Nursing CE Requirements 2026

Continuing education (CE) is essential for maintaining nursing competency and keeping your license active. CE requirements vary significantly by state, with different hour requirements, approved topics, and deadlines. This comprehensive guide covers what you need to know about nursing CE requirements in 2026.

CE Requirements Overview

Quick Reference

CE Level	States
No CE required	5 states
15-20 hours	15 states
21-30 hours	20 states
31-40 hours	8 states
40+ hours	2 states

Most states require CE completion every 2 years (biennial renewal), though some have annual requirements.

State-by-State Requirements

States with No CE Requirement

State	Renewal Cycle	Notes
Arizona	Annual	No CE, competency statement required
Connecticut	Annual	No CE requirement
Maine	Biennial	No CE for RNs
Missouri	Biennial	No CE requirement
Wisconsin	Biennial	No CE requirement

Even without mandated CE, continuing education is recommended for professional development.

States with 15-20 Hours

State	Hours	Cycle	Special Requirements
Alabama	24	Biennial	—
Alaska	2 CE or equivalent	Biennial	Peer review accepted
Georgia	30	Biennial	—
Hawaii	—	Biennial	Competency documentation
Indiana	—	Biennial	Competency documentation
Montana	—	Biennial	Practice hours or CE

States with 20-30 Hours

State	Hours	Cycle	Special Requirements
California	30	Biennial	Must include specific topics
Colorado	—	Biennial	Attestation only
Delaware	30	Biennial	—
Florida	24	Biennial	Must include mandatory topics
Idaho	—	Biennial	200 practice hours or 15 CE
Illinois	20	Biennial	—
Iowa	36	3 years	3-year renewal cycle
Kansas	30	Biennial	—
Kentucky	14	Annual	7 hours per year
Louisiana	15	Annual	5 hours pain management
Maryland	—	Biennial	No CE requirement
Massachusetts	15	Biennial	—
Michigan	25	Biennial	Must include pain/opioids
Minnesota	24	Biennial	—
Mississippi	—	Biennial	No CE for RNs
Nebraska	20	Biennial	500 practice hours accepted
Nevada	30	Biennial	4 hours bioterrorism
New Hampshire	30	Biennial	—
New Jersey	30	Biennial	—
New Mexico	30	Biennial	—
New York	22.5	3 years	Must include infection control
North Carolina	—	Biennial	Verification of practice
North Dakota	12	Biennial	—
Ohio	24	Biennial	1 hour opioid prescribing
Oklahoma	—	Biennial	Practice verification
Oregon	—	Biennial	One-time pain management
Pennsylvania	30	Biennial	2 hours child abuse
Rhode Island	20	Biennial	—
South Carolina	30	Biennial	—
South Dakota	—	Biennial	No CE requirement
Tennessee	—	Biennial	Practice or CE
Texas	20	Biennial	2 hours human trafficking
Utah	30	Biennial	—
Vermont	—	Biennial	No CE for RNs
Virginia	—	Biennial	No CE for RNs
Washington	45	3 years	3-year cycle
West Virginia	24	Biennial	—
Wyoming	20	Biennial	—

States with Higher Requirements

State	Hours	Cycle	Notes
California	30	Biennial	Mandatory topics required
Iowa	36	3 years	CE or academic credit
Washington	45	3 years	AIDS training required

Mandatory Topics by State

Many states require specific CE topics:

Common Mandatory Topics

Topic	States Requiring
Opioid/Pain Management	CA, FL, KY, LA, MI, OH, OR, WA, and others
Infection Control	NY, FL
Domestic Violence	FL
Human Trafficking	TX, FL, MI
Child Abuse	PA, NY
Cultural Competency	CA, NJ
Implicit Bias	CA, MI
Suicide Prevention	WA
HIV/AIDS	FL, NY, WA
Medical Errors	FL

State-Specific Mandates

California (30 hours biennial):

• Implicit bias: 2 hours (one-time)
• Geriatric pain management: 2 hours
• Contact hours from approved providers

Florida (24 hours biennial):

• Prevention of medical errors: 2 hours
• Laws and rules: 2 hours
• Human trafficking: 2 hours (one-time)
• Domestic violence: 2 hours
• HIV/AIDS: 1 hour

New York (22.5 hours per 3-year cycle):

• Infection control: 4 hours
• Child abuse: 2 hours (one-time)
• Contact hours from approved providers

Texas (20 hours biennial):

• Human trafficking: 1 hour (one-time, initial renewal)
• Nurse Peer Review: 2 hours (one-time)

APRN CE Requirements

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses often have additional requirements:

NP Requirements

State	Additional Hours	Notes
Most states	30-50 hours	Beyond RN requirements
Pharmacology	20-25 hours	Often required for prescribers
Certification renewal	Varies	Per certifying body

