How many CE hours do nurses need in North Carolina?

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

What are the mandatory CE topics in North Carolina?

Mandatory CE topics in North Carolina include: General CE, APRN/NP CE, Controlled Substance Prescribing.

What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in North Carolina?

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

What license types does North Carolina regulate?

North Carolina regulates the following nursing license types: RN, LPN, APRN, CNA.

North Carolina RN License Renewal Requirements

North Carolina Board of Nursing · 2-year renewal cycle · Last verified 2026-02-04

Quick Facts

Renewal Cycle	Every 2 years
Total CE Hours (RN)	30 contact hours
Renewal Fee (RN)	$100
Compact State (NLC)	Yes — NLC member
License Types	RN, LPN, APRN, CNA

North Carolina requires Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle, or 15 hours plus a qualifying alternative such as 640 hours of active practice or national certification. Unlike many states, North Carolina does not mandate specific CE topics for RN/LPN renewal. APRNs/NPs face a higher 50-hour requirement with specific provider approval standards. North Carolina is one of the original Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member states and enforces a strict no-grace-period policy.

This data is verified against the North Carolina Board of Nursing — last checked 2026-02-04. If anything looks off, let me know.

Read the full North Carolina RN License Renewal Guide

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

How to Renew Your North Carolina Nursing License

1Go to the NCBON Nurse Portal at portal.ncbon.com and log in
2Complete the online renewal application
3Affirm that all continuing competence requirements have been met
4Pay the $100 renewal fee online
5Do not submit CE documentation unless specifically notified by the Board (random audits are conducted)
6Retain CE documentation for audit purposes

Visit the North Carolina Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

CE Hours by License Type

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $100

LPN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $100

APRN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $100 (+$50/collaborating physician)

CNA

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $0

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE	30	Required	RNLPNCNA	Total continuing education contact hours required for renewal (or 15 hours plus a qualifying alternative such as 640 practice hours, research, publication, or national certification)
APRN/NP CE	50	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	50 total CE hours for NP approval renewal: at least 20 hours from ANCC/ACCME-approved providers, with remaining hours at the advanced practice level
Controlled Substance Prescribing	1	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	1 hour on controlled substance prescribing required for NPs who prescribe controlled substances (included in total hours)
Nursing Practice	0	Optional	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	All CE must be relevant to nursing practice. North Carolina does not mandate specific topics for RN/LPN renewal.

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: Last day of birth month, every 2 years
Grace Period: No grace period — license lapses at expiration
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 North Carolina Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• Licenses expire on the last day of your birth month every 2 years
• RN/LPNs may complete 15 CE hours plus a qualifying alternative instead of the full 30 hours
• Qualifying alternatives include: 640 hours of active practice, nursing research, authoring nursing publications, developing CE programs, or maintaining national certification
• North Carolina does not mandate specific CE topics for RN/LPN renewal — all CE must be relevant to nursing practice
• APRNs/NPs need 50 hours with at least 20 from ANCC/ACCME-approved or national credentialing body CE providers
• There is NO grace period — licenses expire at midnight on the last day of your birth month with no exceptions
• CE documentation is only required if notified by the Board through a random audit
• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

CE Providers & Renewal

Approved CE Providers

ANCCNorth Carolina Board of Nursing

Renew Online

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Late Renewal Fees

RN: $50
LPN: $50

Reinstatement Fees

RN: $150
LPN: $150

First-Time Licensee Exemption

First-time licensees are exempt from CE for the initial renewal period

CE Audit Information

North Carolina Board of Nursing conducts random CE audits. Keep records for 2 renewal periods.

Board Resources

North Carolina Board of Nursing

https://www.ncbon.com

Sources

Last verified 2026-02-04·View official source →

Always confirm requirements directly with the North Carolina Board of Nursing before making decisions about your license renewal.

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How to Renew Your North Carolina Nursing License

1Go to the NCBON Nurse Portal at portal.ncbon.com and log in

2Complete the online renewal application

3Affirm that all continuing competence requirements have been met

4Pay the $100 renewal fee online

5Do not submit CE documentation unless specifically notified by the Board (random audits are conducted)

6Retain CE documentation for audit purposes

Visit the North Carolina Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE	30	Required	RNLPNCNA	Total continuing education contact hours required for renewal (or 15 hours plus a qualifying alternative such as 640 practice hours, research, publication, or national certification)
APRN/NP CE	50	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	50 total CE hours for NP approval renewal: at least 20 hours from ANCC/ACCME-approved providers, with remaining hours at the advanced practice level
Controlled Substance Prescribing	1	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	1 hour on controlled substance prescribing required for NPs who prescribe controlled substances (included in total hours)
Nursing Practice	0	Optional	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	All CE must be relevant to nursing practice. North Carolina does not mandate specific topics for RN/LPN renewal.

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: Last day of birth month, every 2 years
Grace Period: No grace period — license lapses at expiration
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 North Carolina Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• Licenses expire on the last day of your birth month every 2 years

• RN/LPNs may complete 15 CE hours plus a qualifying alternative instead of the full 30 hours

• Qualifying alternatives include: 640 hours of active practice, nursing research, authoring nursing publications, developing CE programs, or maintaining national certification

• North Carolina does not mandate specific CE topics for RN/LPN renewal — all CE must be relevant to nursing practice

• APRNs/NPs need 50 hours with at least 20 from ANCC/ACCME-approved or national credentialing body CE providers

• There is NO grace period — licenses expire at midnight on the last day of your birth month with no exceptions

• CE documentation is only required if notified by the Board through a random audit

• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the North Carolina Board of Nursing.