License renewal & continuing education
Continuing education requirements for nurses, by state
Nurses renew their licenses on a schedule set by their state, and most boards ask for some ongoing learning in between. Below is a plain-English look at how nursing license renewal and continuing education work, why the rules differ from state to state and between RN and LPN/LVN licenses, and a state-by-state table of each board’s renewal cycle and requirement, sourced and linked to the board itself.
Informational only: NursingCEA does not provide CE credit. Your state Board of Nursing is the only authoritative source for your requirements.
How nursing license renewal works
A nursing license is not permanent — it is granted by a state Board of Nursing and must be renewed on a set cycle to stay active. The renewal period, the fee, and the conditions differ from state to state, and they can differ between an RN and an LPN or LVN within the same state.
Most boards tie renewal to some form of ongoing learning so that a nurse's knowledge stays current between renewals. The specifics — how it is counted, what qualifies, and how much is required — are set entirely by each state board, which is why the first step is always to confirm the rules that apply to your license.
What continuing education means for nurses
Continuing education, in nursing, refers to the ongoing learning many boards ask licensed nurses to complete between renewals. It is usually measured in contact hours, and some states also require specific subject areas — topics a board considers important for safe, current practice.
Because each board defines its own rules, the amount and the accepted formats vary widely. Some states also accept certain professional activities toward the requirement. The authoritative answer for your situation is always your own Board of Nursing, not a third-party summary.
Why the requirements differ by state and license
There is no single national continuing-education standard for nurses. Each state's Board of Nursing sets its own renewal cycle, its own number of required hours, and its own list of any mandatory topics, and those rules can change. A nurse licensed in two states may face two entirely different sets of requirements.
License level matters too. Requirements for a registered nurse (RN) and a licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) are often different, even in the same state. If you hold a multistate license through the Nurse Licensure Compact, you generally follow the rules of your home state — but you should confirm this with your board, because compact details evolve.
How to find your state's official requirements
The only reliable source for your renewal and continuing-education rules is your state Board of Nursing. Boards publish their current requirements, renewal windows, and accepted activities on their official sites, and they are the body that ultimately grants or renews your license.
Our state pages are a convenient starting point: each links to the state's Board of Nursing and its official license-verification portal, so you can go straight to the source for your renewal rules.
Keeping your own records
Whatever your state requires, keeping your own documentation is good practice. Boards may ask nurses to verify completed learning during a renewal or an audit, and the responsibility for proof typically rests with the nurse. Save confirmations and records in one place as you go, rather than reconstructing them under a deadline.
Treat any timelines seriously. Renewing late — or discovering an unmet requirement at the last minute — can complicate keeping your license active, so it helps to check your board's rules well before your renewal date.
Where free practice and study fit in
Staying sharp clinically is its own reason to keep learning, separate from any renewal paperwork. Our free practice questions and study guides let you review high-yield nursing content across eight topics, with every answer explained and cited — a low-pressure way to keep core knowledge fresh between renewals or while preparing for an exam.
This practice and study material is for review and education only. It is not continuing-education credit, and it does not satisfy any board's renewal requirement — for that, always follow your Board of Nursing.
LPN and LVN continuing education requirements
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) is licensed by the same state Board of Nursing that licenses registered nurses — but the two licenses do not always carry the same renewal rule. Some boards publish a single requirement that applies to every license level; others publish a separate figure for practical and vocational nurses, and a handful set a different total altogether.
Because that split is decided board by board, the only safe answer is your own board’s. The states below are the ones where the board publishes an LPN/LVN figure that we have verified and recorded separately; they are shown next to the RN figure so the difference — or the lack of one — is visible at a glance. A state that is not listed here is not a state with “no LPN requirement”: it means we have not separately verified an LPN-specific figure for it, so check the full table below and then the board itself.
Alabama
every two years
- LPN/LVN:
- Licensed practical nurses meet the same 24-contact-hour requirement each two-year renewal cycle.
- RN, for comparison:
- The Alabama Board of Nursing requires 24 contact hours of Board-approved or Board-recognized continuing education for each two-year renewal of an active-status license.
Delaware
every two years
- LPN/LVN:
- 24 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period.
- RN, for comparison:
- 30 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period.
Massachusetts
Every two years (biennial).
- LPN/LVN:
- 15 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period (same as RNs).
- RN, for comparison:
- 15 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period. There is no CE requirement for the first renewal.
