How many CE hours do nurses need in Minnesota?

Registered Nurses (RN) in Minnesota need 24 continuing education hours every 2 years for license renewal.

What are the mandatory CE topics in Minnesota?

Mandatory CE topics in Minnesota include: General CE (RN), General CE (LPN), APRN CE / National Certification, APRN Opioid Prescribing.

What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in Minnesota?

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

What license types does Minnesota regulate?

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

Minnesota RN License Renewal Requirements

Minnesota Board of Nursing · 2-year renewal cycle · Last verified 2026-02-05

Quick Facts

Renewal Cycle	Every 2 years
Total CE Hours (RN)	24 contact hours
Renewal Fee (RN)	$85
Compact State (NLC)	No
License Types	RN, APRN, LPN, CNA

Minnesota requires Registered Nurses to complete 24 contact hours and Licensed Practical Nurses to complete 12 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle. There are no specific mandatory topics for RN/LPN — nurses have flexibility to choose CE relevant to their practice. APRNs with controlled substance authority must include 2 hours on opioid prescribing. Minnesota is not currently an NLC compact state, so nurses need a Minnesota-specific license to practice in the state.

This data is verified against the Minnesota Board of Nursing — last checked 2026-02-05. If anything looks off, let me know.

Read the full Minnesota RN License Renewal Guide

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

How to Renew Your Minnesota Nursing License

1Log in to the Minnesota Board of Nursing online portal at mbn.hlb.state.mn.us
2Select Renew License
3Verify and update your mailing and email address
4Attest to completing CE requirements (24 hours for RN, 12 hours for LPN)
5Answer all disclosure and legal questions
6Pay the renewal fee ($85 for RN/LPN) online
7Keep CE documentation for 2 years post-renewal in case of audit

Visit the Minnesota Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

CE Hours by License Type

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $85

APRN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $170

LPN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $85

CNA

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $0

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE (RN)	24	Required	RN	24 contact hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle for Registered Nurses
General CE (LPN)	12	Required	LPNCNA	12 contact hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle for Licensed Practical Nurses
APRN CE / National Certification	24	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	24 CE hours same as RN, or current national certification satisfies the CE requirement
APRN Opioid Prescribing	2	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	2 hours on best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances for APRNs with controlled substance prescriptive authority (included in total)
Nursing Practice	0	Optional	RNLPNCNA	No specific mandatory topics for RN/LPN — nurses choose CE relevant to their practice

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: Last day of birth month, every 2 years (odd/even based on birth year)
Grace Period: No formal grace period; expired licenses require reregistration with a late fee. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.
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 Minnesota Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• RNs need 24 CE hours and LPNs need 12 CE hours per 2-year cycle
• No specific mandatory topics for RN/LPN — nurses choose CE relevant to their practice
• APRNs with national certification on file may use that to satisfy CE requirements
• APRNs with controlled substance authority must complete 2 hours on opioid prescribing
• Minnesota is NOT an NLC compact state — nurses need a Minnesota-specific license
• CE records must be retained for 2 years after renewal for potential audit
• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

CE Providers & Renewal

Approved CE Providers

ANCCMinnesota 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 have a prorated CE requirement for the first renewal

CE Audit Information

State board may conduct random CE audits. Retain all CE certificates for at least 4 years.

Board Resources

Minnesota Board of Nursing

https://mn.gov/boards/nursing/

Sources

Last verified 2026-02-05·View official source →

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

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How to Renew Your Minnesota Nursing License

1Log in to the Minnesota Board of Nursing online portal at mbn.hlb.state.mn.us

2Select Renew License

3Verify and update your mailing and email address

4Attest to completing CE requirements (24 hours for RN, 12 hours for LPN)

5Answer all disclosure and legal questions

6Pay the renewal fee ($85 for RN/LPN) online

7Keep CE documentation for 2 years post-renewal in case of audit

Visit the Minnesota Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE (RN)	24	Required	RN	24 contact hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle for Registered Nurses
General CE (LPN)	12	Required	LPNCNA	12 contact hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle for Licensed Practical Nurses
APRN CE / National Certification	24	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	24 CE hours same as RN, or current national certification satisfies the CE requirement
APRN Opioid Prescribing	2	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	2 hours on best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances for APRNs with controlled substance prescriptive authority (included in total)
Nursing Practice	0	Optional	RNLPNCNA	No specific mandatory topics for RN/LPN — nurses choose CE relevant to their practice

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: Last day of birth month, every 2 years (odd/even based on birth year)
Grace Period: No formal grace period; expired licenses require reregistration with a late fee. Practicing on an expired license is prohibited.
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 Minnesota Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• RNs need 24 CE hours and LPNs need 12 CE hours per 2-year cycle

• No specific mandatory topics for RN/LPN — nurses choose CE relevant to their practice

• APRNs with national certification on file may use that to satisfy CE requirements

• APRNs with controlled substance authority must complete 2 hours on opioid prescribing

• Minnesota is NOT an NLC compact state — nurses need a Minnesota-specific license

• CE records must be retained for 2 years after renewal for potential audit

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