For RNs and LPNs

Nursing CE requirements by state

Continuing education hours, renewal cycles and required topics for RN and LPN license renewal in all 50 states and DC.

See your state's RN & LPN CE requirements

State	RNs	LPNs	Renewal
Alabama	24 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Alaska	Two of three: 30 contact hours, 320 hours of nursing employment, or 30 hours of professional activities	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Arizona	No continuing education hours required	Same as RN	Varies
Arkansas	15 contact hours in your area of practice (or a board-approved alternative)	Same as RN	Every 2 years
California	30 contact hours	30 contact hours (LVN)	Every 2 years
Colorado	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Connecticut	2 contact hours in mental health screening and suicide prevention	Same as RN	Required every 6 years
Delaware	30 contact hours	24 contact hours	Every 2 years
District of Columbia	24 contact hours	18 contact hours	Every 2 years (licenses now expire at the end of your birth month)
Florida	24 contact hours (16 general plus required topics)	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Georgia	30 contact hours (or another board-approved competency option)	20 contact hours	Every 2 years
Hawaii	One learning activity per 2-year cycle, such as 30 contact hours from approved providers, 2 semester credits of nursing coursework, a refresher course, or 120 hours as a preceptor	Same as RN	Every 2 years (current cycle July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027)
Idaho	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Illinois	20 contact hours	20 contact hours	Every 2 years
Indiana	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Iowa	36 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 3 years
Kansas	30 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Kentucky	14 contact hours (or an approved alternative such as certification)	Same as RN	Every year
Louisiana	30 contact hours, or 900 hours of nursing practice verified by your employer	No CE currently required	Every 2 years
Maine	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Maryland	30 contact hours, 1,000 hours of practice in the last 5 years, or completion of a nursing education program in the last 5 years	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Massachusetts	15 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Michigan	25 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Minnesota	24 contact hours	12 contact hours	Every 2 years
Mississippi	No continuing education for active nurses (20 hours if you've been out of practice more than 5 years)	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Missouri	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Montana	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Nebraska	20 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Nevada	30 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
New Hampshire	30 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
New Jersey	30 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
New Mexico	30 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
New York	No general CE-hour requirement	Same as RN	Registration every 3 years
North Carolina	One option, such as 30 contact hours, national certification, a refresher course, or 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of practice	Same as RN	Every 2 years
North Dakota	12 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Ohio	24 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Oklahoma	One option: 24 contact hours, 520 hours of nursing employment, a current nursing specialty certification, a board-approved refresher course, or 6 semester credits of nursing coursework	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Oregon	No general CE-hour requirement	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Pennsylvania	30 contact hours	2 hours of child abuse training (no general CE hours)	Every 2 years
Rhode Island	10 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
South Carolina	One option: 30 contact hours, national certification, an academic program, or employer-verified competency	Same as RN	Every 2 years
South Dakota	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Tennessee	Any two of the board's competency options, one of which is 5 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Texas	20 contact hours in your area of practice	20 contact hours (LVN)	Every 2 years
Utah	30 contact hours, 400 hours of practice, or 200 hours of practice plus 15 contact hours	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Vermont	20 contact hours, 400 hours of practice in 2 years (960 in 5), or a current national certification	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Virginia	One option, such as 30 contact hours, national certification, or 15 contact hours plus 640 hours of practice	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Washington	8 contact hours	Same as RN	Every year
West Virginia	12 contact hours	24 contact hours	Every 2 years
Wisconsin	No continuing education required	Same as RN	Every 2 years
Wyoming	40 contact hours or 400 hours of practice	Same as RN	Every 2 years

General RN/LPN renewal only; APRN and DEA requirements not included. Summarized from state board rules as of September 2026. Always confirm with your state board before you renew.

Required CE topics by state

Implicit bias Human trafficking Suicide prevention Child abuse and mandated reporter Alzheimer's disease and dementia Pain management Substance use and opioids Cultural competency and LGBTQ Domestic violence

LPN CE requirements by state · Continuing education for nurses · Free IV therapy practice test