CNM Requirements

Requirement	Details
AMCB certification	20 CEUs per 3 years
State requirements	Additional to certification
Prescriber requirements	Often additional pharmacology

CRNA Requirements

Requirement	Details
NBCRNA CPC	100 credits per 4-year cycle
Class A credits	Minimum 60 required
State requirements	May add additional requirements

CNS Requirements

Requirement	Details
Certification body	Varies by specialty
State requirements	Often same as RN
Prescriber requirements	Where applicable

Approved CE Providers

Nationally Recognized Accreditors

Accreditor	Abbreviation	Notes
American Nurses Credentialing Center	ANCC	Gold standard
California Board of Registered Nursing	CA BRN	Also accepted nationally
State nursing boards	Varies	State-specific approval

Where to Find Approved CE

Online providers:

• Nurse.com
• Elite CME
• Medscape Nursing
• NetCE
• RNspeak
• ATI

Professional organizations:

• ANA (American Nurses Association)
• Specialty nursing organizations
• State nursing associations

Academic institutions:

• Colleges and universities
• Teaching hospitals
• Nursing school alumni programs

CE Documentation and Tracking

What to Keep

Document	Retention Period
Certificates of completion	4-6 years minimum
Transcripts	4-6 years minimum
Provider approval numbers	With certificates
CE log	Ongoing

Tracking Tips

1. Create a tracking system — Spreadsheet or app
2. Save certificates immediately — Digital and physical copies
3. Verify provider approval — Before starting courses
4. Check credit hours — Ensure they match your state’s requirements
5. Note expiration dates — Some CE has time limits

CE Tracker Tools

• Nursing CE Tracker — Track your credits
• Professional organization portals
• State board online systems
• CE provider transcripts

Renewal Process

Typical Renewal Steps

1. Verify CE completion — Check hours and topics
2. Gather documentation — Certificates, logs
3. Complete renewal application — Online or paper
4. Pay renewal fee — $50-$200 varies by state
5. Attest to CE completion — Most states require attestation
6. Receive renewed license — Digital or mailed

Audit Process

Most states audit a percentage of renewals:

Audit Rate	Typical Process
5-10%	Random selection
Request documents	Usually 30-day response window
Verification	Board confirms CE validity

If audited:

• Respond promptly
• Provide clear documentation
• Contact CE providers if certificates missing

CE for Compact (NLC) Licenses

Multistate License CE

If you hold an NLC multistate license:

• Complete CE requirements of your home state
• Home state requirements apply regardless of practice location
• Moving states may change requirements

Compact State Considerations

Scenario	CE Requirement
Home state has no CE	No CE required
Home state has 30 hours	30 hours regardless of practice state
Moving to new state	New home state requirements apply

Tips for Completing CE

Efficient CE Completion

1. Start early — Don’t wait until deadline
2. Spread throughout cycle — 1-2 courses per month
3. Combine with work — Employer-provided education often counts
4. Choose relevant topics — Make CE meaningful for practice
5. Use free resources — Many free CE options available

Finding Free CE

• Medscape Nursing (free registration)
• CDC training modules
• NIH training courses
• AHRQ patient safety modules
• Manufacturer training (equipment, medications)
• Employer-sponsored education

Making CE Meaningful

Instead of checking boxes:

• Choose topics relevant to your practice
• Explore new specialty areas
• Update clinical knowledge
• Learn emerging technologies
• Develop leadership skills

Common CE Mistakes

Avoid These Errors

1. Waiting until deadline — Courses may not be available
2. Not verifying approval — Unapproved courses don’t count
3. Losing certificates — Audit can happen years later
4. Miscounting hours — Contact hours ≠ clock hours always
5. Ignoring mandatory topics — Can result in rejected renewal
6. Assuming employer CE counts — Verify approval first
7. Not checking state changes — Requirements update regularly

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Consequence	Impact
Renewal denial	Cannot practice until compliant
License suspension	Must stop working immediately
Fines	$100-$500+ in some states
Disciplinary action	Public record
Reinstatement requirements	Additional CE, fees, delays

Special Situations

New Graduates

Situation	Typical Rule
First renewal	Often reduced or no CE required
Prorated hours	Some states prorate first cycle
Grace period	Check state-specific rules

Returning to Practice

Situation	Typical Requirement
Lapsed license	Additional CE for reinstatement
Long absence	Refresher course may be required
Re-entry programs	Structured retraining options

Multiple State Licenses

Situation	Strategy
Multiple licenses	Track each state’s requirements separately
Overlapping topics	One course may count for multiple states
Different deadlines	Create master tracking calendar

Next Steps

Stay compliant with your CE requirements:

1. Check your state — State Requirements
2. Track your credits — CE Tracker Tool
3. Read the full guide — CE Requirements Guide
4. Plan your renewal — Know your deadline and requirements

Continuing education keeps you competent, protects your license, and ultimately benefits your patients. Make CE a regular part of your professional development rather than a last-minute scramble.