category 1 minimum equals the total. A physician assistant who prescribes controlled substances additionally owes three hours of opiate prescribing continuing education every two years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-145(6); see mandatory_topics. Nebraska licenses physician assistants and requires a scope of practice agreement with a supervising physician, which is a practice condition rather than continuing education.

Required CE topics for Nebraska physician assistants

State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.

Documentation and audit

Common questions

How many CE hours does a Nebraska PA need to renew?

Nebraska physician assistants must complete 50 CME credits of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Medicine and Surgery). The department gives physician assistants a choice of two ways to renew. Either complete 50 hours of category 1 continuing education approved by the ACCME, the AOA or the AAPA, earned in the 24 months immediately before the license expires, with up to 25 excess hours carried into the next renewal period; or meet the NCCPA re-registration requirements within those same 24 months. Because both routes are stated as alternatives, current NCCPA certification is not by itself mandatory for renewal, but it does satisfy the requirement. All 50 hours are category 1, which is why the category 1 minimum equals the total. A physician assistant who prescribes controlled substances additionally owes three hours of opiate prescribing continuing education every two years under Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-145(6); see mandatory_topics. Nebraska licenses physician assistants and requires a scope of practice agreement with a supervising physician, which is a practice condition rather than continuing education.

How often does a Nebraska PA license need to be renewed?

Physician Assistant licenses in Nebraska renew every two years. Nebraska physician assistant licenses expire October 1 of each odd numbered year and renew every two years. There is no separate physician assistant board: the license is issued by the DHHS Licensure Unit under the Board of Medicine and Surgery. Note that this is a different date from the physician license, and from the October 31 even year date used for nurses.

What specific CE topics are required for Nebraska physician assistants?

Continuing education regarding prescribing opiates, including the prescription drug monitoring program: 3 CME credits every renewal cycle (physician assistants who prescribe controlled substances). Citations: continuing education regarding prescribing opiates, including the prescription drug monitoring program (Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-145(6)).

Sources

Last verified September 8, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.

• Physician Assistant, Nebraska DHHS Licensure UnitState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
• Neb. Rev. Stat. 38-145, Continuing competency requirements; board; dutiesStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026

The October 1 odd year expiration, the 50 category 1 hour requirement with its named accreditors and 24 month window, the 25 hour carryover and the NCCPA re-registration alternative were quoted from the department's physician assistant page. The opiate prescribing requirement was read in the statute text on the Nebraska Legislature site. The department's controlled substances continuing competency handout and the physician assistant renewal application are PDFs and were not opened, so audit practice, proof at renewal and record retention are left null. Nebraska regulates physician assistants through the DHHS Licensure Unit under the Board of Medicine and Surgery; there is no separate physician assistant board.