If you are considering becoming a nurse here is a little insight into what it takes to maintain your licensure. All nurses must attain a minimum number of CEU hours before renewal of their license. CEU stands for continuing education unit. The state in which one attains their license dictates the requirement for renewal. In Texas, for example each LVN and RN must achieve a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education every two years.
Continuing education is exceptionally important due to the fast past changes that are constantly occurring in the medical field. Good hospitals and clinics provide training for their nurses to ensure better quality of care for the patients. Educational in-services are usually a job requirement in places of this stature.
Nurses usually have a particular field of practice such as the ER. ICU, OR, OB/GYN, etc.
There are limitless topics that one can choose from when attaining CEU hours. They can be tailored to the nurses field of practice, increasing the knowledge base and making for a better caregiver.
Many nurses study on their own time achieving CEU requirements via nursing journals or magazines. Some choose to use web sites for free CEU’s. A good nurse will always continue to increase their knowledge base.
As a resource we have included the CEU requirements for all 50 states below. Enjoy!
|
State |
CE for RN |
CE for LVN/LPN |
State Board website |
|
ALABAMA |
RN’s: 24 contact hours every 2 years. 12 contact hours allowed through independent study. |
LPN/LVNs: Same as RNs |
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ALASKA |
RNs – two of the following three are required for license renewal: 30 contact hours, OR 30 hours professional nursing activities, OR 320 hours nursing employment. |
LPN/LVNs: Same as RNs |
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ARIZONA |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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ARKANSAS |
RNs: 15 contact hours every two years, or certification or recertification during the renewal period by a national certifying body, or completion of a recognized academic course in nursing or a related field. |
LPN/LVNs: 2 of the following 3 are required for license renewal: 30 contact hours, OR 30 hours professional nursing activities, OR 320 hours nursing employment. |
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CALIFORNIA |
RNs: 30 hours of continuing education for license renewal. |
LVNs must complete 30 contact hours of Continuing Education every two years in order to renew their license with an active status |
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COLORADO |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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CONNECTICUT |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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DELAWARE |
RNs: 30 contact hours every 2 years. |
LPN/LVNs are required to complete 24 contact hours every 2 years. |
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
24 contact hours every 2 years. |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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FLORIDA |
RNs: 24 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period of 2 years. One (1) contact hour is required for each calendar month of the licensure cycle, including two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors. HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. Domestic Violence CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. For example, if you renew your license on January 31, 2007, you are required to complete the Domestic Violence CE before the January 31, 2011 renewal. |
LPN/LVNs: Same as RNs |
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GEORGIA |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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HAWAII |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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IDAHO |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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ILLINOIS |
RNs: 20 contact hours every two years. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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INDIANA |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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IOWA |
RNs: 20 contact hours every two years. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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KANSAS |
RNs: 30 contact hours every 2 years. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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KENTUCKY |
RNs : One of the following:
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LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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LOUISIANA |
RNs: The annual continuing education requirement is based on employment: 5 contact hours (full-time nursing practice), 10 contact hours (part-time nursing practice), or 15 contact hours (not employed or worked less than 160 hours). |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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MAINE |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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MARYLAND |
No nursing CE required by this state, but an approved refresher course is needed. |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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MASSACHUSETTS |
RNs: 15 contact hours every 2 years. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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MICHIGAN |
RNs: 25 hours of board approved continuing education, with at least one hour in pain and symptom management, within the two years immediately preceding the expiration date of their license. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-27417_27529_27542—,00.html |
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MINNESOTA |
RNs: 24 contact hours every 2 years. |
LPN/LVNs must complete 12 contact hours every 2 years. |
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MISSISSIPPI |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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MISSOURI |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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MONTANA |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
http://mt.gov/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/nur_board/board_page |
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NEBRASKA |
RNs: 24 contact hours every 2 years. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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NEVADA |
RNs: 30 hours of nursing-related continuing education in the previous 24 months, and must have completed the state-required bioterrorism course |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE |
RNs: 30 contact hours in 2 years immediately preceding license application including workshops, conferences, lectures or other education offerings designed to enhance nursing knowledge, judgment, and skills. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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NEW JERSEY |
RNs: 30 contact hours every two years |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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NEW MEXICO |
RNs: 30 hours of approved CE within the 24 months immediately preceding expiration of license. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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NEW YORK |
RNs: 3 contact hours in infection control every 4 years; 2 contact hours child abuse (one time requirement for initial license); |
LPN/LVNs: 3 contact hours infection control every 4 years |
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NORTH CAROLINA |
RNs: Completion of one of the following is required.
