Registered Nurse License Renewal: CE Hours & Fees by State
Maintaining your registered nurse (RN) license requires timely renewal in every state. Renewal is not just a formality — it ensures patient safety by verifying that nurses stay current with evolving clinical standards and best practices. Requirements vary widely across the 51 states in our database, with differences in renewal periods, continuing education hours, fees, and practice hour mandates.
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) adds another layer: nurses holding a multistate license in a compact state can practice in all other NLC member states without separate licensure, but must still meet renewal requirements in their home state. This guide breaks down every renewal detail state by state using verified data from our database.
Renewal Overview
51
States Tracked
39
Require CE
21
Require Practice Hours
$104
Avg. Renewal Fee
Complete Renewal Comparison Table
The table below shows renewal requirements for all 51 states, sorted by renewal period length. Click any state for full details and sources.
| State | Period | Fee | CE Hours | Practice Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Annual (1 year), renewed during birth month | $110 | — | — |
| Kentucky | Annual (November 1 through October 31) | $65 | 14 hrs | — |
| Washington | 1 year (annually on the licensee's birthday) | $91 | 8 hrs | 96 hours of active nursing practice in the 12 months before renewal |
| West Virginia | 1 year | $35 | 30 hrs | — |
| Alabama | 2 years | $103 (SSL) / $203 (MSL) | 24 hrs | — |
| Alaska | 2 years | $200 | 30 hrs | 320 hours of nursing employment (one of 3 options; must complete 2 of 3) |
| Arkansas | 2 years (biennial) | $100 | 15 hrs | No practice hour requirement found |
| California | 2 years (biennial) | $190 | 30 hrs | — |
| Colorado | 2 years | $108 | — | — |
| Delaware | 2 years | Not specified | 30 hrs | 1,000 hours in 5 years or 400 hours in 2 years |
| District of Columbia | 2 years | $195 | 24 hrs | — |
| Florida | 2 years (biennium) | $75 | 27 hrs | — |
| Georgia | 2 years (biennial) | $65 | 30 hrs | 500 practice hours is one of 5 continuing competency options |
| Hawaii | 2 years (biennial; renew by June 30 of every odd-numbered year) | $196.00 | 30 hrs | — |
| Idaho | 2 years | $70 | — | 200 hours of nursing practice in the 2 years preceding renewal, or completion of a board-approved refresher course |
| Illinois | 2 years (May 31 of even-numbered years) | $80 | 20 hrs | — |
| Indiana | 2 years (licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years) | $50.00 | — | — |
| Kansas | 2 years (biennial) | $85 | 30 hrs | — |
| Louisiana | 2 years | $100 | 30 hrs | 900 hours of clinical practice per renewal period (alternative to 30 CE contact hours) |
| Maine | 2 years (biennial, tied to licensee's birthday) | $75 | — | — |
| Maryland | 2 years (biennial) | $191 | 30 hrs | 1,000 working hours in the last 5 years (alternative to 30 CE contact hours) |
| Massachusetts | 2 years (expires on licensee's birthday in even-numbered years) | $120 | 15 hrs | — |
| Michigan | 2 years (biennial) | $131 | 25 hrs | — |
| Minnesota | 2 years (biennial) | $85.00 | 24 hrs | — |
| Mississippi | 2 years | $100 | 20 hrs | — |
| Missouri | 2 years (biennial) | $85 | — | — |
| Montana | 2 years | $100 | 24 hrs | — |
| Nebraska | 2 years (biennial) | $123 | 20 hrs | 500 hours during the past five years |
| Nevada | 2 years (expires on nurse's birthday) | $100 | 30 hrs | — |
| New Hampshire | 2 years | $108 | 30 hrs | — |
| New Jersey | 2 years | $120 | 30 hrs | — |
| New Mexico | 2 years | $93 | 30 hrs | — |
| North Carolina | 2 years | $100 | 15 hrs | 640 practice hours is one of several alternatives that can be combined with 15 CE hours |
| North Dakota | 2 years | $90 | 12 hrs | 400 hours in 4 years |
| Ohio | 2 years | $65 | 24 hrs | — |
| Oklahoma | 2 years | $75 | 24 hrs | 520 hours in 5 years (alternative to CE) |
| Oregon | 2 years (biennial, tied to licensee's birthday) | $145 | — | 400 hours in 2 years |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years (biennial) | $109 | 30 hrs | — |
| Rhode Island | 2 years (biennial); licenses expire March 1 every other year | $65 | 10 hrs | No practice hour requirement found on official page |
| South Carolina | 2 years (biennial); licenses expire April 30 of even-numbered years | $80 | 30 hrs | — |
| South Dakota | 2 years | $115 | — | 140 hours in any 12-month period or 480 hours accumulated in the past 6 years |
| Tennessee | 2 years (biennial) | $100 | — | 200 hours in past 5 years |
| Texas | 2 years | $67 | 20 hrs | — |
| Utah | 2 years | $58 | 30 hrs | 400 practice hours OR 200 practice hours + 15 CE hours OR 30 CE hours |
| Vermont | 2 years (biennial) | $125 | — | 400 hours of paid nursing work in past 2 years (or 960 hours in 5 years) as alternative to CE |
| Virginia | 2 years | $140 | 30 hrs | 640 practice hours is one component of one alternative renewal pathway (15 CE + 640 practice hours), not a standalone universal requirement |
| Wisconsin | 2 years (license expires 02/28 or 02/29 of even-numbered years) | $82 | — | — |
| Wyoming | 2 years — licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years; renewal via Nurse Portal | $110 | 20 hrs | 400 hours of active nursing practice in past 2 years (or 200 hours plus 15 CE hours; or 40 CE hours if less than 200 practice hours) |
| Iowa | 3 years (license renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle; first renewal may be 24–36 months) | $99 every three years | 36 hrs | — |
| New York | 3 years | $74 | 3 hrs | — |
| Arizona | 4 years | $160 | — | 960 hours of nursing practice in the past 5 years (as evidence of continued competence) |
Renewal Periods by State
Most states renew RN licenses on a 2-year cycle, but some use annual or longer periods. Here is how states group by renewal period:
Annual (1 year), renewed during birth month Renewal (1 state)
Annual (November 1 through October 31) Renewal (1 state)
1 year (annually on the licensee's birthday) Renewal (1 state)