Minnesota
Every two years (biennial), with the expiration tied to the licensee’s birth month.
- LPN/LVN:
- 12 contact hours of continuing education during each 24-month registration period.
- RN, for comparison:
- 24 contact hours of continuing education during each 24-month registration period (one contact hour for each month of registration; the ratio scales for shorter or longer periods).
Preparing for the practical-nurse licensing exam rather than a renewal? Our free NCLEX-PN practice questions are study material, not continuing education, and carry no credit toward any board’s renewal requirement.
Continuing education requirements by state
Renewal cycles range from annual to every four years, and required contact hours — where a state requires any at all — are set independently by each Board of Nursing and can change over time. The facts below are sourced and cited state by state; select a state to see its RN and LPN/LVN requirement, any mandatory topics, and a link to the board’s own renewal page.
The table describes what each state Board of Nursing requires — not something we grant. NursingCEA does not provide CE credit.
Alabamaevery two years
RN: The Alabama Board of Nursing requires 24 contact hours of Board-approved or Board-recognized continuing education for each two-year renewal of an active-status license.
LPN/LVN: Licensed practical nurses meet the same 24-contact-hour requirement each two-year renewal cycle.
The 24-hour total is prorated for nurses licensed partway through a cycle, and newly licensed nurses must also complete a four-contact-hour Board-provided mandatory course covering the Nurse Practice Act, board functions, and professional conduct.
Alaskaevery two years (biennial)
RN: Alaska requires nurses to document continuing competency each biennial renewal by completing two of three activities: 30 contact hours of continuing education in nursing, 30 hours of professional nursing activities, or 320 hours of compensated nursing employment (a Board-approved refresher course or qualifying academic credits are additional alternatives).
Continuing education is only one of several ways to satisfy the continuing-competency requirement under 12 AAC 44.600; nurses first licensed within the prior year are exempt for that first renewal only.
Arizonaevery four years
RN: The Arizona State Board of Nursing does not require continuing-education contact hours for RN or LPN renewal. Instead, licensees attest to continued competency — for example, at least 960 hours of nursing practice within the past five years, a Board-approved refresher course, or a nursing degree completed within the past five years.
Arizona relies on self-attestation of continuing competency rather than mandatory CE hours; licensees must retain supporting documentation. Confirm current requirements with the board.
Arkansasevery two years
RN: The Arkansas State Board of Nursing requires, each two-year renewal, one of: 15 contact hours of appropriately approved practice-focused continuing education, a current nationally recognized nursing certification or recertification, or a completed college nursing course (one credit hour, grade C or better).
The 15 contact hours are only one of three accepted ways to meet the requirement, and the option applies to LPN, RN, and advanced-practice licensees alike.
Californiaevery two years
RN: The California Board of Registered Nursing requires 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew an active RN license.
Required topics: implicit bias (one-hour course for new licensees)
RNs renewing for the first time within two years of initial licensure are exempt from the 30 hours but must still complete a one-hour Board-approved implicit-bias course (AB 1407, effective January 1, 2023).
Coloradoevery two years (licenses expire September 30)
RN: The Colorado State Board of Nursing does not require continuing-education contact hours to renew an RN license. Instead, licensees participate in a continued-competency program — completing a reflective practice portfolio and a learning plan each cycle, submitted only if audited.
Nurses who have not practiced on an active license in the prior two years must instead demonstrate competency, for example by completing a Board-approved refresher course. Confirm current requirements with the board.
ConnecticutLicense renews annually, by the last day of the nurse’s birth month.
RN: Connecticut does not impose a general per-renewal contact-hour requirement. The one mandated continuing-education item is a two-contact-hour training on mental health — screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide risk, depression and grief, together with suicide-prevention training — required at the first renewal on or after January 1, 2022 and once every six years thereafter.
Required topics: Mental-health screening and suicide prevention (2 contact hours, once every six years)
The mental-health training applies to RNs and LPNs alike; nurses attest to compliance at online renewal and keep records for at least three years. Confirm current requirements with the board.
Delawareevery two years
RN: 30 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period.
LPN/LVN: 24 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period.
Required topics: Substance abuse (at least 3 contact hours), Recognition of and response to suspected abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or domestic violence of vulnerable persons, including reporting obligations (at least 1 contact hour)
Renewal also asks nurses to attest to a minimum practice-hours threshold; CE is tracked through the DELPROS portal and is subject to audit. Confirm current requirements with the board.