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LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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NORTH DAKOTA |
RNs: 12 contact hours of continuing education. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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OHIO |
RNs: 24 contact hours every 2 years. At least one contact hour must be related to Chapters 4723,1-23 of the Ohio nurse practice code and rules. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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OKLAHOMA |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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OREGON |
RNs: One of the following: Practice nursing for a minimum of 960 hours during the previous five years. OR Successfully complete an approved re-entry program within the two years preceding renewal. OR Graduate from an OSBN-approved nursing program within the past five years. OR Complete the one-time Pain Management Continuing Education requirement.
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LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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PENNSYLVANIA |
30 contact hours every two years for RNs. |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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RHODE ISLAND |
RNs are required to complete 10 contact hours every 2 years. |
LPN/LVNs are required to completre 10 contact hours every 2 years. Online courses are acceptable. |
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SOUTH CAROLINA |
RNs: one of the following:
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LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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SOUTH DAKOTA |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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TENNESSEE |
Continuing Education for relicensure is not mandatory in Tennessee. However, mandatory continuing competency is required in Tennessee. In order to maintain continued competence, the board requires the nurse to have practiced in nursing in the last five (5) years and additionally, the Board sets out standards of competence and requirements to maintain competence. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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TEXAS |
RNs are require to complete 20 contact hours every two years. There is also a targeted 1-time, 2-contact hour CE requirement for any RN practicing in an emergency room setting for Forensic Evidence Collection |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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UTAH |
Renewal of an RN license requires one of the following every 2 years: 30 contact hours, OR 200 practice hours and 15 contact hours, OR 400 practice hours. |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
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VERMONT |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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VIRGINIA |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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WASHINGTON |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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WEST VIRGINIA |
Completion of the 12 contact hours of CE required for RN relicensure may be accomplished by: 1. Completing 12 contact hours of CE from an approved CE provider; or 2. Completing 6 contact hours of CE from an approved CE provider which may include 2 contact hours of self-study and one of the following completed during the reporting period: A. National certification initially earned or in effect the entire reporting period; B. Completion of a nursing research project as principal investigator, co-investigator or project director; C. Published a nursing related article in a national nursing or healthcare journal; D. Developed and presented a professional nursing education presentation; E. Participated as a clinical preceptor for at least one student or one new employee undergoing orientation and have one hundred-twenty hours of one-on-one relationship as a clinical preceptor during the reporting period; F. Evidence of satisfactory evaluation of employment that covers at least six months of the reporting period; or G. Completion of an approved nursing refresher or re-entry course. |
LPN/LVNs are required to complete 24 contact hours of continuing education and engage in 400 clock hours of LPN/LVN practice in each 2 year reporting period. Reporting occurs on the even years. There is also a 1-time 2-contact hour requirement for end of life care including pain management. |
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WISCONSIN |
No nursing CE required by this state |
No nursing CE required by this state |
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WYOMING |
RNs: 20 contact hours in the last 2 years OR Combination of Nursing practice and contact hours OR Minimum 1600 hours in Nursing practice in the last 5 years OR Minimum 500 hours in Nursing practice in the last 2 years OR Passing NCLEX within the last 5 years OR National certification in specialty area in last 5 years OR Completion of a refresher/orientation program in the last 5 years |
LVN/LPN requirements same as RN |
