Nursing Continuing Education Requirements by State

Staying up to date with continuing education in nursing is essential for nurses to maintain licensure and provide high-quality patient care. Each state has its own set of CE requirements for Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Nurse Practitioners (NPs). Some states require specific coursework in pharmacology, opioid prescribing, cultural competency, or ethics, while others have minimal or no CE requirements.

To help you stay compliant, we've compiled a comprehensive, state-by-state guide detailing nursing CE requirements. Whether you're renewing your license or planning a move, this resource makes it easy to find the information you need. Keep reading to ensure you're meeting your state's nursing CE requirements.

Nursing CE Requirements by State

Alabama Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 24 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 24 contact hours, including 6 in pharmacology
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 24 contact hours every 2 years

Alabama Board of Nursing

Alaska Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. This can be done by completing 30 contact hours of CE, volunteering or participating in professional activities for 30 hours, working as an RN for 320 hours
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. This includes: at least 12 hours of CE in pharmacology, at least 12 hours of CE in clinical management of patients, 2 hours of education in pain management and opioid use and addiction, the remaining hours can be electives
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 hours of CE every two years.

Alaska Board of Nursing 

Arizona Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE required
• Nurse Practitioner: No CE required
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE required

Arizona Board of Nursing 

Arkansas Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 15 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 15 contact hours every 2 years
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 15 contact hours every 2 years

Arkansas State Board of Nursing

California Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 contact hours every 2 years
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years

California Board of Registered Nursing

Colorado Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE required
• Nurse Practitioner: No CE required
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE required

Connecticut Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 2 contact hours every 6 years of training or education on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training
• Nurse Practitioner: A minimum of 50 contact hours of continuing education related to your area of practice within the preceding 24 month period
• Licensed Practical Nurse: Two contact hours every 6 years of training or education on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training

Connecticut Nursing Licensure

DC Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 24 contact hours every 2 years, 3 of which must be in HIV/AIDS or Director's Topics and 2 of which must be in LGBTQiA+ or cultural awareness
• Nurse Practitioner: 24 contact hours every 2 years, 15 of which must be in pharmacology, 3 of which must be in HIV/AIDS or Director's Topics* and 2 of which must be in LGBTQIA+ or cultural awareness
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 18 contact hours every 2 years, including 2 in LGBTQIA+ topics or cultural awareness and 3 CEs in public health
  

DC Board of Nursing 

Delaware Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years, 3 must be in substance abuse
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 hours of CE every 2 years and 10 hours in advanced pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics if they have prescriptive authority
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 24 hours every 2 years, 3 must be in substance abuse

Delaware Board of Nursing

Florida Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 16 hours plus state mandates, including 2 hours for medical error prevention, 2 hours for laws and rules of nursing, 2 hours for human trafficking, 2 hours for recognizing workplace impairment, 1 hr for HIV/AIDS
• Nurse Practitioner: 16 hours plus state mandates, including 2 hours for medical error prevention, 2 hours for laws and rules of nursing, 2 hours for human trafficking, 2 hours for recognizing 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
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 16 hours plus state mandates, including 2 hours for medical error prevention, 2 hours for laws and rules of nursing, 2 hours for human trafficking, 2 hours for recognizing workplace impairment, 1 hr for HIV/AIDS
  

Florida Board of Nursing

Georgia Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 contact hours every two years
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 contact hours every two years and up-to-date specialty certification
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 20 CE hours every 2 years

Georgia Board of Nursing

Hawaii Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 CE hours every two years
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 contact hours every 2 years, including 22 CEs in specialty area and 8 in pharmacology
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 CEUs every 2 years

Hawaii Board of Nursing

Idaho Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 contact hours every two years, 10 of which must be in pharmacology if the nurse has prescriptive authority
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Idaho Board of Nursing

Illinois Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 20 contact hours every two years
• Nurse Practitioner: 80 contact hours every two years
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 20 contact hours every two years
• Additional requirements for Illinois nurses:

• 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training
• Beginning in 2024, nurses who interact with patients 26 years and older must complete a 1-hour course on Alzheimer's disease and dementia
• APRNs with controlled substance prescribing authority must complete 3 hours on safe opioid prescribing practices

Illinois Center for Nursing

Indiana Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 contact hours every two years, 8 of which must be in pharmacology
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Indiana State Board of Nursing

Iowa Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 36 contact hours every 3 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 36 contact hours every 3 years
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 36 contact hours every 3 years

