Nurses need to love learning. The field is not static. Standards and practices change, which require nurses to learn new methods. Nurses advance their knowledge in many ways, however, one of the most prominent is by fulfilling continuing education unit requirements.
CEUs are necessary for nurses to remain current on training, proper health care standards and practices.
In all but 12 states, RNs must complete a certain number or type of CEU courses to maintain their nursing license.
However, each state’s board of nursing decides CEU requirements for RNs or LPNs to keep their license.
Most states require nurses to earn credits every two years. Some states mandate specific courses as either one-time or ongoing requirements.
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See below to learn more about each state’s continuing education requirements for nurses.
| State | RN CE Requirements | LPN CE Requirements | APRN CE Requirements | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years (6 in Pharmacology) | More details |
| Alaska | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | More details |
| Arizona | None | None | Maintain national certification; prescriber requirements | More details |
| Arkansas | 15 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 15 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 15 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | More details |
| California | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Colorado | None (some employers may have requirements) | None (some employers may have requirements) | Maintain national certification (some employers may have requirements) | More details |
| Connecticut | None (some employers may have requirements) | None (some employers may have requirements) | 50 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Washington DC | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 18 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Delaware | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Florida | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Georgia | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options available) | 20 contact hours every 2 years (other options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options available) | More details |
| Hawaii | 30 hours every 2 years (other options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options available) | More details |
| Idaho | 15 hours every 2 years | 15 hours every 2 years | 30 hours every 2 years | More details |
| Illinois | 20 hours every 2 years | 20 hours every 2 years | 50 hours every 2 years | More details |
| Indiana | None (some employers may have requirements) | None (some employers may have requirements) | 30 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Iowa | 36 contact hours every 3 years | 36 contact hours every 3 years | Maintain national certification | More details |
| Kansas | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Kentucky | 14 contact hours every year | 14 contact hours every year | 14 contact hours every year (or board certification), plus 5 hours in pharmacology | More details |
| Louisiana | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options) | Varies with options | 30 contact hours every year (other requirements as well) | More details |
| Maine | None | None | 50 contact hours every 2 years (if prescriber, 3 hours on controlled substances) | More details |
| Maryland | None (some employers may have requirements) | None (some employers may have requirements) | Must maintain national certification (some employers may have requirements) | More details |
| Massachusetts | 15 contact hours every 2 years | 15 contact hours every 2 years | 15 contact hours every 2 years; maintain nation certification | More details |
| Michigan | 25 hours every 2 years | 25 hours every 2 years | 25 hours every 2 years | More details |
| Minnesota | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 12 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Mississippi | 20 contact hours every 2 years | 20 contact hours every 2 years | 40 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Missouri | None | None | None | More details |
| Montana | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Nebraska | 20 contact hours every 2 years (check for more info) | 20 contact hours every 2 years (check for more info) | 40 contact hours every 2 years (check for more info) | More details |
| Nevada | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours + 15 hours in specialty every 2 years | More details |
| New Hampshire | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 60 contact hours every 2 years (specialty certification=30) | More details |
| New Jersey | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| New Mexico | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 50 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| New York | 3 contact hours in Infection control every 4 years and one-time 2 hours in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting | 3 contact hours in Infection control every 4 years | 3 contact hours in Infection control every 4 years and one-time 2 hours in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting; maintain national certification | More details |
| North Carolina | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options available) | 50 contact hours each year | More details |
| North Dakota | 12 contact hours every 2 years | 12 contact hours every 2 years | 12 contact hours every 2 years (15 hours for prescribers) | More details |
| Ohio | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years for each APRN license (varies by certification) | More details |
| Oklahoma | 24 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 24 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 24 contact hours (15 contact hours in pharmacology) | More details |
| Oregon | One time 7-hour pain management CE (more requirements) | One time 7-hour pain management CE (more requirements) | Refer to CE Requirements page for more info | More details |
| Pennsylvania | 30 contact hours every 2 years including child abuse recognition and reporting training | 3 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting | 30 contact hours every 2 years including child abuse recognition and reporting training | More details |
| Rhode Island | 10 contact hours ever 2 years | 10 contact hours every 2 years | 10 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| South Carolina | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more requirements depending on specialty) | More details |
| South Dakota | Provide verification of employment in nursing for a minimum of 140 hours in any 12-month period during the previous 6 years, or a total accumulation of 480 hours during the previous 6 years. | Provide verification of employment in nursing for a minimum of 140 hours in any 12-month period during the previous 6 years, or a total accumulation of 480 hours during the previous 6 years. | Maintain national certification | More details |
| Tennessee | 5 contact hours every two years (multiple choices for meeting additional requirements) | 5 contact hours every two years (multiple choices for meeting additional requirements) | 5 contact hours every two years (multiple choices for meeting additional requirements) | More details |
| Texas | 20 contact hours every 2 years (more options) | 20 contact hours every 2 years (more options) | 20 contact hours every 2 years (more options) | More details |
| Utah | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 30 contact hours every two years (additional renewal requirements) | More details |
| Vermont | Required number of working hours | Required number or working hours | Required number of woking hours; maintain national certification | More details |
| Virginia | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 30 contact hours every 2 years (more options available) | 40 contact hours every 2 years, or maintain national certification | More details |
| Washington | 8 CE and 96 active practice hours yearly | 8 CE and 96 active practice hours yearly | 30 CE hours in specialty (additional 15 hours of pharmacology training if prescriptive authority) every 2 years | More details |
| West Virginia | 12 contact hours every year | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Wisconsin | None | None | 16 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Wyoming | 30 contact hours (more options) | 30 contact hours (more options) | 60 contact hours (additional requirements) | More details |
Other CEU requirements to consider
The primary purpose of continuing education requirements for nurses is to increase an RN’s knowledge and skills. Nurses must take CEU courses relevant to their practice. Lessons from an accredited college or university may also count toward CEU requirements for RNs pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Some of the most popular continuing education areas for RNs include:
- Laws and guidelines for nursing
- Patient advocacy
- Conflict management
- Pharmacology
Most states clearly define courses that are not acceptable as CEUs for RNs. For example, general education courses such as English Literature, Government, and Mathematics typically do not meet CEU requirements in most states.
Where to find CEUs for RN license renewal
Some CEUs are free, while others are part of a subscription or pay-per-course platform. To count toward total contact hours earned, CEUs must be available through an accredited agency or CEU program.
That said, the instructors and course materials go through a vetting process to determine nursing relevance.
You can find most courses online. Incredible Health provides access to free and online nursing CEUs.
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