Nursing Continuing Education Requirements by State
The following is a list of State Continuing Education Requirements for RN, LPN and ARNP, nurse contact hours, and State Board of Nursing contact information. CEuLab make every effort to provide up to date requirement information, but make sure you check with your state board directly for final requirements.
| State | RN Requirement | LPN Requirement | State Board Contact Information |
| ALABAMA | 24 contact hours every 2 years for RNs.ARPNs: Required 24 contact hours every two year licensing period, a minimum of 6 of the 24 hours must be in pharmacology | 24 contact hours every 2 years for LPNs. | Alabama Board of Nursing PO Box 303900 Montgomery, AL 36130 Telephone: (334) 242-4060 Fax: (334) 242-4360 |
| ALASKA | RNs – two of the following three are required for license renewal every two years: 30 contact hours, OR 30 hours professional nursing activities, OR 320 hours nursing employment. | LPNs: two of the following three are required for license renewal every two years: 30 contact hours, OR 30 hours professional nursing activities, OR 320 hours nursing employment. | Alaska Board of Nursing Dept. of Commercial and Economical Development Division of Occupational Licensing 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1500 Anchorage, AK 99501-3567 Telephone: (907) 269-8161 Fax: (907) 269-8196 |
| ARIZONA | CE not required. | No CE Required. | Arizona State Board of Nursing 1651 E. Morton Ave., # 210 Phoenix, AZ 85020 Telephone: (602) 889-5150 Fax: (602) 889-5155 |
| ARKANSAS | RNs: 15 contact hours every two years, or certification or recertification during the renewal period in the area of practice. | LPNs: RNs: 15 contact hours every two years, or certification or recertification during the renewal period in the area of practice. | Arkansas State Board of Nursing University Tower Building 1123 S. University, # 800 Little Rock, AR 72204 Telephone: (501) 686-2700 Fax: (501) 686-2714 |
| CALIFORNIA | All RNs in the State of California required 30 hours of continuing education every two years. | LVNs must complete 30 contact hours of Continuing Education every two years. | State of California Board of Registered Nursing 1625 North Market Boulevard PO Box 944210 Suite N-217 Sacramento, CA 95834-1924 Phone: (916) 322-3350 TDD: (916) 322-1700 |
| COLORADO | CE not required.ARNPs: Must maintain national certification | No CE Required. | Colorado Board of Nursing 1560 Broadway, # 880 Denver, CO 80202 Telephone: (303) 894-2430 Fax: (303) 894-2821 |
| CONNECTICUT | CE not required for RN.APRNs: Required 50 hours every two year licensing period, 5 of which must be in pharmacotherapeutics. 1 hour must be completed in each of the following topics: diseases, including, but not limited to, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus, risk management, sexual assault, domestic violence, cultural competency, and substance abuse. | No CE Required for LPN. | Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing Division of Health Systems Regulation 410 Capitol Avenue, 13PHO PO Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134 Telephone: (860) 509-7603 Fax: (860) 509-7553 |
| DELAWARE | RNs are required to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years. 3 hours must be in substance abuse. | LPNs are required to complete 24 contact hours every 2 years. 3 hours must be in substance abuse. | Delaware Board of Nursing Cannon Building, # 203 861 Silver Lake Blvd. Dover, DE 19904 Telephone: (302) 744-4516 Fax: (302) 739-2711 |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | RN’s and ARNP required 24 contact hours every 2 years.ARNP must complete 15 of the 24 hours in pharmacology. | LPN’s required 18 contact hours every two years. | District of Columbia Board of Nursing 717 14 Street NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202)724-4900 Fax: (202) 727-8471 |
| FLORIDA | RNs and ARNP required 24 hours every two year licensing period.Requirements include:
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LPNs must complete 24 hours of appropriate CE during each renewal period. One (1) contact hour is required for each calendar month of the licensure cycle, including two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. | Physical Address: Health Care Professions-Licensure 4042 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C-02 Tallahassee, FL Telephone: 850-488-0595 Mailing Address: 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # C00 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3250 http://floridasnursing.gov/renewals/ |
