How many CE hours do nurses need in New Jersey?

Registered Nurses (RN) in New Jersey need 30 continuing education hours every 2 years for license renewal.

What are the mandatory CE topics in New Jersey?

Mandatory CE topics in New Jersey include: Prescription Opioid Drugs.

What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in New Jersey?

Nursing licenses in New Jersey must be renewed every 2 years. The New Jersey Board of Nursing oversees license renewals.

What is the RN renewal fee in New Jersey?

The RN renewal fee in New Jersey is $120. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the New Jersey Board of Nursing portal before submitting.

When are nursing licenses due for renewal in New Jersey?

New Jersey renewal deadline: May 31 of odd-numbered years.

Is New Jersey part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)?

Yes. New Jersey is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so an NLC multistate license allows practice in all compact states.

Does New Jersey require CE Broker for tracking continuing education?

No. New Jersey does not require CE Broker, though some nurses use it voluntarily to track CE across multiple states.

What license types does New Jersey regulate?

New Jersey regulates the following nursing license types: RN, LPN, APRN.

How many CE hours do LPNs need in New Jersey?

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in New Jersey need 30 continuing education hours every 2 years for license renewal. The LPN renewal fee is $120.

What does APRN renewal require in New Jersey?

APRNs in New Jersey complete 30 CE hours every 2 years for board renewal. The APRN renewal fee is $160. Your national certification renews separately with its certifying body on its own cycle.

Field guide · License renewal

New Jersey RN License Renewal Requirements

Name: New Jersey Nursing License Renewal
Creator: RenewRN

Verified 2026-10-19

New Jersey Board of Nursing · 2-year renewal cycle

Last reviewed against the board source October 19, 2026 · How RenewRN verifies its data

Built by Keegan, a travel RN

As of 2026, New Jersey RNs must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years to renew. The RN renewal fee is $120.

Recent changes to New Jersey rules

Jul 1, 2026 · NJ APN independent practice (SB 2996) has been in effect since March 30, 2026

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Quick Facts

Renewal cycle	Every 2 years
Renewal deadline	May 31 of odd-numbered years
Total CE hours (RN)	30 contact hours
Renewal fee (RN)	$120
Compact state (NLC)	Yes, NLC member · check your eligibility
License types	RN, LPN, APRN
Typical pay	See New Jersey nurse salaries

New Jersey requires all Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Advanced Practice Nurses to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle, including 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs every renewal (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3). APNs must also meet their national certifying body's CE and complete 2 hours on end-of-life care each renewal (N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8). New Jersey is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, and nurses may carry forward up to 15 excess hours to the next renewal period.

Verified against the New Jersey Board of Nursing, last checked 2026-10-19. Found something off? Let me know.

New Jersey CE Audit Response Guide

Response deadline, retention rules, board address, and the rejections that get nurses dinged.

Read the full New Jersey RN License Renewal Guide

Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal

How to Renew Your New Jersey Nursing License

1Go to the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs licensing portal at dohlicensing.nj.gov
2Log in or create an account
3Navigate to your nursing license renewal
4Complete the renewal application and answer all required questions
5Affirm completion of all CE requirements
6Pay the renewal fee online ($120 RN, $120 LPN, $160 APN)
7Retain CE certificates for four years after completion. Random audits are conducted

Visit the New Jersey Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

Turn these steps into a checklist you can track.

RenewRN Pro turns New Jersey's renewal steps into an interactive checklist you check off one by one, with your progress saved so nothing gets missed at the deadline.

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How to Submit Your CE in New Jersey

You attest to your CE when you renew and keep your certificates; you only submit documents if the board audits you.

A New Jersey RN completes a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education during the two-year period preceding renewal (including 1 hour on prescription opioids) and ATTESTS at renewal; certificates are not submitted at renewal. Board CE FAQ: “Each licensee must complete a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education contact hours during the two-year period preceding renewal.” Proof stays with the nurse: N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(f) requires keeping CE documentation for four years (the Board's FAQ recommends five: “The Board recommends that you retain continuing education certificates for at least five years”), and “The Board may request copies of your continuing education certificates for various reasons, such as a random continuing education audit or during a disciplinary investigation.” Up to 15 excess hours may carry over (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3).

Where it happens: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs online licensing (Board of Nursing)

newjersey.mylicense.com

If New Jersey audits your CE

The Board may request copies of CE certificates for a random CE audit or a disciplinary investigation; keep certificates at least four years (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(f); the Board's FAQ recommends five).

Verified 2026-07-03 against njconsumeraffairs.gov. Always confirm with the board before relying on it.

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A one-page checklist verified against the board: every CE requirement, mandatory topic, fee, deadline, and renewal step for New Jersey. Enter your email and it downloads instantly. No account needed.

