45 Pharmacology CE hours Required for Florida Autonomous APRN Practice Initial Application

To meet the Pharm Requirement for FL Autonomous NP Practice Initial Application, you need 45 Pharm CE hours as an equivalent to pharmacology graduate coursework. This guide explains the Florida Board of Nursing’s requirements for the autonomous APRN practice initial application.

Florida Board of Nursing Requirements for Autonomous Practice

According to the Florida Board of Nursing, an initial applicant for autonomous APRN practice must complete the following: 

• At least 3,000 clinical practice hours under the supervision of an allopathic or osteopathic physician within the past 5 years. These hours may include clinical instructional hours. [See Section 464.0123(1)(c) F.S. for complete requirements.]
• Three graduate-level semester hours, or the equivalent, in differential diagnosis and three graduate-level semester hours, or the equivalent (link on equivalency), in pharmacology completed within the past 5 years (documentation required).
• No disciplinary action: Applicants must not have been subject to disciplinary action as specified in Section 456.072 F.S. or Section 464.018 F.S., or any similar disciplinary action in any state or jurisdiction within the past 5 years.

If you have not completed graduate-level semester hours within the past 5 years, you can fulfill the requirement by completing equivalent Continuing Education (CE) credits for both the pharmacology and differential diagnosis components.

45 hour Pharm CE Credit Equivalency

Three graduate-level semester hours are equivalent to 45 Continuing Education (CE) hours, as defined by the entities outlined in Section 464.013(3)(b), F.S., and Rule 64B9-4.002(2), F.A.C.

• The pharmacology course content must address therapeutic uses and biological effects of drugs.
• The differential diagnosis course content must address advanced health assessment, differential diagnosis, critical thinking, or diagnostic reasoning.

Courses must be completed within the 5 years preceding the application for Autonomous APRN Registration.

Renew Now CE: Meeting the Pharmacology Requirement for Autonomous APRN initial application

Renew Now CE offers pharmacology courses approved for FL Autonomous NP Practice Initial Application. Our courses are fully compliant with Florida Board of Nursing requirements and include automatic CE Broker reporting.

We offer course and package options for pharmacology and autonomous practice CE directly on CE Broker. Click to view our offerings on CE Broker. 

Our 25-hour pharmacology CE package is designed to help you meet the 45 Pharm CE hours requirement efficiently. Courses include:

1. Pharmacology 10 hours – Common Primary Care and Med-Surg Medications – ANCC approved. Course Expiration Date:  5/31/2027
   Learning outcomes:
   1. Distinguish generic name from the brand name of commonly prescribed medications.
   2. Identify common drug-to-drug interactions.
   3. Identify common food-to-drug interactions.
   
   Reviews of Pharmacology 10 hours: 
   “Had a great time reviewing medications.” – Victoria, August 2023
   “Great review Very informative” – Troy, March 2023
   “Awesome session, very informative.” – Rolly
   
2. Abused Meds 6 Hours. Course Expiration Date: 7/31/2027 
   Learning outcomes:
   1. Identify commonly abused medications.
   2. Describe regulation of controlled substances.
   3. Identify resources for the proper disposal of controlled substances.
   
3. Cannabis 3 Hours. Course Expiration Date: 7/31/2027 
   Learning outcomes:
   1. Describe differences between the two cannabinoids of greatest therapeutic interest.
   2. Identify cannabinoid receptors, locations in the body, and symptoms associated with each receptor.
   3. Identify interactions between cannabinoids and prescription medications.
   
   Review of Cannabis 3 hours: 
   “The information regarding CYP effect of CBD is especially helpful. CBD is very prevalent currently. Thank you” – Amber, RN (May 2022)
   
4. Opioids – The Uncontrolled Epidemic. Course Expiration Date: 7/31/2027
   Learning outcomes:
   1. Identify heroin as an opioid.
   2. Identify classes of scheduled opioids.
   3. Identify strategies to help individuals with substance dependence.

Why Choose Renew Now CE?

• Approved by the Florida Board of Nursing: Courses meet state equivalency standards for pharmacology CE.
• Easy Online Access: Learn at your own pace with automatic CE Broker reporting.
• In-Depth Content: Build knowledge for autonomous practice.

Get started with our 25-hour package today and take the first step toward meeting your requirements!