| GEORGIA | RNs and ARNPs: Required 30 contact hours of continuing education every two year licensing period | LPNs: Required 20 contact hours of continuing education every two year licensing period. | Georgia Board of Nursing 237 Coliseum Drive Macon, GA 31217-3858 Telephone: (478) 207-2440 Fax: (877) 371-5712 |
| HAWAII | RN’s CE not required. ARNPs: Required 30 hours in the specialty area of practice to maintain prescriptive privileges every two year licensing period, 8 hours of the 30 must be in pharmacology. Must also maintain national certification. | No CE Required. | Hawaii Board of Nursing Professional and Vocational Licensing Division PO Box 3469 Honolulu, HI 96801 Telephone: (808) 586-2695 Fax: (808) 586-2689 |
| IDAHO | CE not required for RN.ARNPs: Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period, if prescriptive authority required 10 contact hours in pharmacology | No CE Required. | Idaho Board of Nursing PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720 Telephone: (208) 334-3110 Fax: (208) 334-3262 |
| ILLINOIS | RNs are required to complete 20 contact hours every two years.ARNPs: Required 50 contact hours every two year licensing period. | LPNs are required to complete 20 contact hours every two years. | Illinois Department of Professional Regulation James R. Thompson Center 100 West Randolph, # 9-300 Chicago, IL 60601 Telephone: (312) 814-2715 Fax: (312) 814-3145 |
| INDIANA | No CE required. | No CE Required. | Indiana State Board of Nursing Health Professions Bureau 402 W. Washington Street, Room W072 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Telephone: (317) 234-2043 Fax: (317) 233-4236 |
| IOWA | RNs and LPNs:, 36 contact hours every three year. RNs and LPNs who has frequent contact, examine or treat dependent adults or children in Iowa complete training related to the identification and reporting of child/dependent adult abuse. It require two hours of training every five years. | See RN requirements | Iowa Board of Nursing RiverPoint Business Park 400 S.W. 8th Street, # B Des Moines, IA 50309 Telephone: (515) 281-3255 Fax: (515) 281-4825 |
| KANSAS | RNs are required to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years. | LPNs are required to complete 30 contact hours every 2 years. | Kansas State Board of Nursing Landon State Office Building 900 SW Jackson, Suite 1051 Topeka, KS 66612 Telephone: (913) 296-4929 Fax: (913) 296-3929 |
| Kentucky | RNs & LPNs: Required 14 contact hours each annual licensing period. A minimum of 2 contact hours of HIV ? AIDS every 10 years, must be approved by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. There is a one-time requirement at initial licensure of 3 contact hours in Domestic Violence and 1.5 contact hours in Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma. | See RN requirements | Kentucky Board of Nursing 312 Whittington Parkway, # 300 Louisville, KY 40222 Telephone: (502) 429-3300 Fax: (502) 429-3311 |
| LOUISIANA | RNs and ARNPs: Required one of the following each annual licensing period: 5 contact hours if employed full time in nursing;10 contact hours if employed a minimum of 160 hours in nursing; or 15 contact hours if not employed in nursing. | See RN requirements | The State Board of Nursing for Louisiana: Louisiana State Board of Nursing 3510 N. Causeway Boulevard, Suite 601 Metairie, LA 70002 Telephone: (504) 838-5332 FAX: (504) 838-5349 Temporary address: 5207 Essen Lane, Suite 6 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Telephone: (225) 763-3570 Fax: (225) 763-3580 |
| MAINE | No CE required for RN.ARNPs: Required 75 contact hours every two year licensing period, in nursing, medicine, or allied health in the area of practice. | No CE Required. | Maine State Board of Nursing 161 Capitol St. 158 State House Station Augusta, Maine , 04333 Phone: (207) 287-1133 Fax: (207) 287-1149 |
| MARYLAND | No CE required | No CE Required. | Maryland Board of Nursing 4140 Patterson Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215 Telephone: (410) 585-1900 Fax: (410) 358-3530 |
| MASSACHUSETTS | RNs are required to complete 15 contact hours every 2 years. | LPNs are required to complete 15 contact hours every 2 years. | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing Division of Professional Licensure 239 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02114 Telephone: (617) 727-3074 Fax: (617) 727-2197 |
