New Jersey requirements for each profession are laid out on those professions' licensing board websites. The state Division of Consumer Affairs offers a list of all licensed professions and a link to their respective websites. For example, the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy offers forms licensed accountants must fill out concerning their continuing professional education, or CPE. As of 2011, a licensed accountant in New Jersey must complete at least 120 continuing professional education credit hours within a three-year period for the license to be reinstated or renewed.
The number of credit hours needed to maintain licensure within your given profession varies according to the state laws governing the license. While some professions require yearly continuing professional education credits, other professions only require so many credits per time period, such as for accounting, which requires 120 credit hours every three years. For example, licensed dental hygienists must complete 10 continuing professional education credit hours every two years to maintain licensure. The regulations in your licensure handbook, or online through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, outline the specific number of credit hours required to maintain licensure.
Every licensed profession requiring continuing professional education features acceptable continuing education providers. The majority of credit hours may come from attending seminars at educational institutions, workshops held by professionals or taking courses at a community college or university. Some continuing education credits may be taken by performing self-study; however, self-study credits are typically restricted to only so many. For example, the New Jersey Board of Nursing states licensed practical nurses can take continuing education courses through an agency accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, International Association for Continuing Education Training, American Medical Association or courses taken at a college or university accredited by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Every licensing board in New Jersey has restrictions regarding how a professional can earn his continuing professional education credit hours. While the type of restrictions enforced varies greatly depending on the licensed profession, ensure you double-check the regulations regarding your profession prior to pursuing continuing professional education coursework. For example, licensed dental hygienists must obtain 10 credit hours every two years; however, no more than five of the credit hours may come from electronic or written long-distance education courses.