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CE Hours by License Type

New Jersey ranks #11 of 51 for RN renewal burden, one of the heaviest in the country.See the CE Burden Index

Type	CE hours	Renewal fee
RN	30 / 2 yrs	$120
LPN	30 / 2 yrs	$120
APRN	30 / 2 yrs	$160

CE deadline calculator Check if a course counts Compare all states

APRN renewal in New Jersey. The board is only one clock: your national certification and any DEA registration renew on their own cycles. Full New Jersey APRN renewal guide

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	Types	Description
General CE	30	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	Total continuing education contact hours required for renewal
Prescription Opioid Drugs	1	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	1 hour on prescription opioid drugs, including alternatives to opioids, pain management, and risks of abuse/addiction/diversion (included in total hours, required every renewal)
APN End-of-Life Care	2	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	2 hours on end-of-life care required every renewal for Advanced Practice Nurses (included in total hours)
Nursing Practice	0	Optional	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	Remaining hours in nursing-related topics. Up to 15 excess hours may be carried forward to the next renewal period.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs): New Jersey CNA renewal is handled by the state nurse-aide registry, not the Board of Nursing, and follows a work-hours / in-service model rather than the CE above. Check your state nurse-aide registry for CNA requirements.

Find free New Jersey CE. Verified courses, accredited or state-approved, with free certificates. Browse free New Jersey nursing CE courses

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: May 31 of odd-numbered years
Grace Period: There is a 30-day window, not a grace period in the sense of staying licensed. N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.2(c) says the license EXPIRES on its expiration date if you have not renewed, and you may then renew it no later than 30 days after that date by paying the renewal fee, a late fee and the alternative-to-discipline surcharge. Miss the 30 days and you are administratively suspended without a hearing, and 13:37-5.2(d) treats continuing to hold yourself out as licensed after that as a violation even if no notice of suspension ever reached you. Reinstatement is possible within five years of the suspension; past five years you reapply from scratch as a new applicant.
CE Completion Window: All CE must be completed during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date
Record Retention: Keep CE certificates for at least 4 years in case of audit by the New Jersey Board of Nursing

Missed your New Jersey renewal deadline?

There is a 30-day window, not a grace period in the sense of staying licensed. N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.2(c) says the license EXPIRES on its expiration date if you have not renewed, and you may then renew it no later than 30 days after that date by paying the renewal fee, a late fee and the alternative-to-discipline surcharge. Miss the 30 days and you are administratively suspended without a hearing, and 13:37-5.2(d) treats continuing to hold yourself out as licensed after that as a violation even if no notice of suspension ever reached you. Reinstatement is possible within five years of the suspension; past five years you reapply from scratch as a new applicant.

What to do if your New Jersey license lapsed

Important Notes

• All nursing licenses expire May 31 of odd-numbered years
• Carryover credits are allowed: up to 15 excess hours may be applied to the next renewal period
• Implicit/explicit bias training (1 hour) is required every renewal for nurses providing perinatal care to pregnant persons
• The APN renewal fee ($160) covers both the RN and APN certification. No separate RN renewal is needed
• Missing the 30-day grace period results in automatic administrative suspension without a hearing
• Renewal notices are sent electronically. Ensure your email and contact details are current in the portal
• The one-time 1-hour organ and tissue donation course is no longer a renewal requirement: the 2011 rule required it by February 7, 2014 (and waived it for nurses whose initial education covered the topic), and it is not in the current N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3. New Jersey nursing programs must teach the topic.
• Keep CE documentation for four years after completing the hours; the Board audits randomly selected nurses (N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3(f)).
• APN renewal requires the RN continuing education, the national certifying body's CE, and end-of-life care hours (N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.8). APNs practicing independently under the March 30, 2026 APN law also need 14 CE hours in pharmacology related to controlled substances.
• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the New Jersey Board of Nursing.
• APN pharmacology: the six contact hours in pharmacology related to controlled dangerous substances (pharmacologic therapy, addiction prevention and management, and responsible opioid prescribing) are completed before initial APN certification (N.J.A.C. 13:37-7.2(c)-(d)). They are not owed again at renewal.

CE Providers & Renewal

Approved CE Providers

ANCCNew Jersey Board of Nursing

Renew Online

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Late Renewal Fees

RN: $50 late fee added on top of the biennial renewal fee (total to renew 1 to 30 days late is the renewal fee plus $50, not a flat $50)
LPN: $50 late fee added on top of the biennial renewal fee (total to renew 1 to 30 days late is the renewal fee plus $50, not a flat $50)

Reinstatement Fees

RN: $100
LPN: $100

Already lapsed? The New Jersey re-entry guide covers refresher rules, costs by lapse length, and the path back.