| MICHIGAN | RNs and LPNs: Required 25 contact hours every two year licensing period, 1 of which must be in Pain and Pain Symptom Management. | See RN requirement | Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau Of Health Professions Michigan Board Of Nursing 611 W. Ottawa St., 1st Floor PO Box 30670 Lansing, MI 48909-8170 Telephone: (517) 335-0918 Fax: (517) 373-2179
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-27417_27529_27542-59003–,00.html |
| MINNESOTA | RNs must complete 24 contact hours every 2 years. | LPNs must complete 12 contact hours every 2 years. | Minnesota Board of Nursing 2829 University Avenue SE, # 500 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Telephone: (612) 617-2270 Fax: (612) 617-2190 |
| MISSISSIPPI | RNs Required 20 contact hours every two year licensing period.ARNPs: Required 40 contact hours every two year licensing period, a minimum of 2 of the 40 contact hours must be directly related to the prescribing of controlled substances and required also to maintain national certification. | LPNs: Required 20 contact hours every two year licensing period. | Mississippi Board of Nursing 1935 Lakeland Drive, Suite B Jackson, MS 39216 Telephone: (601) 987-4188 Fax: (601) 364-2352 |
| MISSOURI | CE not required. | No CE Required. | Missouri State Board of Nursing 301 South Park, 4th Floor P.O. Box 200513 Helena, MT 59620-0513 Telephone: (406) 841-2340 Fax: (406) 841-2305 |
| MONTANA | RNs Required 24 contact hours every two year licensing period.APRNs: Required 24 contact hours every two year renewal period, to maintain prescriptive authority 12 of which required in pharmacology, where no more than 2 contact hours may be in the study of herbal or complementary therapies. | LPNs Required 24 contact hours every two year licensing period. | Montana State Board of Nursing 111 North Jackson Helena, MT 59620 Telephone: (406) 444-2071 Fax: (406) 444-7759
http://mt.gov/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/nur_board/board_page.asp |
| NEBRASKA | RNs and LPNs: Required 20 contact hours every two year licensing period.APRNs: Required 40 contact hours every two year licensing period, if prescriptive authority must complete an additional 10 contact hours in pharmacology. | LPNs: Required 20 contact hours every two year licensing period.LPN-C are required 5 contact hours of IV related continuing education. | Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure Credentialing Division Nursing Support Section PO Box 94986 Lincoln, NE 68509 Telephone: (402) 471-4376 Fax: (402) 471-1066 |
| NEVADA | RNs and ARNPs: Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period. There is a one-time requirement of 4 contact hours in Bioterrorism.ARNPs: Required 45 contact hours every two licensing period, a minimum of 15 of the 45 hours must be related to their practice. | LPNs Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period. There is a one-time requirement of 4 contact hours in Bioterrorism. | Nevada State Board of Nursing 2500 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 207 Las Vegas, NV 89102-4392 Telephone: (702) 486-5800 1-888-590-6726 (toll free) Fax: (702) 486-5803 |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | RNs Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period.ARNPs: Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing for nursing licensure, and additional 30 hours specific to the area of advanced practice specialization, 5 of which must be in pharmacology. Current national certification in specialty will meet requirements for 30 continuing education hours for nursing licensure. | LPNs: Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period. | New Hampshire Board of Nursing 21 South Fruit Street Suite 16 Concord NH 03301-2431 Telephone: (603) 271-2323 Fax: (603) 271-6605 |
| NEW JERSEY | RNs and ARNPs Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period. There is a one-time requirement of 1 contact hour of education on Organ and Tissue Donation and Recovery. | 30 contact hours every two years for LPNs | New Jersey Board of Nursing PO Box 45010 Newark, NJ 07101 Telephone: (973) 504-6430 Fax: (973) 648-3481 |
| NEW MEXICO | RNs are required to complete 30 hours of approved CE every two year licensing period. | LPNs are required to complete 30 hours of approved CE every two year licensing period. | New Mexico Board of Nursing 6301 Indian School NE Suite 710 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110 Telephone: (505) 841-8340 Fax: (505) 841-8347 |
