Georgia requires 30 CE hours for RNs with five mandatory topics that must be covered — though no specific hour counts are mandated per topic. The state also requires CE documentation to be submitted through CE Broker, not directly to the board. Here's what you need to know.
Georgia RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Georgia Board of Nursing (under the Georgia Secretary of State) requires Registered Nurses to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle. LPNs have a lower requirement of 20 hours.
Georgia is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so nurses with a multistate license can practice across all compact states without obtaining additional licenses.
What CE Hours Are Required?
- RNs/APRNs: 30 total contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- LPNs: 20 total contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- Medical Errors — must be covered within total hours (no specific hour count mandated)
- Domestic Violence — must be covered within total hours
- Laws and Rules of the Board — must be covered within total hours
- HIV/AIDS — must be covered within total hours
- Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace — must be covered within total hours
Alternative Competency Pathways
Georgia offers five ways to satisfy continuing competency — CE hours are just one option. You can also meet requirements through national certification, an accredited academic program, verified competency by a licensed facility plus 500 practice hours, or a Board-approved reentry program.
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Georgia Nursing License
- Know your deadline. RN and APRN licenses must be renewed by January 31 of even-numbered years. LPN licenses are due by March 31 of even-numbered years.
- Complete all CE hours and mandatory topics. Finish your 30 hours (RN) or 20 hours (LPN), ensuring all 5 mandatory topics are covered.
- Submit documentation to CE Broker. All continuing competency documents must be submitted through CE Broker — do not send them directly to the board or by email.
- Log in to the GOALS portal. Georgia launched the GOALS licensing portal in September 2025. Complete your renewal application there.
- Pay the renewal fee. The current fee is $65 per license. APRNs must renew their RN and APRN licenses separately ($130 total).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Sending CE documents directly to the board. Georgia requires all documents to go through CE Broker. Documents sent directly to the board office or by email will not be processed.
- APRNs forgetting the double renewal. APRNs must submit and pay for two separate renewals — RN first, then APRN — totaling $130 in standard fees.
- Missing mandatory topics. While Georgia doesn't mandate specific hour counts per topic, all five topics (medical errors, domestic violence, laws/rules, HIV/AIDS, recognizing impairment) must be covered within your total hours.
- Missing the late renewal window. Georgia offers a late renewal period of approximately one month after the deadline with a $75 late fee. After that, reinstatement is required.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Use CE Broker early. Submit your CE documentation throughout the cycle instead of waiting until the end. This way you can catch any issues with rejected submissions early.
- Consider alternative pathways. If you maintain national certification or are enrolled in an academic program, you may already satisfy competency requirements without needing 30 CE hours.
- Track everything in one place. RenewRN monitors your mandatory topics and total hours so you always know which requirements you've met and what's remaining.
Track Your Georgia CE Requirements with RenewRN
With 5 mandatory topics, CE Broker submissions, and separate APRN renewals, Georgia has a lot of moving parts. RenewRN keeps it all organized so you can focus on nursing, not paperwork.