Nursing Continuing Education (CE) Requirements by State
Becoming a nursing professional (whether it’s an LPN, RN, or nurse practitioner) requires a strong educational foundation. Most nurses earn a bachelor’s or advanced degree and pass the required certification exams before ever seeing their first patient. But once you’ve put on your scrubs and entered the working world, the learning doesn’t stop.
In fact, most states require nurses to complete some form of continuing education every two to three years as a condition of licensure. Even if your state board does not require any education for continuing competence for renewal, you may still be required by your employer or nursing association for job-specific certifications (i.e., nursing specialties, magnet hospitals, etc.). Specialty certifications such as medical-surgical, critical care, neonatal, etc. have specific requirements for continuing education. Make sure to check with your own hospital and any associations to which you may belong to find out if you have further requirements above and beyond that of your state nursing board.
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This guide will walk you through what you need to know about Continuing Education (CE) and the specific requirements for your state and type of license.
Nursing CE Requirements by State
| STATE | RNs | NPs | LPNs |
|
ALABAMA |
24 contact hours every 2 years |
24 contact hours, including 6 in pharmacology. |
24 contact hours every 2 years. |
|
ALASKA |
Every 2 years: 2 of the 3 are required for license renewal: 30 contact hours, OR 30 hours professional nursing activities, OR 320 hours nursing employment. |
At least 30 contact hours of continuing education, including 15 contact hours of education in advanced pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy. If you hold a current DEA registration, 2 hours of education in pain management and opioid use and addiction in the two-year renewal period |
Every 2 years: two of the following three are required for license renewal: 30 contact hours, OR 30 hours professional nursing activities, OR 320 hours nursing employment. |
|
ARIZONA |
960 practice hrs in past 5 years OR Earned a nursing degree in the past 5 yrs OR Complete a board-approved refresher in the past 5 years OR Earned an advanced nursing degree in the past 5 years |
960 practice hours in past 5 years, while maintaining an active Arizona or multi-state RN license and APRN certification APRNs who hold an active DEA license MUST have at least three hours of opioid-related, substance use disorder-related or addiction-related continuing education. |
960 practice hrs in past 5 years OR Earned a nursing degree in the past 5 yrs OR Complete a board-approved refresher in the past 5 years OR Earned an advanced nursing degree in the past 5 years |
|
ARKANSAS |
15 contact hours every 2 years. |
15 contact hours every 2 years. Licensees with prescriptive authority are required an additional 5 contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics related to specialty. |
15 contact hours every 2 years. |
|
CALIFORNIA |
30 contact hours every two years. |
30 contact hours every two years. |
30 contact hours every two years. |
|
COLORADO |
No CE Required. |
Beginning with license renewals on or after October 1, 2022, advanced practice nurses with opioid prescriptive authority are required 2 hours of substance use prevention training, every renewal period. |
No CE Required. |
|
CONNECTICUT |
2 contact hours in training or education every 6 years (1 hour screening for conditions like PTSD, suicide risk, depression, and grief and 1 hour suicide prevention training). |
50 hours of continuing education related to your area of practice every 2 years AND 2 contact hours regarding mental health conditions common with veterans and their family members in the first renewal cycle and not less than once every 6 years thereafter |
2 contact hours in training or education every 6 years (1 hour screening for conditions like PTSD, suicide risk, depression, and grief and 1 hour suicide prevention training). |
|
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
24 contact hours every 2 years, including 2 CEs in LGBTQ topics and 3 CEs in public health |
24 contact hours every 2 years, including 15 CEs in pharmacology related to APRN specialty, 2 CEs in LGBTQ topics, and 3 CEs in public health. |
18 contact hours every 2 years, including 2 CEs in LGBTQ topics or cultural awareness and 3 CEs in public health |
|
DELAWARE |
30 contact hours every 2 years, 3 hours of which must be in substance abuse. |
APRNs with prescriptive authority are required 2 hours in controlled substances prescribing practices, treatment of chronic pain, or related topics per the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. |
24 contact hours every 2 years, 3 hours of which must be in substance abuse. |
|
FLORIDA |
16 hours plus state mandates, including 2 hours for medical error prevention, 2 hours for nursing laws, 2 hours for human trafficking, 2 hours for workplace impairment, 1 hr for HIV/AIDS. |
16 hours plus state mandates, including 2 hours for medical error prevention, 2 hours for nursing laws, 2 hours for human trafficking, 2 hours for workplace impairment, 1 hr for HIV/AIDS. APRNs authorized to prescribe controlled substances also need 3 hours in Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances every renewal. |
16 hours plus state mandates, including 2 hours for medical error prevention, 2 hours for nursing laws, 2 hours for human trafficking, 2 hours for workplace impairment, 1 hr for HIV/AIDS. |
|
GEORGIA |