| NEW YORK | RNs and ARNPs: Required to complete course work or training in Infection Control at initial licensure and every four years thereafter. In addition, there is a one-time requirement of 2 hours in Child Abuse Identification and reporting. | LPNs: Required to complete course work or training in Infection Control at initial licensure and every four years thereafter. | Division of Professional Licensing Services NY State Education Department Nurse Unit 89 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12234 Telephone: (518) 474-3817 Ext 390 Fax: (518) 474-3398 |
| NORTH CAROLINA | RNs and LPNs: Required one of the following every two year licensing period:
ARNPs: Required to complete 50 contact hours each annual year licensing period. |
See RN requirement | North Carolina Board of Nursing 3724 National Drive Raleigh, NC 27602 Telephone: (919) 782-3211 Fax: (919) 781-9461 Mailing Address: Post Office Box 2129 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-2129 |
| NORTH DAKOTA | RN required 12 contact hours of continuing education. All CE required for license renewal may be obtained online. | For LPN license renewal, the nurse must meet the continued competence requirements. Included in this requirement is the completion of 12 contact hours of continuing education. All CE required for license renewal may be obtained online. | North Dakota Board of Nursing 919 South 7th Street, # 504 Bismarck, ND 58504 Telephone: (701) 328-9778 Fax: (701) 328-9785 |
| OHIO | RN requirement: 24 contact hours every 2 years. At least one contact hour must be related to Chapters 4723,1-23 of the Ohio nurse practice code and rules. | LPN requirement: 24 contact hours every 2 years. At least one contact hour must be related to Chapters 4723,1-23 of the Ohio nurse practice code and rules. | Ohio Board of Nursing 17 South High Street Suite 400 Columbus, Ohio 43215-7410 Telephone: (614) 466-3947 Fax: (614) 466-0388 |
| OKLAHOMA | RNs and LPNs: Effective 07/11/12. Required one of the following every two year licensing period:
ARNPRs with prescriptive authority: Required 15 contact hours every two year licensing period in pharmacotherapeutics, clinical application, and use of pharmacological agents in the prevention of illness and in the restoration and maintenance of health (Title 59, Chapter 12, Section 567.1). |
See RN requirement | Oklahoma Board of Nursing 2915 N. Classen Boulevard, # 524 Oklahoma City, OK 73106 Telephone: (405) 962-1800 Fax: (405) 962-1821orhttps://www.ok.gov/nursing/rules14.pdf for additional information regarding your continuing education. |
| OREGON | RNs and LPNs: One-time requirement for seven hours of pain management-related CE. One hour must be a course to be provided by the Oregon Pain Management Commission.The remaining six hours can be your choice of pain management topics. | See RN requirement | Oregon State Board of Nursing 800 NE Oregon Street, Box 25, # 465 Portland, OR 97232 Telephone: (971) 673-0685 Fax: (971) 673- 0684 |
| PENNSYLVANIA | 30 contact hours every two years for RNs andARNPs. | No CE Required for LPN. | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing PO Box 2649 Harrisburg, PA 17105 Telephone: (717) 783-7142 Fax: (717) 783-0822
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=432876 |
| RHODE ISLAND | RNs are required to complete 10 contact hours every 2 years.ARNPs: Required to submit evidence of 30 hours in pharmacology every 6 years to maintain prescriptive privileges. Must also maintain national certification | LPNs are required to complete 10 contact hours every 2 years. Online courses are acceptable. | Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education Office of Health Professionals Regulation 3 Capitol Hill, Room 205 Providence, RI 02908 Telephone: 401-222-5700 Fax: 401-222-3352 |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | RNs Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period | LPNs Required 30 contact hours every two year licensing period | The State Board of Nursing for South Carolina: South Carolina State Board of Nursing 110 Centerview Drive, # 202 Columbia, SC 29210 Telephone: (803) 896-4550 Fax: (803) 896-4525 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12367 Columbia, SC 29211-2367 |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | No CE required. | No CE Required. | South Dakota Board of Nursing 4305 South Louise Avenue Suite 201 Sioux Falls SD 57106-3115 Telephone: (605) 362-2760 Fax: (605) 362-2768 |
| TENNESSEE | RNs No CE requiredAPNs: Must maintain national certification. | No CE required | Tennessee State Board of Nursing 426 Fifth Avenue North 1st Floor, Cordell Hull Building Nashville, TN 37247 Telephone: (615) 532-5166 Fax: (615) 741-7899 |
