Hawaii requires 30 contact hours of continuing education per renewal cycle, though nurses can also satisfy the requirement through alternative learning activities like preceptorship or nursing research. Hawaii is not currently a Nurse Licensure Compact state — NLC legislation has been introduced but not enacted. Here's your complete guide.
Hawaii RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Hawaii Board of Nursing requires all nurses to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years, or to complete one approved alternative learning activity. Nurses may choose only one learning activity per biennium and cannot combine multiple activities.
Per the Board, Hawaii is not currently a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state — NLC legislation has been introduced but not enacted. Nurses must hold a Hawaii-specific license to practice in the state, regardless of whether they hold a multistate license from another compact state.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs:
- 30 total CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle, or one approved alternative learning activity
- Renewal fee: $186
Alternative Learning Activities (choose one instead of 30 CE hours):
- Preceptorship: 120 hours as a preceptor in a one-to-one relationship with a nursing student or employee transitioning into a new clinical practice area
- Refresher course: Completion of a Board-approved refresher course with at least 60 hours each of didactic and clinical practice
- Nursing research: Acting as the principal or co-principal investigator in a nursing research study or leading an evidence-based practice project
- Nursing education presentation: Developing and presenting a first-time nursing education presentation resulting in at least 5 contact hours of instruction for attendees
For APRNs:
- 30 total CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle (same as RN)
- APRN licenses cannot be renewed without also renewing the underlying RN license
- Renewal fee: $186 (plus RN renewal fee if separate)
Important Renewal Dates
- Deadline: June 30 of odd-numbered years (next deadline: June 30, 2027)
- All nursing licenses — RN, LPN, and APRN — expire on the same date
- Grace period: No formal grace period; licenses become inactive if not renewed by June 30 and the nurse must not practice until the license is restored
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Hawaii Nursing License
- Log in to the Hawaii PVL online portal. Visit the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division portal to access your renewal application.
- Select your license type (RN, LPN, or APRN) and begin the renewal application. APRNs must renew their RN license at the same time.
- Attest to completing 30 CE hours or one approved alternative learning activity during the biennium.
- Pay the renewal fee. $186 for RN/LPN via the online portal.
- Retain CE documentation for at least 4 years. The Hawaii Board of Nursing conducts random audits and you may be required to submit proof within 60 days.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Combining multiple learning activities. Hawaii only allows one learning activity per biennium. You cannot mix CE hours with preceptorship hours — choose one path and complete it fully.
- Not retaining documentation. Random audits require you to submit proof within 60 days. Keep certificates and records for at least 4 years.
- Forgetting to renew RN alongside APRN. APRN licenses cannot be renewed without also renewing the underlying RN license. Renew both at the same time.
- Waiting until the deadline. With no formal grace period, missing June 30 means your license goes inactive immediately. Renew well before the deadline.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Start early in the biennium. With 30 hours to complete, spread your CE across the 2-year cycle rather than scrambling near deadline.
- Consider alternative activities. If you already precept students or conduct research, one of the alternative learning activities may be more efficient than 30 CE hours.
- Watch for NLC implementation. Hawaii has had NLC legislation introduced but not enacted as of the current cycle. If Hawaii joins the NLC in the future, your licensing options could change.
- Track your progress. RenewRN can track your CE hours, send renewal reminders, and help you stay organized throughout the biennium.
Choosing Among Hawaii's Five Pathways
Per the Board, Hawaii recognizes five pathways to satisfy continuing competency. You can only choose one per biennium — combining multiple pathways is not allowed:
- 30 contact hours of CE from approved providers
- 120 hours of preceptorship in a one-to-one relationship with a nursing student or an employee transitioning into a new clinical practice area
- Refresher course completion from an approved provider with at least 60 hours each of didactic and clinical practice
- Nursing research — acting as principal or co-principal investigator in a nursing research study or leading an evidence-based practice project
- Nursing education presentation — developing and presenting a first-time nursing education presentation totaling at least 5 contact hours of instruction
How to think about which path fits:
- Most actively-practicing nurses default to the 30-hour CE pathway because it's the most flexible and doesn't require external coordination
- Charge nurses, educators, and clinical preceptors may already meet the 120-hour preceptorship threshold through normal job duties
- Nurses returning to practice after a clinical break may use the refresher course pathway
- Researchers and EBP project leaders can use their existing project work as a single pathway
- Nurses developing new training can use the presentation pathway — provided it's a first-time presentation, not repeated material
The pathway you choose at one renewal doesn't lock you in for future cycles. Each renewal is independent.