1 year Renewal (1 state)
2 years Renewal (20 states)
2 years (biennial) Renewal (12 states)
2 years (biennium) Renewal (1 state)
2 years (biennial; renew by June 30 of every odd-numbered year) Renewal (1 state)
2 years (May 31 of even-numbered years) Renewal (1 state)
2 years (licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years) Renewal (1 state)
2 years (expires on licensee's birthday in even-numbered years) Renewal (1 state)
2 years (expires on nurse's birthday) Renewal (1 state)
2 years (biennial); licenses expire March 1 every other year Renewal (1 state)
2 years (biennial); licenses expire April 30 of even-numbered years Renewal (1 state)
2 years (license expires 02/28 or 02/29 of even-numbered years) Renewal (1 state)
2 years — licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years; renewal via Nurse Portal Renewal (1 state)
3 years (license renewals are on a three-year renewal cycle; first renewal may be 24–36 months) Renewal (1 state)
3 years Renewal (1 state)
4 years Renewal (1 state)
Continuing Education Requirements
39 of 51 states require continuing education (CE) to renew an RN license. CE requirements typically range from 20 to 30 contact hours per renewal cycle, though some states require more. Many states accept online CE courses from approved providers. The remaining 12 states have no CE mandate — only the renewal fee is required.
States Requiring CE (39)
States with No CE Requirement (12)
These states only require the renewal fee — no continuing education coursework:
Practice Hour Requirements
Unlike most other licensed professions, some states require registered nurses to demonstrate proof of active practice as a condition of renewal. These practice hour requirements exist to ensure that renewing nurses have maintained clinical competency. Currently, 21 states have practice hour mandates.
96 hours of active nursing practice in the 12 months before renewal
320 hours of nursing employment (one of 3 options; must complete 2 of 3)
No practice hour requirement found
1,000 hours in 5 years or 400 hours in 2 years
500 practice hours is one of 5 continuing competency options
200 hours of nursing practice in the 2 years preceding renewal, or completion of a board-approved refresher course
900 hours of clinical practice per renewal period (alternative to 30 CE contact hours)
1,000 working hours in the last 5 years (alternative to 30 CE contact hours)
500 hours during the past five years
640 practice hours is one of several alternatives that can be combined with 15 CE hours
400 hours in 4 years
520 hours in 5 years (alternative to CE)
400 hours in 2 years
No practice hour requirement found on official page
140 hours in any 12-month period or 480 hours accumulated in the past 6 years
200 hours in past 5 years
400 practice hours OR 200 practice hours + 15 CE hours OR 30 CE hours
400 hours of paid nursing work in past 2 years (or 960 hours in 5 years) as alternative to CE
640 practice hours is one component of one alternative renewal pathway (15 CE + 640 practice hours), not a standalone universal requirement
400 hours of active nursing practice in past 2 years (or 200 hours plus 15 CE hours; or 40 CE hours if less than 200 practice hours)
960 hours of nursing practice in the past 5 years (as evidence of continued competence)
Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)
The enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) allows RNs with a multistate license to practice in all member states without obtaining additional state licenses. Currently, 41 states in our database participate in the NLC. While the compact simplifies cross-state practice, nurses must still renew their license in their home state according to that state's requirements.
Tips for Staying Current
- Leverage NLC multistate privileges. If you hold a multistate license in a compact state, you can practice across all NLC member states without additional licenses. Confirm your home state is still part of the compact if you relocate.
- Track your practice hours year-round. If your state requires proof of practice for renewal, maintain a log of your clinical hours throughout the renewal cycle. Waiting until renewal time to reconstruct hours from memory leads to gaps and stress.
- Take advantage of online CE. Most state boards accept online continuing education from accredited providers such as ANCC or state nursing associations. Online CE is often more affordable and flexible than in-person options.
- Set a calendar reminder 90 days out. Give yourself ample time to complete any CE or practice hour documentation before your expiration date. Practicing on an expired license can result in disciplinary action.
- Keep CE certificates on file. Save all CE completion certificates for at least one full renewal cycle beyond completion. Some state boards conduct random audits and will request proof.
- Renew online when possible. Most state boards of nursing now offer online renewal portals, which process faster and provide immediate confirmation of your renewed status.
Next Steps
Find your state in the table above and click through for complete renewal details and source citations. Also explore our other RN guides:
- How to Become a Registered Nurse in 2026: State-by-State Guide
- RN License Requirements by State: Full Comparison Table
Sources
Renewal data is sourced from official state boards of nursing and verified against published renewal fee schedules, CE requirements, and practice hour regulations.
- Individual state board of nursing websites (cited on each state page).
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) — Nurse Licensure Compact member state list.
- Published state board fee schedules, CE rules, and practice hour policy documents.
Data was last verified in early 2026. Renewal fees, CE requirements, and practice hour mandates can change as states update their nursing regulations. Always confirm current renewal requirements with your state's board of nursing before your renewal deadline.
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