| TEXAS | RNs and LVNs: Required 20 contact hours every two year licensing period in the area of practice. Two contact hours of Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics must be completed before the end of every third two-year licensing period. Nurses whose practice includes older adult or geriatric populations must complete at least 2 contact hours relating to Geriatrics every two-year licensing period. Nurses who work in an emergency room setting must complete a one-time requirement of 2 hours of Forensic Evidence Collection. | See RN requirement | Texas Board of Nurse Examiners 333 Guadalupe, Ste. 3-460 Austin, Texas 78701 Telephone: (512) 305-7400 Fax: (512) 305-7401 |
| UTAH | RNs and LPNs: Required one of the following every two year licensing period:
ARNPs: Required the following every two year licensing period:
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See RN requirement | Utah State Board of Nursing Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing 160 East 300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84145 Telephone: (801) 530-6628 Fax: (801) 530-6511 |
| VERMONT | No CE required. | No CE Required. | Vermont Board of Nursing 81 River Street Montpelier, VT 05609 Telephone: (802) 828-2396 Fax: (802) 828-2484 |
| VIRGINIA | RNs Required one of the following every two year licensing period:
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RNs LPNs: Required one of the following every two year licensing period:
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Virginia Board of Nursing 6603 W. Broad Street, 5th Floor Richmond, VA 23230 Telephone: (804) 662-9909 Fax: (804) 662-9512 |
| WASHINGTON | RNs LPNs: Required 45 contact hours every three year licensing period. There is a one-time requirement of 7 contact hours in HIV / AIDS at initial licensure.
ARNPs: Required 30 contact hours in area of specialty every two licensing period, an additional 15 hours in pharmacotherapeutics if prescriptive authority. |
LPNs: Required 45 contact hours every three year licensing period. There is a one-time requirement of 7 contact hours in HIV / AIDS at initial licensure.
ARNPs: Required 30 contact hours in area of specialty every two licensing period, an additional 15 hours in pharmacotherapeutics if prescriptive authority. |
Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission P.O. Box 47865 Olympia, WA 98504 Phone : (360) 236 – 4700 Fax: (360) 236 – 4818 Email: hpqa.csc@doh.wa.go |
| WEST VIRGINIA | Completion of the 12 contact hours of CE required for RN relicensure may be accomplished by: 1. Completing 12 contact hours of CE from an approved CE provider; or 2. Completing 6 contact hours of CE from an approved CE provider which may include 2 contact hours of self-study and one of the following completed during the reporting period: A. National certification initially earned or in effect the entire reporting period; B. Completion of a nursing research project as principal investigator, co-investigator or project director; C. Published a nursing related article in a national nursing or healthcare journal; D. Developed and presented a professional nursing education presentation; E. Participated as a clinical preceptor for at least one student or one new employee undergoing orientation and have one hundred-twenty hours of one-on-one relationship as a clinical preceptor during the reporting period; F. Evidence of satisfactory evaluation of employment that covers at least six months of the reporting period; or G. Completion of an approved nursing refresher or re-entry course.We currently have 1 State Required CE for WEST VIRGINIA at Nurse.com | LPNs are required to complete 24 contact hours of continuing education and engage in 400 clock hours of LPN practice in each 2 year reporting period. Reporting occurs on the even years. There is also a 1-time 2-contact hour requirement for end of life care including pain management. | West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses 101 Dee Drive Charleston, WV 25311 Telephone: (304) 558-3596 Fax: (304) 558-3666 |
| WISCONSIN | No CE required. | No CE Required. | State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing PO Box 8935 Madison, WI 53708-8935 Telephone: (608) 266-2112 Fax: (608) 267-0644 |
| WYOMING | RNs Required every two year licensing period:
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LPNs: Required every two year licensing period:
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Wyoming State Board of Nursing 2020 Carey Avenue, # 110 Cheyenne, WY 82001 Telephone: (307) 777-7601 Fax: (307) 777-3519 |