Updated February 12, 2021
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 | 27 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 | 80 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 | Maintain board certification; if prescriber, 6 hours of pharmacotherapeutics each year | More details |
| Kentucky | 14 contact hours every year | 14 contact hours every year | 14 contact hours every year plus 5 hours in pharmacology | More details |
| Louisiana | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options) | None | 30 contact hours every 2 years (other options) | More details |
| Maine | None | None | 50 contact hours every 2 years | 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 | 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 | 20 contact hours every 2 years | 40 contact hours every 2 years | 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 every 2 years | More details |
| North Dakota | 12 contact hours every 2 years | 12 contact hours every 2 years | 12 contact hours every 2 years; if prescriber, additional 15 contact hours in pharmacology | More details |
| Ohio | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years (varies with certification | More details |
| Oklahoma | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every 2 years | 15 contact hours in pharmacology and 2 hours in addiction or opioid use every 2 years | More details |
| Oregon | One time 7-hour pain management CE | One time 7-hour pain management CE | Refer to webpage for specific information | More details |
| Pennsylvania | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 2 hours child abusee training every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 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 | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years or maintain national certification | More details |
| South Dakota | None | None | Maintain national certification | More details |
| Tennessee | 5 contact hours every 2 years | 5 contact hours every 2 years | 5 contact and 2 hours in prescribing controlled substances every 2 years | More details |
| Texas | 20 contact hours every 2 years | 20 contact hours every 2 years | 25 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Utah | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | More details |
| Vermont | None | None | Maintain national certification; 2 hours on controlled substances every 2 years | More details |
| Virginia | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 30 contact hours every 2 years | 40 contact hours every 2 years (additional 8 hours if prescriber), or maintain national certification | More details |
| Washington | 45 contact hours every 3 years | 45 contact hours every 3 years | 45 contact hours every 3 years (15 hours in pharmacology) | More details |
| West Virginia | 12 contact hours every year | 24 contact hours and 400 clock hours every 2 years | 24 contact hours every year | More details |
| Wisconsin | None | None | 16 contact hours every 2 years in clinical pharmacology | More details |
| Wyoming | 30 contact hours; 15 hours if 200 hours in active nurse practice | 30 contact hours; 15 hours if 200 hours in active nurse practice | 60 contact hours every 2 years; if prescriber, additional 15 hours in pharmacology and clinical management of drug therapy | 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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