District of Columbiaevery two years (licenses now expire on the last day of the holder’s birth month)
RN: 24 contact hours of continuing education completed during the two years before license expiration.
Required topics: LGBTQ cultural competency or specialized clinical training (2 contact hours), District public-health-priority topics as published by the DC Health Director (10% of the total hours)
Requirements are set in the DC Municipal Regulations, Title 17, Chapter 54 (Registered Nursing); birth-month expiration applies to credentials issued on or after June 16, 2024. Confirm current requirements with the board.
Floridaevery two years
RN: 24 contact hours of continuing education per biennial renewal, including the mandated topic courses listed below.
Required topics: Prevention of medical errors (2 contact hours, each renewal), Florida laws and rules (2 contact hours, each renewal), Human trafficking (2 contact hours, each renewal), Recognizing impairment in the workplace (2 contact hours, every other renewal), Domestic violence (2 contact hours, every third biennial renewal), HIV/AIDS (1 contact hour, one-time requirement)
CE is reported through CE Broker; mandated courses (except human trafficking) must use a Florida Board of Nursing–approved provider. Confirm current requirements with the board.
Georgiaevery two years (by January 31)
RN: Georgia requires nurses to satisfy a continuing-competency requirement each biennium by meeting one of five board-recognized options; the continuing-education option is 30 contact hours from a board-approved provider.
Alternatives to the 30-hour CE option include national certification/recertification, an approved academic program, verified competency with at least 500 practice hours, or a board-approved reentry program. Records are kept for four years and may be reported via CE Broker. No specific CE subject is mandated for the CE option. Confirm current requirements with the board.
Hawaiievery two years (licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years)
RN: Hawaii requires each nurse to complete one board-recognized continuing-competency learning-activity option per biennium; the continuing-education option is 30 contact hours from approved providers.
Other recognized options include current national certification, a board-approved refresher course, post-licensure academic credit, serving 120 hours as a preceptor, a research/EBP project, authoring a peer-reviewed publication, or developing/conducting CE. No specific CE subject is mandated for the CE option. Confirm current requirements with the board.
Idahoevery two years
RN: Idaho does not mandate a fixed number of continuing-education hours. Instead, nurses must satisfy the Board's continued-competence requirement by completing at least two qualifying activities each two-year renewal. Recognized activities include 15 contact hours of continuing education, a period of active nursing practice, current national certification, post-licensure academic nursing coursework, or a Board-recognized refresher course.
The continued-competence requirement is waived for the first renewal following initial licensure by examination. Confirm the current list of qualifying activities and any rule updates directly with the Board.
Illinoisevery two years (RN licenses expire May 31 of even-numbered years)
RN: 20 contact hours of approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle
Required topics: One hour of sexual harassment prevention training, One hour of implicit bias awareness training, One hour on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (nurses who provide direct patient care to adults age 26 and older), Mandated reporter training on child abuse and neglect (nurses who work with children)
The mandated one-hour topics are counted within the 20 required hours and do not add to the total. The continuing-education requirement is waived for a nurse's first Illinois license renewal.
Indianaevery two years (RN licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; LPN licenses October 31 of even-numbered years)
RN: No continuing education is required to renew a standard RN or LPN license; renewal is completed by attesting to the statutory disclosure questions.
Indiana imposes no continuing-education requirement for standard RN or LPN renewal; advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority have separate requirements. Confirm current rules with the Board.
Iowaevery three years
RN: 36 contact hours of continuing education per three-year renewal period
Required topics: Mandatory reporter training on child abuse and/or dependent adult abuse (nurses who in their practice examine, attend, counsel, or treat children or dependent adults)
The first renewal period may be prorated to fewer hours, and the mandatory abuse-reporting course applies only to nurses whose practice involves children or dependent adults. Confirm current hour totals with the Board.
Kansasevery two years (licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month)
RN: 30 contact hours of approved continuing nursing education per two-year renewal period
The 30-hour requirement is waived if the license expires within 30 months following initial licensure by examination (or within 9 months following reinstatement or endorsement).
Kentuckyevery year (continuing-education earning period runs November 1 through October 31)
RN: 14 contact hours of approved continuing education per annual renewal, or one of several approved alternatives — for example 7 contact hours plus a satisfactory employment/competency evaluation, current national certification, approved post-licensure academic nursing coursework, a preceptorship, a published nursing article, or a nursing research project.