30 contact hours of continuing education every two years. |
30 contact hours of continuing education every two years and up-to-date specialty certification |
20 hours every 2 years |
|
HAWAII |
30 CEUs every 2 years, or other options outlined in Hawaii's Continuing Competency Guidance and Information Booklet. |
30 contact hours every 2 years, including 22 CEs in specialty area and 10 in pharmacology. |
30 CEUs every 2 years, or other options outlined in Hawaii's Continuing Competency Guidance and Information Booklet. |
|
IDAHO |
No CE Requirements. |
30 contact hours every two years, 10 of which must be in pharmacology if the nurse has prescriptive authority. |
No CE Requirements. |
|
ILLINOIS |
20 contact hours every two years. |
80 contact hours every 2 years, including 20 CEs in pharmacotherapeutics, 10 of which must be in safe opioid prescribing. Controlled Substances Registration renewal requires 3 CEs in pharmacology every 2 years. |
20 contact hours every two years. |
|
INDIANA |
No CE Required. |
30 contact hours every 2 years, including 8 CEs in pharmacology and 2 in opioid prescribing and opioid abuse. |
No CE Required. |
|
IOWA |
36 contact hours every 3 years and mandatory Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training and DS 169 Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training. |
36 contact hours every 3 years and maintain current certification in specialty. ARNPs who regularly examine, attend, counsel or treat dependent adults or children must also complete 2 contact hours of training related to child/dependent adult abuse.ARNPs who prescribed opioids during the renewal cycle are required to complete 2 hours every three years regarding the CDC guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. |
36 contact hours every 3 years. LPNs who regularly examine, attend, counsel or treat dependent adults or children must complete 2 contact hours of training related to child/dependent adult abuse. |
|
KANSAS |
30 contact hours every 2 years |
30 contact hours every 2 years |
30 contact hours every 2 years |
|
KENTUCKY |
14 contact hours every year |
14 contact hours every year, including 5 CEs in pharmacology. |
14 contact hours every year. |
|
LOUISIANA |
30 CEs or 900 practice hours every 2 years. |
300 annual practice hours as an APRN and 2 annual college credit hours related to specialty OR 30 contact hours every year. |
No continuing education required at this time. |
|
MAINE |
No CE required. |
50 contact hours every two years, including 30 in Category I and 20 in Category II. APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete 3 CEs in prescribing opioid medication. |
No CE Required. |
|
MARYLAND |
1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 5 previous years; OR Board-approved nursing education program within the 5 previous years; OR 30 CEUs within the 2 years immediately preceding renewal. |
No CE is required, but must maintain national certification. |
1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 5 previous years; OR Board-approved nursing education program within the 5 previous years; OR 30 CEUs within the 2 years immediately preceding renewal. |
|
MASSACHUSETTS |
15 contact hours every 2 years. |
15 contact hours every 2 years and maintain current certification through a national certifying organization. |
15 contact hours every 2 years. |
|
MICHIGAN |
25 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours on pain and symptom management and 1 hour of implicit bias training annually. |
25 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours on pain and symptom management, 1 hour of implicit bias training annually, & additional CEs based on specialty. |
25 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours on pain and symptom management and 1 hour of implicit bias training annually. |
|
MINNESOTA |
24 contact hours every 2 years. |
24 contact hours every 2 years (for RN licensure) and maintain licensure as an APRN through a national certifying body. |
12 contact hours every 2 years. |
|
MISSISSIPPI |
No CE required. 20 contact hours if out of practice for more than five 5 years. |
5 contact hours directly related to prescribing controlled substances every 2 years and national certification maintenance. |
No CE Required. 20 contact hours if out of practice for more than five 5 years. |
|
MISSOURI |
No CE required. |
No CE Required. |
No CE Required. |
|
MONTANA |
No CE required |
No CE required |
No CE required |
|
NEBRASKA |
20 contact hours and 500 practice hours every 2 years |
20 contact hours every two years (to maintain RN licensure). Licensees who prescribe controlled substances shall include at least 3 hours on prescribing opiates. |
20 contact hours and 500 practice hours every two years. |
|
NEVADA |
30 contact hours every two years, including 4 CEs in cultural competency |
45 contact hours every 2 years, including 15 CEs directly related to APRN specialty, 2 CEs in substance abuse, and 4 CEs in suicide prevention every 4 years. |
30 contact hours every two years, including 4 CEs in cultural competency |
|
NEW HAMPSHIRE |
30 contact hours every 2 years. |
60 contact hours every 2 years, including 20 CEs related to APRN specialty, 5 CEs in pharmacology, and 400 practice hours in specialty during the previous 4 years. |
30 contact hours every 2 years. |
|
NEW JERSEY |
30 contact hours every 2 years, including 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs, alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain, and the risks of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion |
30 contact hours every 2 years and 1 hour concerning prescription opioid drugs, including alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain, and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion. |
30 contact hours every 2 years, including 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs, alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain and the risks of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion |
|
NEW MEXICO |
30 contact hours every 2 years. |
Non-DEA licensed: 30 contact hours every 2 years, including 10 CEs in pharmacology and 10 CEs in specialty area. DEA-licensed: 30 contact hours every 2 years, including 10 CEs in pharmacology, 5 CEs in specialty area, and 5 CEs in non-cancer pain management. |
30 contact hours every two years. |
|
NEW YORK |
Infection control training every 4 years and one-time, 2-hour Child Abuse Identification and Reporting course. |
Infection control training every 4 year, national certification maintenance, and one-time, 2-hour Child Abuse Identification and Reporting course. |
Infection control training every 4 years. |
|
NORTH CAROLINA |
Meet 1 of the following renewal requirements 2 years:
|
50 contact hours every 2 years, including 20 CEs related to specialty and 1 CE related to controlled substances annually. |
Meet 1 of the following renewal requirements 2 years:
|
|
NORTH DAKOTA |
12 contact hours every two years and 400 practice hours every 4 years. |
12 contact hours every two years. APRNs authorized to prescribe are required an additional 15 contact hours in pharmacology. |
12 contact hours every two years and 400 practice hours every 4 years. |
|
OHIO |
24 contact hours every two years, 1 of which must be directly related to the laws and rules of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act.. |
48 contact hours (24 of which go to RN license maintenance) every 2 years for each APRN license held. CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs must include 12 CEs in advanced pharmacology. |
24 contact hours every two years, 1 of which must be directly related to the laws and rules of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act. |
|
OKLAHOMA |
Every 2 years:
|
RN licensure maintenance every 2 years. NPs with prescriptive authority must complete:
|
Every 2 years: 520 practice hours OR |
|
OREGON |
In 2 years preceding renewal, applicants must:
Additionally, complete 1 CE in pain management, 2 CEs in cultural competence, and 3 CEs in suicide prevention training. |
In 2 years preceding renewal, applicants must:
Additionally, maintain an active national certification, complete 1 CE in pain management, 2 CEs in cultural competence, and 3 CEs in suicide prevention training. |
In 2 years preceding renewal, applicants must:
Additionally, complete 1 CE in pain management, 2 CEs in cultural competence, and 3 CEs in suicide prevention training. |
|
PENNSYLVANIA |
30 contact hours every two years, including 2 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training. |
30 contact hours every 2 years, including 2 CEs in child abuse recognition and reporting. APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete 2 CEs in pain management, the identification of addiction or in the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids. |
2 CEs in child abuse recognition and reporting training every two years. |
|
RHODE ISLAND |
10 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours of substance abuse CE. |
10 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours of substance abuse CE. Licensees authorized to prescribe are required to submit evidence of 30 hours in pharmacology every 6 years. |
10 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours of substance abuse CE. |
|
SOUTH CAROLINA |
30 contact hours every 2 years. May also show proof of competence by maintenance of certification by a national certifying body, completion of an academic program, or employer certification. |
30 contact hours every 2 years. A minimum of 20 of the required 30 contact hours to be in pharmacotherapeutics related to specialty, including 2 hours specific to prescribing controlled substances if authorized to prescribe controlled substances. |
30 contact hours every 2 years. May also show proof of competence by maintenance of certification by a national certifying body, completion of an academic program, or employer certification. |
|
SOUTH DAKOTA |
CE not required. |
Required to maintain national certification. No CE Required. |
No CE Required. |
|
TENNESSEE |
5 contact hours every year for practicing nurses. Must be accompanied by two documents verifying competence or 10 contact hours annually for those not practicing and one additional document verifying competence. See website for more details. |
Every two years - 5 hours of continuing education (10 hours if not currently practicing) and 2 hours of continuing education to address controlled substance prescribing practices, including the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines, for APRN with Certificate of Fitness. |
5 contact hours for practicing nurses accompanied by two documents verifying competence or 10 contact hours for those not practicing and one additional document verifying competence. See website for more details. |
|
TEXAS |
20 contact hours every 2 years. Mandatory CE requirements including Forensic Evidence Collection for Nurses and Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses. |
20 contact hours every 2 years. APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete an additional 5 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics every two years. |