Getting your first New Jersey RN license

Background check: Fingerprint-based criminal background check required. New Jersey requires a criminal history background check for initial RN licensure by examination; applicants in the NJ metro area submit digital fingerprints via IdentoGO/MorphoTrust (out-of-state applicants are mailed state and federal fingerprint cards to be completed by local law enforcement and returned to the Board).
Application fee: $75 application ($200 total due with the initial license fee and surcharge) (initial license by examination)
Temporary permit: Not issued. New Jersey has no new-graduate or pending-NCLEX permit: the board's combined Candidate application inventory contains no graduate permit, and the only temporary license is the military/military-spouse Temporary Courtesy License for nurses already qualified elsewhere. The COVID-era Emergency Graduate Licensure program is dead (it lives under the site's COVID19 archive), and bills to create a permanent temporary graduate license died when the 2024-2025 legislative session ended in January 2026.

Applies to new RN licensure by examination. Verified against the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

Full guide: how to get your first New Jersey RN license

First-Time Licensee Exemption

Do not rely on a first-renewal exemption in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.3 requires every active RN or LPN renewal to show 30 contact hours earned in the preceding two years, including 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs, and the Board's CE FAQ mentions no first-period exemption or proration. The only waiver is case by case for hardship (such as severe illness, disability, or military service), requested in writing at least 90 days before renewal.

CE Audit Information

New Jersey Board of Nursing may conduct random CE audits. Retain certificates for four years.

Frequently asked questions about New Jersey nursing renewal

How many CE hours do nurses need in New Jersey?: Registered Nurses (RN) in New Jersey need 30 continuing education hours every 2 years for license renewal.
What are the mandatory CE topics in New Jersey?: Mandatory CE topics in New Jersey include: Prescription Opioid Drugs.
What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in New Jersey?: Nursing licenses in New Jersey must be renewed every 2 years. The New Jersey Board of Nursing oversees license renewals.
What is the RN renewal fee in New Jersey?: The RN renewal fee in New Jersey is $120. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the New Jersey Board of Nursing portal before submitting.
When are nursing licenses due for renewal in New Jersey?: New Jersey renewal deadline: May 31 of odd-numbered years.
Is New Jersey part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)?: Yes. New Jersey is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so an NLC multistate license allows practice in all compact states.
Does New Jersey require CE Broker for tracking continuing education?: No. New Jersey does not require CE Broker, though some nurses use it voluntarily to track CE across multiple states.
What license types does New Jersey regulate?: New Jersey regulates the following nursing license types: RN, LPN, APRN.
How many CE hours do LPNs need in New Jersey?: Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in New Jersey need 30 continuing education hours every 2 years for license renewal. The LPN renewal fee is $120.
What does APRN renewal require in New Jersey?: APRNs in New Jersey complete 30 CE hours every 2 years for board renewal. The APRN renewal fee is $160. Your national certification renews separately with its certifying body on its own cycle.
What happens if you miss the license renewal deadline in New Jersey?: There is a 30-day window, not a grace period in the sense of staying licensed. N.J.A.C. 13:37-5.2(c) says the license EXPIRES on its expiration date if you have not renewed, and you may then renew it no later than 30 days after that date by paying the renewal fee, a late fee and the alternative-to-discipline surcharge. Miss the 30 days and you are administratively suspended without a hearing, and 13:37-5.2(d) treats continuing to hold yourself out as licensed after that as a violation even if no notice of suspension ever reached you. Reinstatement is possible within five years of the suspension; past five years you reapply from scratch as a new applicant. The RN late-renewal fee is $50 late fee added on top of the biennial renewal fee (total to renew 1 to 30 days late is the renewal fee plus $50, not a flat $50). If your license has lapsed, do not practice until your renewal is processed; confirm your status with the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

Sources & Board Resources

New Jersey Board of Nursing

https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/nur/Pages/default.aspx

Sources

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A one-page checklist verified against the board: every CE requirement, mandatory topic, fee, deadline, and renewal step for New Jersey. Enter your email and it downloads instantly. No account needed.

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Type

CE hours

Renewal fee

30 / 2 yrs

$120

LPN

30 / 2 yrs

$120

APRN

30 / 2 yrs

$160

New Jersey RN License Renewal Requirements

Quick Facts

How to Renew Your New Jersey Nursing License

How to Submit Your CE in New Jersey

If New Jersey audits your CE

Get the New Jersey RN renewal checklist

CE Hours by License Type

CE Requirements

Important Deadlines

Important Notes

CE Providers & Renewal

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Getting your first New Jersey RN license

Frequently asked questions about New Jersey nursing renewal

Sources & Board Resources

Cite or embed this page

Other Nurse Licensure Compact states

Don't miss your New Jersey renewal

More for New Jersey nurses

New Jersey RN License Renewal Requirements

Quick Facts

How to Renew Your New Jersey Nursing License

How to Submit Your CE in New Jersey

If New Jersey audits your CE

Get the New Jersey RN renewal checklist

CE Hours by License Type

CE Requirements

Important Deadlines

Important Notes

CE Providers & Renewal

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Getting your first New Jersey RN license

Frequently asked questions about New Jersey nursing renewal

Sources & Board Resources

Cite or embed this page

Other Nurse Licensure Compact states

Don't miss your New Jersey renewal

More for New Jersey nurses