The Tied RN+APRN Renewal Mechanic
Per the Board, Hawaii APRN licenses cannot be renewed without also renewing the underlying RN license. This is structurally different from states where APRN credentials are independent:
- You must submit an active RN renewal at the same time as your APRN renewal
- The 30-hour CE requirement (or alternative pathway) applies to your RN renewal — APRN doesn't add a separate CE requirement on top
- The renewal fee is $186 for the RN/APRN combination per the Board
The Single-Date Renewal Calendar
Per the Board, all Hawaii nursing licenses (RN, LPN, APRN) expire on the same date: June 30 of odd-numbered years. The next deadline is June 30, 2027.
Practical implications:
- For nurses holding multiple Hawaii credentials, all renew together — you don't have to track different deadlines for RN vs. LPN vs. APRN
- The biennial cadence means CE earning happens over the full 2 years between deadlines
- June 30 is a hard cutoff — no formal grace period
How Hawaii Audits Work
Per the Board, Hawaii conducts random CE audits and you may be required to submit proof within 60 days of notification. Retain documentation for at least 4 years. Documentation auditors verify based on your chosen pathway:
- CE pathway: course certificates for all 30 hours, with provider name, course title, hours, and completion date
- Preceptorship pathway: documentation showing 120 hours of one-to-one preceptor relationship with a student or transitioning employee
- Refresher course pathway: completion certificate showing at least 60 hours each of didactic and clinical practice
- Research pathway: documentation of your role as principal or co-principal investigator or EBP project lead
- Presentation pathway: documentation of your first-time presentation totaling at least 5 contact hours
Failed audits can result in license discipline. Save documentation digitally with clear filenames covering the rolling 4-year retention window.
Late Renewal and Reinstatement in Hawaii
Per the Board, Hawaii has no formal grace period. Licenses that are not renewed by June 30 become inactive, and the nurse must not practice until the license is restored:
- $200 reinstatement fee for RN/LPN per the Board (vs. $186 standard renewal)
- All current CE requirements must be met, including the chosen pathway for the current biennium
- You cannot work as a nurse while your license is inactive — even briefly
Why Hawaii's Non-Compact Status Matters for Travel Nurses
Per the Board, Hawaii is not currently an NLC member state. If you hold a multistate license from another NLC state (Texas, Florida, etc.), you cannot practice in Hawaii on that license alone — you need a Hawaii-specific license, including for short-term, telehealth, or travel-nursing assignments.
Practical implications:
- Travel nurses considering Hawaii assignments need to apply for licensure-by-endorsement before starting work
- Endorsement applications can take several weeks to process
- Telehealth providers serving Hawaii patients need a Hawaii license, not just a multistate license
- NLC legislation has been introduced — if Hawaii joins, the requirement may change in the future
APRN Renewal Specifics
Per the Board, APRNs in Hawaii have the same 30-hour CE requirement (or alternative pathway) as RNs. APRN renewal cannot proceed without RN renewal — both must be submitted together.
APRNs with DEA registration also need to complete the federal 8-hour MATE Act training on opioid and substance use disorder treatment — a federal requirement at DEA registration or renewal, separate from Hawaii state CE.
Hawaii RN Renewal FAQ
Can I do 15 CE hours and 60 preceptorship hours together? No. Per the Board, you must choose only one learning activity per biennium. You cannot combine pathways.
Does my multistate license from another state work in Hawaii? No. Hawaii is not an NLC member state. You need a Hawaii-specific license to practice here.
Can I take all 30 CE hours online? Yes. Hawaii doesn't require any in-person CE hours.
Does my preceptorship count if I'm precepting an experienced nurse rather than a student? Per the Board, the 120-hour preceptorship pathway covers both nursing students AND employees transitioning into a new clinical practice area — both qualify.
Can I switch pathways from one renewal to the next? Yes. Each renewal is independent.
Track Your Hawaii License with RenewRN
With 30 CE hours to manage and random audits to prepare for, Hawaii's renewal process requires careful tracking. RenewRN sends reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your license expires so you never lapse.