Continuing Education for Nurses: State-by-State Requirements

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Renewing a registered nurse (RN) license varies from state to state, but every 1-4 years, nurses across the nation need to fulfill this professional obligation. While fees and dates will be somewhat similar, continuing education requirements can vary widely and are typically the most time-consuming part of the process.  

The reason most states require nursing CE for renewals is that it’s the best way to ensure the workforce is up to date on best practices, new standards, and important legislation. Fortunately, coursework can usually be fulfilled entirely online. Award-winning providers like Premiere can deliver dynamic, research-based CE to a nurse’s laptop or device anywhere in the country.  

Ready to get started? Here’s what your state requires for RNs renewing their license and some great CE options to explore.  

Alabama  

As a nurse practicing in Alabama, you will be renewing your nursing license every two years and must complete 24 hours of continuing education.

Start exploring online CE courses for Alabama.

Alaska

Nurses working in Alaska are required to renew their nursing license every two years following the completion of 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Alaska.

Arizona  

The Arizona Board of Nursing requires nurses to renew every four years, but does not have a CE requirement as part of the renewal process. However, if you hold a DEA license, you will need to take 3 hours of opioid-related credits. Also, there may be continuing education for nurses required by federal law and recertifications for training like ACLS, BLS, and PALS that need to be addressed.  

Arkansas  

Nurses working in Arkansas will need to renew every two years. CE requirements can be satisfied by completing 15 practice-focused hours, maintaining certification by a national certifying entity, or completing an academic course in a nursing-related field.

Start exploring online CE courses for Arkansas.

California  

The California Board of Registered Nursing requires nurses to renew their nursing license every two years, paired with the completion of 30 hours of CE, including implicit bias CE (direct participation, within 2 years of licensure).

Start exploring online CE courses for California.

Connecticut  

RNs working in Connecticut renew their license annually, but CE requirements fall on a different cadence. Once every 6 years, the RN must complete two contact hours of CE on screening for post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression, and grief. They must also complete a course on suicide prevention training.

Start exploring online CE courses for Connecticut.

Delaware  

Nurses practicing in Delaware need to renew their license every two years by completing 30 hours of CE. At least 3 CE hours must be on the topic of substance abuse and 1 hour on mandated reporting.

Start exploring online CE courses for Delaware.  

District of Columbia

RNs in the District of Columbia need to renew their license every two years with a minimum of 24 hours of CE, which includes CE requirements for many specific topics including LGBT or Cultural Awareness, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Chronic Disease Management, One Health, Healthcare Professional Retention and Capacity Building, and Community and Patient Safety.

Start exploring online CE courses for the District of Columbia.

Florida

RNs working in Florida need to renew their license biennially, along with the completion of 24 total hours of CE. Each renewal, RNs need 2 hours of Medical Error Prevention, 2 hours of Human Trafficking, and 2 hours of Florida Laws and Rules. Additionally, there are specific CE topics identified by the Florida Board of Nursing for first renewals and every second and third renewal.

Start exploring online CE courses for Florida.  

Georgia  

Nurses working in Georgia must renew their nursing license every two years and complete 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Georgia.

Hawaii  

RNs practicing in Hawaii must renew their nursing license by June 30th of odd-numbered years. The Hawaii Board of Nursing allows for several options when it comes to satisfying CE requirements, one of which is the completion of 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Hawaii.

Illinois  

RNs working in Illinois must renew every two years and are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education.

Start exploring online CE courses for Illinois.

Iowa  

To practice in Iowa, nurses must renew every 3 years and complete 36 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Iowa.

Kansas

Nurses working in Kansas are on a two-year renewal cycle and must complete 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Kansas.

Kentucky  

For those nurses working in Kentucky, licenses are required to be renewed annually with the completion of 14 CE hours.

Start exploring online CE courses for Kentucky.

Louisiana  

Nurses working in Louisiana must renew their nursing license every two years and complete 30 CE hours during that time.

Start exploring online CE courses for Louisiana.

Maryland

RNs in Maryland are required to complete 0 to 30 hours of CE, depending on the number of hours they practice. There is a one-time requirement for an implicit bias training program approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program.

Start exploring online CE courses for Maryland.

Massachusetts

Nurses practicing in Massachusetts must renew their license every two years and complete 15 hours of CE, including Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Training (one-time requirement).

Start exploring online CE courses for Massachusetts.

Michigan

RNs working in Michigan renew every two years by completing 25 hours of CE, however no more than 12 credit hours may be earned during a 24-hour period. Required CE topics include implicit bias and pain management training.

Start exploring online CE courses for Michigan.

Minnesota

RNs in Minnesota have a two-year renewal period and must complete 24 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Minnesota.