20 contact hours every 2 years. Several mandatory CE requirements such as Nursing Jurisprudence, Ethics, Geriatric Care, and Forensic Collection. |
|
UTAH |
One of the following every 2 years: 30 contact hours, OR 200 practice hours and 15 contact hours, OR 400 practice hours. |
APRNs are required the following every two years: Must maintain national certification, and be currently certified in specialty area, or complete 30 hours of CE (if licensed prior to 7/1/92) and 400 hours of practice each year. |
One of the following every 2 years: 30 contact hours, OR 200 practice hours and 15 contact hours, OR 400 practice hours. |
|
VERMONT |
No CE Required. |
Required to maintain national certification. APRNs who prescribe or dispense controlled substances must complete 2 hours on controlled substances every two years.. |
No CE Required. |
|
VIRGINIA |
15 contact hours of continuing education and 640 hours of active practice within the previous two 2 years, or one of nine other options. See website for more details. |
APRNs are required to maintain national certification, or 40 contact hours in specialty areas approved by certifying agency every two years. Licensees authorized to prescribe are required an additional 8 hours in pharmacology. |
15 contact hours of continuing education and 640 hours of active practice within the previous two 2 years, or one of nine other options. See website for more details. |
|
WASHINGTON |
8 contact hours every year. There is a one-time requirement of 6 hours of suicide prevention training at initial licensure. |
Every two years - 30 hours of continuing education in specialty area and 15 hours of continuing education in pharmacology for ARNP with prescriptive authority. |
8 contact hours every year. There is a one-time requirement of 6 hours of suicide prevention training at initial licensure. |
|
WEST VIRGINIA |
12 contact hours every year. Must include best prescribing and drug diversion training if licensee prescribes, administers, or dispenses controlled substances. Also mandatory training for mental health conditions common to veterans and their families. |
24 hours every two years with 12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours in the clinical management of patients. 12 of these hours may count toward CE requirement for RN license. |
24 contact hours every two years, 3 of which must be in chemical dependence/substance abuse disorders and 2 must be related to mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans. |
|
WISCONSIN |
CE not required. |
Every two years - 16 hours of continuing education in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the advanced practice nurse prescriber's area of practice, including at least 2 contact hours in responsible prescribing of controlled substances. |
No CE Required. |
|
WYOMING |
One of the following every two years: 400 hours of active nursing practice, or 200 hours of active nursing practice, and 15 hours of continuing education, or if less than 200 hours of active nursing practice, 30 hours of continuing education.. |
One of the following: Current National Certification OR 60 contact hours every 2 years AND 400 hours of employment as an APRN in specialty of advanced practice Prescriptive Authority: 5 contact hours every 2 years in pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, or drug therapy. |
One of the following every two years: 400 hours of active nursing practice, or 200 hours of active nursing practice, and 15 hours of continuing education, or if less than 200 hours of active nursing practice, 30 hours of continuing education. |
CE, CNE, and CEUs Explained
Let’s start with a quick explanation of what all those acronyms mean since you might be wondering if those terms can be used interchangeably.
CE stands for Continuing Education. Most licensed professions require some form of continuing education.
CNE is Continuing Nursing Education and refers to courses specifically for nursing professionals.
CEUS or Continuing Education Units are also known as Continuing Education Credits. They reflect the time spent participating in educational courses or approved activities. One CEU is equal to 10 hours of instruction. The hours of instruction are called ‘contact hours’. *
* Contact hours refer to the stated amount of time an individual is present during a course. One contact hour can equal 50-60 minutes of class time, depending on the state.
What Are the Requirements for CEUs in My State?
Some states expect some portion of your continuing education to be on specific topics. The remaining hours can often be decided by you.
For instance, in New York, nurses must take an Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse course and an Infection Control course as part of their hours. In Michigan, one hour of Pain Management education must be completed.
The other thing to keep in mind is that CEUs must be earned within a specific renewal period as identified by your state. So if you need to earn a certain number of CEUs every two years, you can’t double up and apply extra hours to the following two years. They do not carry over.
Continuing education requirements to maintain certification status through a professional association are usually separate from the state board’s requirements. In order for licensed nurses to maintain their certification status, most certifying organizations require that a portion of their CE program requirements receive approval through a specific peer review process. Check with the organization that provides your certification for additional information.
What is an ANCC-Approved CE?
