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:
| State | RN Hours | Cycle | RN Fee | NLC? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 20 hrs | 2 years | $68 | Yes |
| California | 30 hrs | 2 years | $190 | No |
| Florida | 24 hrs | 2 years | $75 | Yes |
| New York | 0 hrs* | 3 years | $50 | No |
| Pennsylvania | 30 hrs | 2 years | $65 | Yes |
| Illinois | 20 hrs | 2 years | $40 | No |
| Ohio | 24 hrs | 2 years | $65 | Yes |
| Georgia | 30 hrs | 2 years | $65 | Yes |
| North Carolina | 30 hrs | 2 years | $100 | Yes |
| Michigan | 25 hrs | 2 years | $131 | No |
| New Jersey | 30 hrs | 2 years | $120 | Yes |
| Arizona | 0 hrs** | 4 years | $160 | Yes |
| Virginia | 30 hrs | 2 years | $140 | Yes |
| Washington | 8 hrs | 1 year | $138 | Yes |
| Massachusetts | 15 hrs | 2 years | $120 | No |
| Tennessee | 5 hrs*** | 2 years | $100 | Yes |
| Colorado | 0 hrs**** | 2 years | $108 | Yes |
| Maryland | 30 hrs | 2 years | $136 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | 0 hrs***** | 2 years | $57 | Yes |
| Minnesota | 24 hrs | 2 years | $85 | No |
| Indiana | 0 hrs****** | 2 years | $50 | Yes |
*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.
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
Costs range from $40 in Illinois (the cheapest) to $190 in California (the most expensive). Arizona ($160), Virginia ($140), Washington ($138), Maryland ($136), and Michigan ($131) are also on the higher end. Indiana ($50) and Wisconsin ($57) are among the most affordable.
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
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.