Most health professionals answer to two bodies: a national certifying organization (for example PTCB, NHA, ASCP, NREMT, ARRT) and a state or provincial licensing board. Each sets its own renewal cycle and CE rules, and many states add mandatory topics such as infection control, implicit bias, human trafficking awareness or opioid prescribing.
| Profession | Exam | Renewal / CE (summary) |
|---|
| 💊 Pharmacy Technician | PTCB PTCE (also prepares for NHA ExCPT) | PTCB CPhT recertification: 20 hours of CE every 2 years, including at least 1 hour of pharmacy law and 1 hour of patient safety. Many states also register or license technicians. |
| 🩸 Phlebotomy Technician | NHA CPT, ASCP PBT, AMT RPT | Certifiers require continuing education to stay certified (for example, NHA CPT renewal every 2 years with CE credits, ASCP PBT through the Credential Maintenance Program every 3 years). California and a few other states also license phlebotomists. |
| 🩺 Registered Nurse / LPN | NCLEX-RN / NCLEX-PN | Set by each state Board of Nursing - required hours, renewal cycle and mandatory topics vary widely by state. |
| 👩⚕️ Nurse Practitioner | AANPCB / ANCC FNP | National certification renewal every 5 years plus state board requirements, often including pharmacology hours. |
| 🤝 CNA / Nurse Aide | State nurse aide competency exam | Federal rules require nursing homes to provide nurse aides at least 12 hours of in-service education per year; states add their own rules. |
| 🔬 Medical Laboratory Scientist / MLT | ASCP BOC, AAB, AMT | ASCP Credential Maintenance Program: 36 points every 3 years for MLS/MLT. Several states (such as California, New York and Florida) also license lab personnel. |
| ⚕️ Pharmacist | NAPLEX / MPJE | Set by each state Board of Pharmacy, commonly through ACPE-accredited CE. |
| 🚑 EMT / Paramedic | NREMT cognitive exam | NREMT recertification every 2 years: EMT 40 hours, AEMT 50 hours, Paramedic 60 hours (National Continued Competency Program). |
| 🩻 Radiologic Technologist | ARRT Radiography | ARRT: 24 CE credits every 2-year biennium, plus Continuing Qualifications Requirements every 10 years for newer credentials. |
| 🫁 Respiratory Therapist | NBRC TMC / CSE | State license renewal rules plus the NBRC Credential Maintenance Program. |
| 📋 Medical Assistant | AAMA CMA, AMT RMA, NHA CCMA | For example, the AAMA CMA credential is recertified every 60 months by exam or continuing education. |
| 🦷 Dental Hygienist / Assistant | NBDHE / DANB | Set by each state dental board; DANB certifications also require annual CDE. |
Summaries are general guidance only. Rules change - confirm current requirements with your certifying body and licensing board before you renew. Courses on this site are non-credit unless clearly marked otherwise.