Required topics: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (one-time), Domestic violence (one-time), Pediatric abusive head trauma (one-time), Suicide prevention (one-time), IV / infusion therapy (LPNs only, one-time)
The listed content topics are one-time requirements to be completed within three years of licensure, not at every renewal. Licenses renew annually between September 15 and October 31.
LouisianaEvery two years (biennial); the online renewal season runs October 1 through December 31.
RN: During each two-year licensure period an RN must satisfy at least ONE of these options: 30 board-approved contact hours of continuing education; 900 practice hours (verified by the employer on a board form); initial RN licensure by examination or endorsement during the previous calendar year; or current certification in a nursing specialty by a board-approved certifying body.
Nurses issued their initial Louisiana RN license during the current year are exempt from the continuing-education requirement for that renewal.
MaineEvery two years, on the licensee’s birthday.
RN: Maine does not currently mandate a set number of continuing-education contact hours for RN (or LPN) renewal; nurses attest to continued competency when they renew online through the Maine Nurse Portal.
Renewal requires an attestation of continued competency even though a fixed CE hour count is not required for RNs/LPNs; advanced practice registered nurses have a separate continuing-education requirement. Confirm current rules with the board.
MarylandEvery two years (biennial), no later than the 28th day of the licensee’s birth month; nurses with odd-numbered birth years renew in odd years and those with even-numbered birth years renew in even years.
RN: For active renewal an RN must show ONE of: 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the preceding five years; completion of a board-approved nursing diploma or degree within the preceding five years; or 30 continuing-education units earned within the two years before renewal.
Continuing-education units may not be carried forward into the next renewal period; the 30-unit continuing-education path is one of three ways to meet the competency requirement.
MassachusettsEvery two years (biennial).
RN: 15 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period. There is no CE requirement for the first renewal.
LPN/LVN: 15 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period (same as RNs).
Required topics: Domestic and sexual violence training (one-time), Diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (one-time)
The domestic/sexual violence training and the Alzheimer’s/dementia training are each one-time requirements completed at initial licensure or a renewal, not repeated every cycle.
MichiganEvery two years (biennial).
RN: 25 contact hours of continuing education within the two years before renewal, including at least 2 hours in pain and pain-symptom management and implicit-bias training. A one-time human-trafficking training also applies.
Required topics: Pain and pain-symptom management (at least 2 hours), Implicit bias training, Human trafficking (one-time)
Implicit-bias hours phase in based on licensure date; for renewals after June 1, 2022, the amount depends on years of licensure since June 1, 2021. Confirm the exact implicit-bias total for your cycle with LARA.
MinnesotaEvery two years (biennial), with the expiration tied to the licensee’s birth month.
RN: 24 contact hours of continuing education during each 24-month registration period (one contact hour for each month of registration; the ratio scales for shorter or longer periods).
LPN/LVN: 12 contact hours of continuing education during each 24-month registration period.
Do not submit CE documentation with the renewal unless selected for an audit; keep records for two years after using them for renewal.
Mississippievery two years
RN: No continuing education is required for routine renewal by nurses in active practice. A nurse who has been out of practice for more than five years must complete at least 20 contact hours of accepted continuing education earned in the two years immediately before renewing, endorsing, or reinstating a license.
The board states each nurse is responsible for maintaining competency; the 20-contact-hour rule applies only after a break in practice of more than five years and covers both RNs and LPNs.
MissouriRenewal cycle: confirm with board
Confirm the current renewal cycle and any continuing-education requirements directly with the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
Montanaevery two years
RN: Montana no longer requires continuing education for license renewal. The Board of Nursing repealed its continuing-education renewal requirement (previously 24 contact hours per two-year cycle) effective November 18, 2023.
Nurses remain responsible for maintaining competency even though contact hours are no longer mandated; confirm current rules with the board before renewing.
Nebraskaevery two years
RN: Nurses must meet a continued-competency requirement at renewal. One accepted option is completing at least 20 contact hours of approved continuing education within the prior two years, combined with at least 500 hours of nursing practice in the past five years. Other options include a board-approved refresher course, current national specialty certification, or a documented continuing-competency portfolio.
RN licenses expire October 31 of even-numbered years and LPN licenses October 31 of odd-numbered years; nurses licensed within the previous two years are exempt from the competency requirement.
