Field guide · Free CE

Free Implicit Bias CE for Nurses.

Mandated CE in California, Illinois, Maryland, and Michigan. Free ANCC-accredited implicit-bias and cultural-competency CE; confirm a course meets your state's specific implicit-bias requirement before relying on it.

8 courses · Last reviewed July 23, 2026

Required CE in 4 jurisdictions

Jump to a state page for the full requirement, hours, and acceptable provider list.

California Illinois Michigan Maryland

Certificate only

Showing 8 of 8 courses

Implicit Bias Awareness Training (Illinois)
Advocate Health
Free 1-contact-hour ANCC course from Advocate Health that fulfills the Illinois IDFPR implicit-bias continuing-education requirement for nurse license renewal (the one-hour implicit-bias CE required for renewals on or after January 1, 2023).
Free (cost $0.00); free account/login required.
1 contact hourANCC (Advocate Health, jointly accredited)onlineVerified Aug 2026CertificateIL only
Implicit Bias
Implicit Bias Awareness Training for Licensed Healthcare Professionals
Advocate Health
Free, ANCC-accredited 1-contact-hour implicit-bias awareness training for licensed healthcare professionals. A genuinely free national option for implicit-bias or cultural-competency CE; some states require 2 hours, so confirm the total against your state's requirement.
Free account required; the course page shows Cost: $0.00.
1 contact hourANCConlineVerified Aug 2026Certificate
Implicit Bias
Advancing Health Equity through Cultural Humility (Washington)
Area Health Education Center for Western Washington
Free 2-hour health equity course listed on the Washington State Department of Health health-equity CE page. Complies with Washington Substitute Senate Bill 5229, which requires Title 18 health professionals (including registered nurses) to complete at least two hours of health equity continuing education every four years.
Free; enroll with a free account.
2 contact hoursWashington DOH-listed health equity CEonlineVerified Aug 2026CertificateWA only
Health EquityCultural Competency
Findings from an Educational Initiative Addressing Racial Disparities and Bias in Health Care
CME Outfitters
Free 1.00-contact-hour activity on implicit bias and racial disparities in care. From a California Board-approved provider (CEP15510), so it can satisfy California's one-time implicit-bias hour for licensees in their first renewal cycle, and it appears on Maryland's approved implicit-bias training list for the renewal attestation that applies after April 1, 2026.
Free account required; 70% post-test. CE credit listed through March 28, 2027.
1 contact hourANCC (jointly accredited); California BRN CEP15510onlineVerified Aug 2026CertificateCA, MD only
Implicit BiasHealth Equity
Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals
HHS Office of Minority Health (Think Cultural Health)
Free, federally funded ANCC-accredited cultural-competency CE (about 5 contact hours) for behavioral health professionals. General cultural-competency CE; confirm it meets your state's specific cultural-competency or implicit-bias requirement.
5 contact hoursANCConlineVerified Aug 2026Certificate
Cultural Competency
LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center: Free CME/CEU Modules
National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center (The Fenway Institute)
Free on-demand LGBTQ health learning modules (implicit bias, affirming communication, sexual- and gender-minority health) usable for the District of Columbia's LGBTQ cultural-competency CE requirement. Nurses are eligible for credit.
Free, but the exact contact-hour award per module is shown only after creating a free account; confirm hours meet DC's 2-hour LGBTQ requirement.
Varies by courseAAFP Prescribed (nurses eligible)onlineVerified Aug 2026CertificateDC only
Cultural Competency
Cultural Competency (Nevada State Board of Nursing)
Nevada State Board of Nursing
Free cultural-competency CE (about 2 hours) offered through the Nevada State Board of Nursing's continuing-education resources, on the Board's own approved list.
2 contact hoursNevada State Board of NursingonlineVerified Aug 2026CertificateNV only
Cultural Competency
Implicit Bias Training for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals
Wild Iris Medical Education
Free ANCC-accredited implicit bias training that satisfies the recurring implicit-bias CE requirement in Illinois and Michigan, plus California's and Maryland's one-time implicit-bias requirements, and counts as general CE elsewhere.
1 contact hourANCConlineVerified May 2026Certificate
Implicit BiasCultural Competency

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Frequently asked questions

Does free Implicit Bias CE count toward my nursing license renewal?: Yes, when two things are true: the provider is accredited (for example, ANCC-accredited or on your state board's approved-provider list) and the content matches what your renewal requires. Free CE is not worth less than paid CE. Because acceptance rules vary by state, confirm the specifics with your state Board of Nursing before you rely on a course.
Which states require Implicit Bias CE?: Implicit Bias is a named CE requirement in 4 US jurisdictions: California, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland. Even where it is not separately mandated, these hours generally count toward your total CE. Open your state page for the exact hours and accepted providers.
How do I know if a specific Implicit Bias course will count in my state?: Check that the provider is accredited or on your board's approved list, and that the course covers your state's required content. You can also paste any course into our free course checker to see whether it counts in your state, no account needed.
How many hours of Implicit Bias CE do I need?: It varies by state, and in some states by whether you hold prescriptive authority, so there is no single national number. Many states fold implicit bias into a required-topic portion of your total CE rather than adding hours on top. Your state page lists the exact requirement.

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Frequently asked questions

Does free Implicit Bias CE count toward my nursing license renewal?

Yes, when two things are true: the provider is accredited (for example, ANCC-accredited or on your state board's approved-provider list) and the content matches what your renewal requires. Free CE is not worth less than paid CE. Because acceptance rules vary by state, confirm the specifics with your state Board of Nursing before you rely on a course.

Which states require Implicit Bias CE?

Implicit Bias is a named CE requirement in 4 US jurisdictions: California, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland. Even where it is not separately mandated, these hours generally count toward your total CE. Open your state page for the exact hours and accepted providers.

How do I know if a specific Implicit Bias course will count in my state?

Check that the provider is accredited or on your board's approved list, and that the course covers your state's required content. You can also paste any course into our free course checker to see whether it counts in your state, no account needed.

How many hours of Implicit Bias CE do I need?

It varies by state, and in some states by whether you hold prescriptive authority, so there is no single national number. Many states fold implicit bias into a required-topic portion of your total CE rather than adding hours on top. Your state page lists the exact requirement.