Iowa Board of Nursing 

Kansas Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 contact hours every 2 years
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years

Kansas Board of Nursing

Kentucky Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 14 contact hours every year
• Nurse Practitioner: 14 contact hours every year, including 5 CEs in pharmacology
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 14 contact hours every year

Kentucky Board of Nursing

Louisiana Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 CEs or 900 practice hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 300 annual practice hours as an APRN and 2 annual college credit hours related to specialty or 30 contact hours every year
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Louisiana State Board of Nursing

Maine Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: 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
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Maine State Board of Nursing

Maryland Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 CEUs within two years and complete an approved implicit bias training course once during the renewal process
• Nurse Practitioner: No CE required, but must maintain national certification
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 continuing education (CE) units within two years of renewal. You can also meet the requirement by working 1,000 hours as a nurse or graduating from an approved nursing program within the last five years

Maryland Board of Nursing

Massachusetts Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 15 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 15 contact hours every 2 years and maintain current certification through a national certifying organization
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 15 contact hours every 2 years

Massachusetts Board of Nursing

Michigan Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 25 hours of CE within the 2-year period preceding the date of renewal. At least 2 of these hours must be in pain and pain symptom management
• Nurse Practitioner: 25 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours on pain and symptom management
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 25 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours on pain and symptom management

Michigain Board of Nursing

Minnesota Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 24 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: Maintain licensure as an APRN through a national certifying body
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 12 contact hours every 2 years

Minnesota Board of Nursing

Mississippi Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE required. 20 contact hours if out of practice for more than five 5 years.
• Nurse Practitioner: 5 contact hours directly related to prescribing controlled substances every 2 years and national certification maintenance.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE required. 20 contact hours if out of practice for more than five 5 years.

Mississippi Board of Nursing

Missouri Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: No CE requirements
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Missouri Board of Nursing

Montana Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: No CE requirements
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Montana Board of Nursing

Nebraska Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 20 contact hours and 500 practice hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 20 contact hours every two years (to maintain RN licensure). Licensees who prescribe controlled substances need to include at least 3 hours on prescribing opiates.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 20 contact hours and 500 practice hours every two years

Nebraska Board of Nursing

Nevada Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 hours of continuing education. 4 hours cultural competency, diversity, equity & inclusion
• Nurse Practitioner: 45 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. This includes: 15 hours related to pharmacology, 2 hours related to safe and effective prescription of controlled substances, 2 hours related to suicide awareness and prevention every four years, 2 hours related to substance use and abuse every renewal cycle, 4 hours of bioterrorism education one time within two years of initial licensure
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. This includes a four-hour bioterrorism course, four hours of cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and if they provide or supervise emergency medical services - a two hours on the stigma, discrimination, and bias toward people with HIV 

Nevada State Board of Nursing

New Hampshire Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 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
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years

New Hampshire Board of Nursing

New Jersey Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 contact hours every two years.
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 hours every two years. These hours must include specific topics related to prescription opioids and organ and tissue donation.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years

New Jersey Board of Nursing

New Mexico Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years.
• Nurse Practitioner: 50 hours every two years
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years, including 10 CEs in pharmacology and 10 CEs in specialty area.

New Mexico Board of Nursing

New York Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: Infection control training every 4 years and one-time, 2-hour Child Abuse Identification and Reporting course
• Nurse Practitioner: Infection control training every 4 year, national certification maintenance, and one-time, 2-hour Child Abuse Identification and Reporting course.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: Infection control training every 4 years.

New York Board of Nursing

North Carolina Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 
• Nurse Practitioner: 
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 

North Carolina Board of Nursing

North Dakota Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 12 contact hours every two years and 400 practice hours every 4 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 12 contact hours every two years. APRNs authorized to prescribe are required an additional 15 contact hours in pharmacology
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 12 contact hours every two years and 400 practice hours every 4 years

North Dakota Board of Nursing

Ohio Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 24 contact hours that includes at least one contact hour of Category A CE for each renewal
• Nurse Practitioner: 24 contact hours every 2 years. At least one hour of the CE must be Category A, which is directly related to the Ohio Nurse Practice Ac
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 24 contact hours every two years, 1 of which must be directly related to the laws and rules of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act.