Nevadaevery two years
RN: 30 contact hours of continuing education each two-year renewal period, which must include 4 hours of cultural competency. A one-time 4-hour course in bioterrorism is also required at some point during the nurse's career.
Required topics: Cultural competency — 4 hours each renewal, Bioterrorism — 4 hours, one time
Newly licensed nurses are exempt from the 30-hour requirement for their first biennial period after graduation but must still complete the one-time bioterrorism course and the cultural-competency hours.
New Hampshireevery two years
RN: A minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education during the two-year renewal period. The board specifies no mandatory course topics; contact hours must pertain to the licensee's scope of practice.
Renewal is biennial, tied to the licensee's birthday; keep documentation of completed hours in case of audit.
New Jerseyevery two years
RN: 30 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period
Required topics: 1 contact hour on prescription opioid drugs — including alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion (counts toward the 30 hours)
The 30-hour requirement and the mandatory opioid hour apply to both RNs and LPNs; up to 15 surplus hours may be carried into the next renewal period. Confirm current requirements with the board before relying on them.
New Mexicoevery two years
RN: 30 contact hours of continuing education during the 24 months preceding renewal
Both RNs and LPNs must complete 30 contact hours per two-year cycle; for an RN, current national certification or recertification within the renewal period may be accepted in lieu of the 30 hours. Hours are prorated for licensing periods shorter than 24 months. Confirm current requirements with the board.
New Yorkregistration renews every three years
RN: New York does not require a fixed number of general continuing-education contact hours for RN registration renewal; instead it mandates specific coursework (see below)
Required topics: Board-approved infection control coursework every four years, unless the nurse qualifies for an exemption, A one-time course on child abuse identification and reporting (generally satisfied by graduates of NY-registered nursing programs)
New York regulates nursing through the State Education Department’s Office of the Professions and does not impose a set contact-hour continuing-education total for RN renewal; the mandatory items are periodic infection-control coursework and one-time child-abuse-reporting coursework. Exemptions and any updated coursework deadlines should be confirmed with the Office of the Professions.
North Carolinaevery two years
RN: Continuing-competence attestation: complete a self-assessment and learning plan and one approved learning activity, such as 30 contact hours of continuing education; OR 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of active practice; OR national certification or recertification by a recognized body; OR two semester hours of post-licensure academic nursing education; OR 15 contact hours plus a qualifying nursing project or authored publication
The same continuing-competence options apply to RNs and LPNs and must be met before a renewal is issued (no grace period); the board conducts random audits and only requests evidence from selected licensees. Confirm current options with the board.
North Dakotaevery two years
RN: 12 contact hours of continuing education within the two years preceding renewal
Excess hours cannot be carried into the next cycle, and the first renewal after licensure by examination requires no additional CE. North Dakota also requires evidence of recent nursing practice (about 400 hours within the preceding four years, with exceptions for recent graduates and refresher completers) — confirm the current practice-hour threshold with the board.
Ohioevery two years
RN: 24 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, at least one of which must be Category A (directly related to the Ohio Nurse Practice Act — the laws and rules governing nursing in Ohio)
Required topics: At least 1 contact hour of Category A continuing education on Ohio Nurse Practice Act laws and rules
The 24-hour requirement (including the Category A hour) applies to both RNs and LPNs; a nurse newly licensed by examination is not required to complete CE for the first renewal. Confirm current requirements with the board.
OklahomaEvery two years, expiring the last day of the licensee’s birth month.
RN: Oklahoma does not mandate continuing education alone. Within the two years before a license expires, a nurse must meet one of several “continued qualifications for practice” options: verified employment of at least 520 hours in a position requiring the license; at least 24 contact hours of continuing education applicable to nursing practice; current certification in a nursing specialty; completion of a Board-approved refresher course; or at least 6 academic semester credit hours of nursing coursework at the licensee’s level or higher.
The same continued-qualification options apply to RNs and LPNs; a nurse may satisfy them through employment hours, certification, a refresher course, or academic credit rather than continuing education. Confirm current options with the Board.
OregonEvery two years, on the licensee’s birthday.
RN: As of January 1, 2026 practice hours are no longer required to establish competency. Each renewal a nurse must complete a one-hour Oregon Pain Management Commission module (within the prior 36 months) and two hours of cultural-competency education (within the prior 48 months). Beginning January 1, 2028, renewal applicants must also provide evidence of 20 hours of continuing education completed within the two-year period.
