How Many CE Hours Do Nurses Need? State-by-State Comparison for 2026

Nursing CE requirements vary dramatically by state — from New York (which has no general CE hour count) to North Carolina's 50-hour APRN requirement. This guide compares requirements across all 50 states and D.C. so you can see exactly how your state stacks up.

Quick Comparison: RN CE Hours by State

Here's a snapshot of how many continuing education hours each state requires for Registered Nurses:

*New York does not require a general CE hour count for RNs, but mandates specific courses (infection control, child abuse identification). See the New York requirements page for details.

**Arizona uses a continuing competence model instead of CE hours. Nurses must demonstrate competence through practice hours, certification, education, or a refresher course. See the Arizona requirements page for details.

***Tennessee requires 5 CE hours plus one additional competence activity (extra CE, professional project, certification, etc.). See the Tennessee requirements page for details.

****Colorado uses a competency attestation model instead of CE hours. Nurses attest to maintaining competency; no specific hours are mandated. See the Colorado requirements page for details.

*****Wisconsin does not require CE hours for RN or LPN renewal. APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete 16 hours. See the Wisconsin requirements page for details.

******Indiana does not require CE hours for RN or LPN renewal. APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete 30 hours. See the Indiana requirements page for details.

†Massachusetts enacted NLC compact legislation on November 20, 2024 — multistate license implementation is in progress. See the Massachusetts requirements page for the latest status.

Key Differences Worth Knowing

Lowest CE Requirements

Several states require no CE hours at all for RN/LPN renewal: Arizona (continuing competence model), Colorado (competency attestation), Wisconsin, and Indiana. New York has no general CE hour count — just two mandated courses every 3 years. Tennessee requires only 5 hours (plus one competence activity), while Washington requires 8 hours annually. Massachusetts requires 15 hours per 2-year cycle. Texas and Illinois tie at 20 hours.

Highest CE Requirements

For RNs, California, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland all require 30 hours. For APRNs, the picture is more dramatic: Illinois requires 80 hours, North Carolina requires 50, Ohio requires 48, and Virginia requires 40.

Mandatory Topics Vary Widely

Some states mandate several specific courses, while others have minimal or no topic requirements:

• Most mandatory topics: Florida (medical errors, laws/rules, human trafficking, recognizing impairment, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS — first renewal only) and Illinois (sexual harassment, implicit bias, Alzheimer's, cultural competency, mandated reporter)
• No mandatory topics: North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee (all CE must be relevant to nursing practice, but no specific topics required for RN/LPN)
• Mandatory but unspecified hours: Georgia (5 topics must be covered but no specific hour counts mandated per topic)

Grace Period Policies

States handle late renewals very differently:

• No grace period: Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Indiana (license lapses immediately)
• Short grace period: New Jersey (30 days, then automatic suspension), Georgia (~1 month with late fee), Maryland (30 days with late fee)
• Longer grace period: Michigan (60 days with $20 late fee), Tennessee (60 days with late fee), Washington (60 days with late fee), Colorado (60 days with late fee), Illinois (90 days with additional fee), Massachusetts (90 days with late fee), Arizona (through July 31 with late fee), Virginia (up to 6 months), Florida (up to 1 year delinquent), Wisconsin (up to 5 years with late fee)

Renewal Fees

Among the states above, costs range from $50 in Indiana and $57 in Wisconsin at the affordable end to $190 in California at the high end. Arizona ($160), Virginia ($140), Washington ($138), Maryland ($136), Michigan ($131), Pennsylvania ($122), Massachusetts and New Jersey ($120 each) round out the higher-fee tier. Renewal fees are state board fees only — they don't include CE costs, late fees, or reinstatement charges.

Carryover Credits

Most states do not allow carryover of excess CE hours. New Jersey is the notable exception — you can carry forward up to 15 excess hours to the next renewal period.

What This Means for Travel Nurses

If you practice in multiple states, you only need to meet the CE requirements of your home state for renewal. However, understanding the requirements of other states helps you:

• Decide where to establish your primary state of residence (especially if choosing between a compact and non-compact state)
• Plan CE courses that satisfy requirements in multiple states simultaneously
• Avoid surprises if you move to a state with higher requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do CE requirements vary so much between states?

Each state board sets its own continuing competence rules under state law. Some states adopted CE hour mandates decades ago and haven't changed; others switched to alternative competency models (Arizona's practice hours, Colorado's attestation, Tennessee's plus-one-activity model). The variation reflects different philosophies about what proves ongoing competence.

Do CE hours from one state count in another?

Generally yes, if both states accept ANCC-accredited CE and the course content qualifies. However, mandatory topic requirements are state-specific — a Texas human trafficking course may not satisfy a Florida human trafficking mandate without specific Florida Board of Nursing approval. For overlap planning, focus on courses with broad accreditation.

How often do these requirements change?

State boards update their requirements periodically — typically every few years, sometimes more often when legislatures pass new mandatory topic laws (implicit bias, opioid CE, suicide prevention have all been recent additions in various states). RenewRN re-verifies state data regularly; check the “last verified” date on each state page.

Why does New York show 0 hours when nurses still complete training?

New York doesn't require a general CE hour count, but it mandates two specific courses (infection control and child abuse identification) at every 3-year registration. Many nurses also complete additional CE for specialty certifications or hospital requirements, but those aren't state-mandated for general renewal.

Are first-time renewals always shorter?

Often yes. Many states align license expiration with your birth month or a fixed renewal cycle, so your first license period can be as short as a few months. Some states prorate CE for first renewal; others waive it entirely; a few require the full amount regardless. Check your state's specific first-renewal rule.

What about CE for non-RN credentials (CNA, medication aide)?

Different requirements apply. Most states have separate rules for CNAs, medication aides, and other non-RN credentials. The figures in this table apply to RNs only. RenewRN tracks LPN/LVN, APRN, and CNA requirements separately on each state page.

Track Your Requirements Automatically

Instead of comparing state requirements manually, RenewRN automatically loads your state's specific CE requirements, tracks your hours against mandatory topics, and sends reminders before your deadline.

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