How many CE hours do nurses need in Ohio?

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

What are the mandatory CE topics in Ohio?

Mandatory CE topics in Ohio include: General CE, Ohio Nurse Practice Act & Rules (Category A), APRN Advanced Practice CE.

What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in Ohio?

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

What license types does Ohio regulate?

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

Ohio RN License Renewal Requirements

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

Quick Facts

Renewal Cycle	Every 2 years
Total CE Hours (RN)	24 contact hours
Renewal Fee (RN)	$65
Compact State (NLC)	Yes — NLC member
License Types	RN, LPN, APRN, CNA

Ohio requires Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses to complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle, with at least 1 hour on the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and 1 hour on human trafficking/sexual assault recognition. APRNs face a significantly higher 48-hour requirement (24 RN + 24 advanced practice), with CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs needing at least 12 hours in advanced pharmacology. Ohio is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, allowing nurses with a multistate license to practice across all compact states.

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

Read the full Ohio RN License Renewal Guide

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

How to Renew Your Ohio Nursing License

1Go to the Ohio eLicense Portal at elicense.ohio.gov and log in to your account
2Select your nursing license and choose 'Renewal'
3Complete the renewal application and update your personal information
4Affirm that all CE requirements have been completed
5Pay the renewal fee online ($65 for RN/LPN, $135 for APRN)
6Retain your CE documentation for at least 6 years — you must produce it within 60 days if audited

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

CE Hours by License Type

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $65

LPN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $65

APRN

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $135

CNA

hours / 2 years

Renewal fee: $0

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE	24	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	Total continuing education contact hours required for renewal
Ohio Nurse Practice Act & Rules (Category A)	1	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	Minimum 1 hour on the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and administrative rules, from an OBN-approved provider headquartered in Ohio (included in total hours)
Human Trafficking / Sexual Assault Recognition	1	Optional	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	1 hour on recognition and handling of human trafficking victims or victims of sexual assault may qualify toward the CE total (optional, not mandatory)
APRN Advanced Practice CE	24	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	APRNs must complete an additional 24 hours of advanced-practice CE (48 total). CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs must include at least 12 hours in advanced pharmacology.
Nursing Practice	0	Optional	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	Remaining hours in nursing-related topics relevant to your practice area, from ANCC-accredited or OBN-approved providers

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: October 31 of the renewal year (odd years for RN/APRN, even years for LPN)
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 Ohio Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• RN/APRN licenses renew in odd-numbered years; LPN licenses renew in even-numbered years
• The renewal window opens July 1 and closes October 31 of the renewal year
• APRNs must complete 48 total CE hours: 24 hours for the RN license plus 24 hours for the APRN certificate
• CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs must include at least 12 of the 24 APRN hours in advanced pharmacology
• First-renewal nurses who obtained their license by examination are exempt from CE requirements
• Extra CE hours cannot be carried over to the next renewal period
• CE documentation must be retained for at least 6 years in case of audit
• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the Ohio Board of Nursing.

CE Providers & Renewal

Approved CE Providers

ANCCOhio Board of Nursing Approved

Renew Online

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Late Renewal Fees

RN: $50
LPN: $50

Reinstatement Fees

RN: $150
LPN: $150

CE Audit Information

Ohio Board of Nursing conducts random CE audits during renewal.

Board Resources

Ohio Board of Nursing

https://nursing.ohio.gov

Sources

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

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

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How to Renew Your Ohio Nursing License

1Go to the Ohio eLicense Portal at elicense.ohio.gov and log in to your account

2Select your nursing license and choose 'Renewal'

3Complete the renewal application and update your personal information

4Affirm that all CE requirements have been completed

5Pay the renewal fee online ($65 for RN/LPN, $135 for APRN)

6Retain your CE documentation for at least 6 years — you must produce it within 60 days if audited

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

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General CE	24	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	Total continuing education contact hours required for renewal
Ohio Nurse Practice Act & Rules (Category A)	1	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	Minimum 1 hour on the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and administrative rules, from an OBN-approved provider headquartered in Ohio (included in total hours)
Human Trafficking / Sexual Assault Recognition	1	Optional	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	1 hour on recognition and handling of human trafficking victims or victims of sexual assault may qualify toward the CE total (optional, not mandatory)
APRN Advanced Practice CE	24	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	APRNs must complete an additional 24 hours of advanced-practice CE (48 total). CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs must include at least 12 hours in advanced pharmacology.
Nursing Practice	0	Optional	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	Remaining hours in nursing-related topics relevant to your practice area, from ANCC-accredited or OBN-approved providers

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: October 31 of the renewal year (odd years for RN/APRN, even years for LPN)
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 Ohio Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• RN/APRN licenses renew in odd-numbered years; LPN licenses renew in even-numbered years

• The renewal window opens July 1 and closes October 31 of the renewal year

• APRNs must complete 48 total CE hours: 24 hours for the RN license plus 24 hours for the APRN certificate

• CNPs, CNSs, and CNMs must include at least 12 of the 24 APRN hours in advanced pharmacology

• First-renewal nurses who obtained their license by examination are exempt from CE requirements

• Extra CE hours cannot be carried over to the next renewal period

• CE documentation must be retained for at least 6 years in case of audit

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