Required topics: Pain management (Oregon Pain Management Commission module), Cultural competency
Requirements are in transition — practice hours were removed January 1, 2026 and a 20-hour continuing-education requirement takes effect January 1, 2028. A one-time pain-management course (in addition to the recurring one-hour module) applies at initial license, endorsement, or reactivation. Confirm current requirements with the Board.
PennsylvaniaEvery two years.
RN: 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education each renewal, which must include 2 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting. Beginning May 1, 2026, RNs must also complete a one-time 2 hours of continuing education on the organ and tissue donation and recovery process, within 5 years of initial licensure or of a renewal.
Required topics: Child abuse recognition and reporting, Organ and tissue donation (one-time, effective May 1, 2026)
The child abuse course is 3 hours at initial licensure and 2 hours at each renewal. Continuing-education hours must come from a Board-approved provider. Confirm first-renewal exemptions and provider approval with the Board.
Rhode IslandEvery two years, expiring March 1.
RN: 10 contact hours of continuing education each two-year renewal, of which at least 2 hours must address substance use/abuse. A one-time (once per career) one-hour course on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is also required.
Required topics: Substance use / substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (one-time)
Nurses attest to completion at renewal and must retain proof for four years. Confirm current hour totals and topics with the Board.
South CarolinaEvery two years, expiring April 30 of even-numbered years.
RN: The Board does not mandate continuing-education hours. Instead a nurse documents continued competency through one of several options: 30 contact hours of continuing education from a Board-recognized provider; maintenance or re-certification of a recognized national certification; completion of an academic program of study in nursing or a related field; or employer verification of competency on a Board-approved form.
Continuing education is one of several continued-competency options and is not itself required; the same options apply to RNs and LPNs. CE Broker is the Board’s official tracking system. Confirm current options with the Board.
South DakotaEvery two years.
RN: South Dakota does not require continuing education for renewal. A nurse verifies current competency through nursing practice — at least 140 hours of employment in any 12-month period, or a total of 480 hours during the previous six years — or, if practice cannot be verified, by completing a Board-approved RN/LPN refresher course.
No continuing-education mandate; competency is shown by practice hours or a refresher course. The same standard applies to RNs and LPNs. Confirm current thresholds with the Board.
Tennesseeevery two years (biennial)
RN: Tennessee does not set a single fixed continuing-education hour count. For each biennial renewal a nurse must be able to document at least two of the board’s approved continued-competence activities (options include continuing/in-service education, national certification, an employer or peer evaluation, academic study, publication, a refresher program, and volunteer or committee service). If continuing education is one of the chosen options, it is ten contact hours per renewal period.
Because competence can be shown through several non-CE options, there is no universal CE-hour mandate; confirm the current continued-competence menu with the board. Documentation must be retained for four years and is verified through CE Broker and periodic audits.
Texasevery two years
RN: Continuing competency each two-year licensing period is met by either completing 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education (CNE) in the nurse’s current area of practice, or achieving, maintaining, or renewing a board-approved national nursing certification in that area of practice.
Required topics: nursing jurisprudence and ethics (2 contact hours, once every third licensing period), older adult / geriatric care (nurses whose practice includes older adults), human trafficking prevention (nurses providing direct patient care), forensic evidence collection (one-time, for nurses working in emergency-department settings)
The mandatory topics are targeted requirements that apply only to nurses in the relevant role, setting, or patient population, not to every nurse; see Board Rule 216 for full applicability.
Utahevery two years (RN licenses expire January 31 of odd-numbered years; LPN licenses expire January 31 of even-numbered years)
RN: In the two years before renewal a nurse must complete at least one of: 400 hours of licensed practice; 200 hours of licensed practice plus 15 hours of approved continuing education; or 30 hours of approved continuing education.
Required topics: suicide prevention (at least one approved online training, which also counts toward CE)
Confirm the current suicide-prevention training requirement and its scope with DOPL, as the approved course list is updated.
Vermontevery two years (licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years)
RN: Continued competency is met by at least one of: practicing 400 hours (50 days) in the past two years or 960 hours (120 days) in the past five years; completing 20 hours of qualifying continuing education in the past two years; holding a current nationally recognized nursing certification; or completing an approved initial or re-entry nursing program within the past five years.
Continuing education is only one of several accepted pathways; a nurse who meets the practice-hour, certification, or program option is not separately required to complete CE hours.
