Nursing CE Requirements by State: How to Stay Compliant Before Your License Renewal

State

Renewal cycle

RN continuing education requirement

Notes

Alabama

Every 2 years

24 contact hours

First-time renewal includes four hours of Alabama Board-provided education covering the Nurse Practice Act, board rules, professional conduct and accountability.

Alaska

Every 2 years

Complete two of three options: 30 contact hours, 30 hours of professional activities or 320 hours of nursing practice

Nurses do not necessarily need 30 CE hours when they satisfy two other approved options.

Arizona

Every 4 years

No routine CE-hour requirement

Nurses must meet the board’s practice or competence requirement, such as recent nursing practice, education, a refresher course or examination.

Arkansas

Every 2 years

15 contact hours or an approved alternative

Alternatives may include national certification or completion of an academic nursing course.

California

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

CE must be completed through an approved provider. California’s Board of Registered Nursing confirms the 30-hour requirement for active renewal.

Colorado

Every 2 years

No routine CE-hour requirement

Renew the RN license and meet any requirements that apply to the nurse’s role or circumstances.

Connecticut

Annually

No broad annual CE-hour total; topic-specific training applies

Required training is completed over prescribed multiyear periods rather than as a general annual CE total. Nurses should review the current topic list and retain records for at least three years. 

Delaware

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

Three hours must address substance abuse. Additional requirements may apply based on practice area.

Florida

Every 2 years

Generally 24 contact hours

Requirements include mandatory subjects such as prevention of medical errors. Other subjects, including laws and rules, human trafficking, domestic violence and recognizing impairment, apply on schedules set by the board. Florida electronically reviews CE records during renewal. 

Georgia

Every 2 years

30 contact hours or another approved competency option

Nurses may be able to qualify through certification, academic coursework, employer verification or another approved pathway.

Hawaii

Every 2 years

30 contact hours or another approved competency activity

Alternatives may include a refresher course, academic coursework, national certification or another board-recognized activity.

Idaho

Every 2 years

Complete at least two approved learning activities

Fifteen CE contact hours can satisfy one activity. Other options include practice, specialty certification, academic education or a refresher course.

Illinois

Every 2 years

20 contact hours

Mandatory subjects may include sexual-harassment prevention and other training required by Illinois law. Nurses should confirm the subjects applicable to the current renewal cycle.

Indiana

Every 2 years

No routine CE requirement for RNs

APRNs and nurses with prescriptive authority may have separate requirements.

Iowa

Every 3 years

36 contact hours

A shorter initial or prorated license period may require fewer hours. Mandatory-reporter training applies to nurses whose work involves children or dependent adults.

Kansas

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

CE must meet the Kansas Board of Nursing’s continuing nursing education standards.

Kentucky

Annually

14 contact hours or an approved alternative

Options include seven hours plus an employment evaluation, national certification, qualifying academic work and other board-approved activities. Kentucky uses an annual earning period from Nov. 1 through Oct. 31. 

Louisiana

Every 2 years

30 board-approved contact hours or 900 verified practice hours

Additional alternatives and exemptions may apply. CE must be approved by ANCC or a state board of nursing.

Maine

Every 2 years

No routine CE requirement

Nurses should still confirm whether any role-specific or disciplinary requirements apply.

Maryland

Every 2 years

No routine CE-hour total for standard RN renewal

Nurses must meet any board requirements related to practice status, refresher education or reinstatement when applicable.

Massachusetts

Every 2 years

15 contact hours

RNs renew on their birthdays in even-numbered years. Mandatory training may apply under separate state laws or regulations.

Michigan

Every 2 years

25 contact hours

Includes at least two hours in pain and symptom management. Separate one-time or recurring training, including implicit bias and human trafficking, may apply.

Minnesota

Every 2 years

24 contact hours

Continuing education must relate to nursing practice and meet board standards.

Mississippi

Every 2 years

No routine CE requirement

Additional education may be required for particular roles, disciplinary matters or reinstatement.

Missouri

Every 2 years

No routine CE requirement

RN licenses expire April 30 in odd-numbered years. 