As mentioned briefly in Part One, CEUs refer to a unit of credit equal to 10 hours of participation in an educational course or approved activity. The key here is choosing approved or accredited programs. In order for a CEU to count toward your required hours, it must be administered by an approved CE provider. Usually, if it’s nursing CE coursework from a college or university or a nursing school, you should have no issues with having such credits approved. However, the study hours must be related to nursing in some way, so taking a liberal arts course, for example, wouldn’t count.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the organization that sets the standards for nursing board certification and is recognized by all state boards of nursing. Taking ANCC-approved courses not only boosts your earning potential, it also ensures that you’re able to stay on top of the latest advances in the profession and provide your patients with the best care.
Directory of State Nursing Boards
What is the Easiest Way to Fulfill My CE Requirements?
With a busy nursing work schedule, fitting in CNE might seem like quite the challenge. However, you generally have a reasonable period of time to complete your requirements, so you can space out the hours in a manageable way.
If you’re employed by a large hospital and are part of a union, it’s quite possible that your employer will offer free continuing education courses at your facility. Check with your employer to see if any such opportunities are offered.
If you’re completing your CEUs independently, there are many options for completing CE hours online or at your own pace. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Commission on Nurse Certification lists nationally accredited CE providers on its website.
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Earn a valuable nursing credential at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Expand your expertise and prepare to take on leadership and independent practice opportunities. Complete your courses online, on your schedule.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
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CCNE
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RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
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RN Required
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Fun Ways to Complete Your CEUs
Before you start dreading the idea of having to take classes for the rest of your career, you should know that CE classes can also be a lot of fun. Some smart nurses combine their CE hours with their vacations in order to get the most out of the time they spend away from the hospital. There are also a handful of CE providers that offer their CE seminars in the form of cruises or tropical getaways.
Seminars and other professional development events are also a great way to network or scope out travel nursing locations and opportunities.
Again, just be sure to double check with your state board before you sign up for courses from an unfamiliar provider. The few minutes it will take to confirm that a course is accepted is worth the time and money you save on one that doesn’t count towards fulfilling your CE requirement.
Paying for CEs
Large hospitals and unions know that it is in their best interests to make sure their nurses are up-to-date on the latest therapies and technologies. Therefore, your employer may pay to send you to conferences and training sessions that can help fulfill your CEU requirements. Check with your employer to see if these benefits are offered.
Even if your hospital does not pay for your CEUs, they can usually be completed without having to spend a large sum of money. Some hours can be completed at no cost, or for nominal fees (under $50). Some providers offer the option to pay a flat fee to take as many courses as you’d like.
Remember though, you often get what you pay for and many of the best learning experiences can be expensive. It should be noted that no matter how much you spend, CEUs can usually be written off as a tax-deduction when you file your tax returns. See IRS Publication 970 for detailed information on claiming this deduction.
In the end, if you’re still having trouble getting funding for a continuing education course, consider applying for various continuing education or professional development scholarships.
How Do I Get Credit for My Work?
After completing CE hours, you want to be sure that your time and effort will be recorded properly. Usually, the provider will give you a certificate of attendance. If it’s done online, you will likely receive an electronic notification that you completed the course, but you can request a hard copy as well. In most cases, the acronym BRN should appear on the completion certificate, signifying that it is an approved “Board of Registered Nursing” continuing education provider.
Be sure to keep paperwork or digital copies of your CE completion records for a few years in case your credentials are ever audited.
Keeping your RN and specialty nursing licenses up to date is something that all nurses have to do in order to keep working in the field. However, don’t overlook the other benefits that CEUs can provide, namely staying on the cutting edge of new innovations in the industry so you can thrive professionally. In other words, choose your CE hours carefully so that you can get the most out of the experience, whether it’s networking with fellow RNs at a conference or learning a new skill that can be directly applied in your day-to-day job.
Continuing Education Requirements for Nurses FAQs
-
How many continuing education credits do nurses need?
- The exact number of continuing education credits (CEUs) is specific on the state of licensure. For those that hold a compact license, the number of hours is based on the state of primary residence. Some states require specific courses as part of the CEUs. For example, Michigan requires one hour of Pain Management education.
-
How do nurses get continuing education credits?
- CEUs can be obtained through a variety of ways including from a nurse’s employer. CEUs are generally offered online for a small nominal fee. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Commission on Nurse Certification lists nationally accredited CE providers on their websites.
-
How do nurses check their CEU hours?
- It is important for nurses to maintain a record of their CEU hours. Nurses will often have to report these hours to their place of employment. Individual state boards of nursing will often audit nursing licenses on a regular basis. During renewal, individuals are certifying that the required CEUs were completed.
-
Why is it important for nurses to be lifelong learners?
- Healthcare is an ever-changing field and there are always new policies and procedures based on evidence-based research. Through CEUs, nurses are able to stay up to date on relevant information to the profession.