Mississippi

RNs in Mississippi are on a two-year cycle. RNs are not required to complete CE to renew a license, unless the nurse has not practiced in the last 5 years. In this case, there are 20 hours of CE required to reinstate one's license.

Start exploring online CE courses for Mississippi.

Nebraska

RNs working in Nebraska all expire on October 31st of every even-numbered year by completing 20 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Nebraska.

Nevada

RNs working in Nevada renew every two years with 30 hours of nursing-related continuing education per renewal cycle. They must also complete 4 hours of instruction related to cultural competency, which can include anti-discriminatory practice or necessary components of care. 4 hours of bioterrorism is a one-time requirement. 2 hours of HIV stigma and bias is required for nurses who provide or supervise hospital or primary care emergency services. If nurses treat or care for individuals over 60 years old, they're encouraged to take CE on Alzheimer's disease.

Start exploring online CE courses for Nevada.

New Hampshire

RNs working in New Hampshire need to complete 30 hours of CE during their two-year renewal cycle.

Start exploring online CE courses for New Hampshire.

New Jersey

RNs working in New Jersey need to renew their license every 2 years and complete 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for New Jersey.

New Mexico

RNs in New Mexico renew every two years while completing 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for New Mexico.

New York

RNs working in New York renew every 3 years and must complete 3 hours of CE on infection control every 4 years. There is also a one-time requirement for a 2-hour mandated reporting course.

Start exploring online CE courses for New York

North Carolina

Renewal is required every two years, with the completion of 15 hours of CE as one of the potential options.

Start exploring online CE courses for North Carolina.

North Dakota

An RN license in North Dakota is renewed every two years with the completion of 12 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for North Dakota.

Ohio

RNs working in Ohio renew their license every two years, completing 24 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Ohio.

Oklahoma

RNs working in Oklahoma renew every two years by completing 24 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Oklahoma.

Oregon

RNs working in Oregon renew every two years. The number of CE hours they need depends on their practice hours and can range from 0 to 30. Completing one hour of CE on pain management and two hours of education on cultural competency are requirements.

Start exploring online CE courses for Oregon

Pennsylvania

RNs working in Pennsylvania follow a biennial renewal period, completing 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island

Nurses working in Rhode Island renew every two years, completing 10 hours of CE, including 2 hours of CE on substance abuse. 1 hour of CE on Alzheimer's disease is a one-time requirement.

Start exploring online CE courses for Rhode Island.

South Carolina

RNs in South Carolina renew every two years by completing 30 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for South Carolina.

Tennessee

Nurses working in Tennessee renew every two years and can choose to complete 10 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Tennessee.

Texas

Nurses working in Texas renew every two years by completing 20 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Texas.

Utah

RN licenses in Utah expire every January 31st of odd years, with those nurses needing to complete at least one Utah-approved online suicide prevention training.

Start exploring online CE courses for Utah.

Vermont

Nurses in Vermont renew every two years and need to complete 20 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Vermont.

Virginia

Nurses working in Virginia renew every two years by completing 15 hours of CE.

Start exploring online CE courses for Virginia.

Washington

RNs working in Washington renew annually and must complete 8 hours of CE, including 2 CE hours for gender-affirming healthcare. 6 CE hours for suicide assessment, treatment, and management is a one-time requirement to be completed by the end of the first full year of practice.

Start exploring online CE courses for Washington.

West Virginia

RNs working in WV renew every two years and need to complete 12 hours of CE. 3 hours of CE on safe opiate prescribing is required within one year of receiving your initial license.

Start exploring online CE courses for West Virginia.

Wyoming

A Wyoming nursing license is valid for two years.

Start exploring online CE courses for Wyoming.

Don’t See Your State?

If your state isn’t listed, that means RNs don’t have a continuing education requirement. However, you should be aware of continuing education for nurses required by federal law and recertifications, such as ACLS, BLS, and PALS, that need to be addressed.

Continuing education is also a great way to explore specialization, stay on top of industry standards, and develop your skills. Courses on AI in healthcare, telehealth, and cultural competency are all highly relevant to practice and reflect evolving trends in your industry.

Meet Your CE Requirements the Easy Way with Premiere

There’s no worse feeling than finding out just before your renewal deadline that you missed a course or forgot to log your required CE. Premiere makes continuing education for nurses easy with fully accredited online courses covering all relevant topics and legal requirements. We also offer state packages that give you instant access to all the coursework you need to renew.

Or, you can take advantage of our Unlimited Nursing CE Subscription to develop your career and build your skills anytime, and we offer online certification and recertification for critical training like ACLS, BLS, and PALS.

All of Premiere’s award-winning courses are created by industry experts and help nurses across the country meet their professional obligations on a timeline that works for them.