Virginiaevery two years (biennial)
RN: Each renewal cycle a nurse completes at least one board-approved learning activity, such as: 30 contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses relevant to nursing; 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of active nursing practice; current specialty certification from a national certifying organization; a minimum of three credit hours of post-licensure academic nursing education; a board-approved refresher course; participation in an evidence-based practice project or research study; authoring a nursing publication; or teaching/developing nursing courses or CE.
There is no fixed CE-hour mandate for every nurse — any one of the approved continued-competency options satisfies renewal. Documentation must be kept for two years after renewal.
Washingtonannually, on the nurse’s birthday
RN: As reported by the Washington State Board of Nursing, each year a nurse completes 8 hours of continuing nursing education (at least 2 of which must be in health equity) together with 96 hours of active nursing practice. Nurses must also complete a one-time 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from a qualified program.
Required topics: health equity (at least 2 CE hours), suicide assessment, treatment, and management (one-time, 6 hours)
The license renews yearly, but continuing-competency hours may be documented over the reporting period the board specifies; confirm the current CE, practice-hour, health-equity, and suicide-prevention figures directly with the Washington State Board of Nursing.
West Virginiaevery two years (biennial); active RN licenses expire June 30 of even-numbered years
RN: 12 contact hours of Board-approved continuing education per two-year renewal period
Newly licensed RNs must instead complete 3 hours of CE on safe prescribing and drug diversion within one year of initial licensure (a waiver is available for those who did not handle controlled substances). Confirm current requirements with the Board.
Wisconsinevery two years (biennial); RN credentials renew by February 28 (or 29) of even-numbered years
RN: Wisconsin does not require continuing education for RN license renewal
Renewal still requires paying the renewal fee, completing the mandatory Nursing Workforce Survey, and reporting state of primary residency; APRNs with prescriptive authority have separate CE obligations. Confirm current requirements with the Board.
Wyomingevery two years (biennial); licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years
RN: no mandatory continuing education; nurses instead demonstrate continuing competency at each renewal — options completed within the past two years include 400 hours of nursing practice, 40 hours of continuing education, passing the NCLEX, completing a refresher course, or completing a nursing education program conferring a degree beyond the basic nursing education
The renewal window runs October 1 to December 31 of each even year via the Wyoming Nurse Portal. Confirm current continuing-competency options with the Board.
Requirements are set by each state Board of Nursing and change over time; always confirm the current rules with your board before relying on any figure above.
Frequently asked questions
In most states, yes — Boards of Nursing commonly require some ongoing learning between renewals — but the details are set by each state and can differ for RNs and LPNs/LVNs. Check your own Board of Nursing for the requirement that applies to your license.
It varies by state and by license level, and requirements change over time, so there is no single number. Your state Board of Nursing publishes the current hours, renewal cycle, and any mandatory topics for your license — that is the authoritative source.
No. NursingCEA provides free practice questions and study material for review and education only. We do not provide continuing-education credit, contact hours, or certificates, and our content does not satisfy any board's renewal requirement. For that, follow your state Board of Nursing.
On your state Board of Nursing's official website. Our state pages link directly to each board and its license-verification portal, so you can go straight to the current, official rules for your license.
They vary widely from state to state. Renewal cycles range from annual to every four years, and required contact hours — where a state requires any at all — differ by state and often by license type. See the state-by-state table on this page for each state's board-verified renewal cycle and CE requirement, or jump straight to your state's page.
It depends entirely on the state. Some boards set a specific contact-hour total per renewal cycle, others require none and instead rely on a practice-hour or competency attestation, and the number can change over time. Check the table on this page, or your state Board of Nursing directly, for the current RN requirement.
Sometimes. In some states RNs and LPNs/LVNs share the same contact-hour requirement; in others the requirement differs by license level, or one license level has no CE-hour requirement at all. The state-by-state table on this page lists the RN and LPN/LVN requirement separately wherever they differ.
It depends on the state. LPN and LVN licenses are granted by the same Board of Nursing that licenses RNs, and some boards apply one requirement to every license level while others publish a separate figure for practical and vocational nurses — Delaware, for example, publishes 24 contact hours per two-year renewal for LPNs against 30 for RNs, and Minnesota publishes 12 contact hours per 24-month registration period for LPNs against 24 for RNs. See the LPN and LVN section on this page, then confirm with your own board.
General information for nurses and nursing students — always confirm the current rules with your own Board of Nursing.