The District of Columbia requires 24 contact hours of continuing education per renewal cycle, including mandatory topics in public health and LGBTQ cultural competency. DC is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you'll need a DC-specific license to practice in the district. Here's your complete guide.
District of Columbia RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The District of Columbia Board of Nursing requires all nurses to complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years. Within those 24 hours, specific topic requirements must be met, including public health and LGBTQ cultural competency.
DC is not a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member, which means nurses must hold a DC-specific license to practice in the district. A multistate compact license from another state does not authorize practice in DC.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs:
- 24 total CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- 3 hours in public health (included in the 24-hour total)
- 2 hours in LGBTQ cultural competency (included in the 24-hour total)
- Renewal fee: $195
For LPNs:
- 24 total CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- Same mandatory topic requirements as RNs (public health and LGBTQ cultural competency)
- Renewal fee: $195
For APRNs:
- 24 total CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle plus additional APRN authority fees
- Renewal fee: $375 (includes RN license and APRN authority)
Important Renewal Dates
DC has different renewal dates depending on your license type:
- RN and APRN licenses: June 30 of even-numbered years (next deadline: June 30, 2026)
- LPN licenses: June 30 of odd-numbered years (next deadline: June 30, 2027)
- Grace period: 60 days after the deadline with an $85 late fee; licensees may not practice after August 29 without an active license
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your District of Columbia Nursing License
- Log in to the DC Health online renewal portal. Visit the DC Health Renewals portal to access your renewal application. Use Chrome or Firefox — Safari and Edge are not supported.
- Select your license type (RN, LPN, or APRN) and begin the renewal application.
- Attest to completing 24 CE hours including 3 hours of public health and 2 hours of LGBTQ cultural competency.
- Answer all disclosure questions regarding professional conduct and criminal history.
- Pay the renewal fee. $195 for RN/LPN, by Visa or Mastercard only.
- Retain CE certificates for at least 4 years in case the Board requests them during an audit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing mandatory topic requirements. Of the 24 hours, 3 must be in public health and 2 must be in LGBTQ cultural competency. Generic CE courses alone won't satisfy the full requirement.
- Using an unsupported browser. The DC Health renewal portal does not work with Safari, Edge, or Internet Explorer. Use Chrome or Firefox on a computer — not a cellphone.
- Waiting until the last minute. If you miss the June 30 deadline, you'll face an $85 late fee and cannot practice after August 29 without an active license.
- Confusing RN and LPN renewal years. RN/APRN licenses renew in even-numbered years while LPN licenses renew in odd-numbered years. Track your specific deadline carefully.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Plan your CE early. Spread your 24 hours across the 2-year cycle rather than cramming at the end. Prioritize the mandatory public health and LGBTQ topics first.
- Keep detailed records. Store all CE certificates digitally and in print for at least 4 years. The Board may audit your records at any time.
- Set calendar reminders. Mark June 30 of your renewal year well in advance. RenewRN can send you automatic reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your license expires.
- Budget for the fee. At $195, DC has a higher renewal fee than many states. Set aside funds early to avoid surprises.
Track Your District of Columbia License with RenewRN
With mandatory CE topics and strict deadlines, DC's renewal process requires careful planning. RenewRN tracks your CE progress, sends timely reminders, and helps you stay on top of your District of Columbia nursing license renewal.
View the full District of Columbia CE requirements breakdown →