Montana

Every 2 years

No routine CE requirement for RNs

APRNs have separate continuing education requirements.

Nebraska

Every 2 years

20 contact hours or an approved practice-based alternative

At least 10 hours must meet the state’s formal peer-reviewed CE standard. Practice-hour combinations and other alternatives may be available.

Nevada

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

Mandatory training includes four hours of cultural competency during each renewal cycle. A one-time bioterrorism course and other role-specific requirements may also apply.

New Hampshire

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

Nurses must also meet the board’s active-practice requirement or another applicable competency pathway.

New Jersey

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

The board requires at least 30 contact hours during the two years preceding renewal. Mandatory-topic requirements may apply during particular cycles.

New Mexico

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

Additional education applies to certain roles, including nurses involved in prescribing or treating specific patient populations.

New York

Every 3 years

No general CE-hour total, but mandatory courses apply

Nurses generally complete infection-control training every four years and child-abuse identification and reporting training as required. Other mandatory courses may apply based on practice setting.

North Carolina

Every 2 years

Complete one continuing-competence option

Options include 30 CE hours, national certification, academic education, a refresher course or 15 CE hours combined with qualifying practice or professional activities. Requirements must be met before renewal.

North Dakota

Every 2 years

12 contact hours

Nurses must also meet the board’s continuing-competence requirements. Online CE may be accepted when it meets board standards.

Ohio

Every 2 years

24 contact hours

At least one hour must address the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and board rules. First-renewal exemptions or adjusted requirements may apply.

Oklahoma

Every 2 years

24 contact hours or another approved option

Alternatives include qualifying employment hours, specialty certification, a refresher course or academic coursework.

Oregon

Every 2 years

No broad recurring CE-hour total, but mandatory education applies

Nurses must complete the state’s one-time pain-management education and recurring cultural-competency education as applicable. Other role-specific training may be required.

Pennsylvania

Every 2 years

30 contact hours

Includes two hours of board-approved child-abuse recognition and reporting training for each renewal.

Rhode Island

Every 2 years

10 contact hours

Required hours include board-designated topics such as substance-use education when applicable to the renewal cycle.

South Carolina

Every 2 years

30 contact hours or another competency option

Alternatives include national certification, academic education or employer verification of nursing practice.

South Dakota

Every 2 years

No routine CE requirement

Nurses must still meet renewal, practice and conduct requirements established by the board.

Tennessee

Every 2 years

No fixed general CE-hour total; continuing-competence activities are required

Nurses must complete two approved competency activities during each renewal cycle. Accepted activities can include CE, certification, practice, presentations, publications or other professional development.

Texas

Every 2 years

20 contact hours in the nurse’s area of practice or approved national certification

At least two hours must relate to nursing jurisprudence and ethics. Additional targeted subjects apply to certain nurses and practice settings. 

Utah

Every 2 years

Choose one: 30 contact hours; 15 hours plus 200 practice hours; or 400 practice hours

Nurses can satisfy the requirement entirely through practice when they meet the required threshold.

Vermont

Every 2 years

No routine CE-hour requirement

Nurses must meet the board’s recent-practice requirement or complete an approved re-entry pathway when applicable.

Virginia

Every 2 years

Complete one approved competency option

Options include 30 contact hours, or 15 hours plus 640 practice hours, national certification, academic education, teaching, publication, research or a refresher course. 

Washington

Annually

8 hours of CE and 96 hours of active practice each renewal period

Two of the eight CE hours must cover health equity.

West Virginia

Every 2 years

12 contact hours

Required subjects include drug diversion and safe prescribing practices. Additional requirements can apply to nurses who prescribe controlled substances. 

Wisconsin

Every 2 years

No routine CE requirement

Nurses should verify whether separate requirements apply to advanced practice, prescribing, reinstatement or disciplinary status.

Wyoming

Every 2 years

20 contact hours or another competency option

Alternatives include recent nursing practice, national certification, examination, a refresher program or an approved combination of practice and CE.