Ohio Board of Nursing 

Oklahoma Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: Verify 520 hours of employment per year, complete 24 hours of continuing education, verify current certification in a nursing specialty area, complete a Board-approved refresher course; or complete 6 academic semester credits hours of coursework at current or higher level of licensure
• Nurse Practitioner: 24 hours of CE every two years. At least 15 of those hours must relate to pharmacology
• Licensed Practical Nurse: Verify 520 hours of employment per year, complete 24 hours of continuing education, verify current certification in a nursing specialty area, complete a Board-approved refresher course; or complete 6 academic semester credits hours of coursework at current or higher level of licensure

Oklahoma Board of Nursing

Oregon Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: Complete two hours of cultural competency CE every two years, complete the Oregon Pain Management Commission module, which is one CE hour every two years, complete 400 nursing practice hours every two years
• Nurse Practitioner: 45 hours of CE every two years. At least 15 hours must focus on pharmacotherapeutic content related to specialty. Must also complete one hour of pain management CE every renewal period
• Licensed Practical Nurse: Complete two hours of cultural competency CE every two years, complete the Oregon Pain Management Commission module, which is one CE hour every two years, complete 400 nursing practice hours every two years

Oregon State Board of Nursing 

Pennsylvania Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 hours of CE every 2 years to renew. This includes: two hours of board-approved child abuse recognition and reporting training, at least three hours in ethics, one hour in suicide prevention
• Nurse Practitioner: 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.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 hours every two years, including 2 hours of child abuse training

Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

Rhode Island Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 10 contact hours every 2 years, including 2 hours of substance abuse CE
• Nurse Practitioner: 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
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 10 contact hours every 2 years including 2 hours of substance abuse CE

Rhode Island Board of Nursing

South Carolina Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 hours of CE every 2 years.
• Nurse Practitioner: 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.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours every 2 years.

South Carolina Board of Nursing

South Dakota Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: Required to maintain national certification. No CE requirements
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

South Dakota Board of Nursing

Tennessee Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: Every two years: 5 contact hours of continuing education, or 10 if not practicing.
• Nurse Practitioner: 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
• Licensed Practical Nurse:  Every two years: 5 contact hours of continuing education, or 10 if not practicing.

Tennessee Board of Nursing

Texas Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 20 contact hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 20 contact hours every 2 years. APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete an additional 5 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics every two years
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 20 contact hours every 2 years

Texas Board of Nursing 

Utah Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: One of the following every 2 years: 30 contact hours, or 200 practice hours and 15 contact hours, or 400 practice hours.
• Nurse Practitioner: Must maintain national certification and be currently certified in specialty area, or complete 30 hours of CE (if licensed before 7/1/92) and 400 hours of practice each year.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: One of the following every 2 years: 30 contact hours, or 200 practice hours and 15 contact hours, or 400 practice hours.

Utah Board of Nursing

Vermont Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: Required to maintain national certification. APRNs who prescribe or dispense controlled substances must complete 2 hours of training on controlled substances every 2 years.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Vermont Board of Nursing

Virginia Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 hours every 2 years. Can also meet the requirement by completing 15 hours of CE and 640 hours of active practice
• Nurse Practitioner: 38 hours of CE, including 30 hours of general CE and 8 hours of pharmacology training. Two of the pharmacology hours must relate to prescribing controlled substances
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 30 contact hours of CE relative to the practice of nursing OR 15 contact hours of CE plus 640 hours of active practice as a nurse

Virginia Board of Nursing

Washington Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 2 hours of health equity CE every renewal period
• Nurse Practitioner: 30 hours every two years in specialty area and 15 hours of continuing education in pharmacology for ARNP with prescriptive authority
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 2 hours of health equity CE every renewal period

Washington State Board of Nursing 

West Virginia Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 12 hours every 2 years
• Nurse Practitioner: 24 contact hours every 2 years. Of those 24 hours, 12 must be in pharmacotherapeutics, and 12 must be in clinical management. 
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 24 contact hours every 2 years

West Virginia Board of Nursing

Wisconsin Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: No CE requirements
• Nurse Practitioner: APRNs complete 16 hours of CE in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics every two years and two hours related to responsible prescribing of controlled substances
• Licensed Practical Nurse: No CE requirements

Wisconsin Board of Nursing

Wyoming Nursing CE Requirements

• Registered Nurse: 30 hours of CE if worked less than 200 hours in the past two years,  15 hours of CE if worked between 200 and 400 hours in the past two years, 400 hours of active nursing practice without additional CE
• Nurse Practitioner: Either 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
• Licensed Practical Nurse: 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 CE.

Wyoming State Board of Nursing