State-by-State CEU Requirements for Nurses in 2025

License renewal requirements can vary significantly across the United States. From mandatory topics to total hours, understanding your state’s continuing education (CEU) obligations is key to staying compliant and avoiding last-minute stress.

This guide provides an overview of CEU requirements by state in 2025 for LPNs, RNs, and APRNs. Whether you’re licensed in Florida, Georgia, or a compact state, knowing the rules helps protect your license and your patients.

Why CEU Requirements Matter

CEUs aren’t just red tape. They:

• Keep nurses up to date on clinical best practices
  
• Ensure patient safety and professional accountability
  
• Support skill development, ethics, and state-specific priorities

Most states mandate CE completion every two to three years, often with required courses in ethics, opioid prescribing, human trafficking, or domestic violence.

Highlights by State (2025)

Here’s a snapshot of CEU requirements in several key states:

Florida

• 24 hours every 2 years
• Mandatory topics: Laws and Rules, Medical Errors, Human Trafficking
• Additional 2 hours in Domestic Violence every third renewal
• APRNs: 3-hour Controlled Substances course if prescribing
• CE Broker reporting required

Georgia

• 20 hours every 2 years
• Must use Georgia Board of Nursing approved CEU providers
• CEUs must be relevant to the nurse’s practice
• No specific mandatory topics, but ethics and documentation are recommended

Texas

• 20 hours every 2 years
• Human Trafficking Prevention required
• Some additional requirements depending on work type and station
• APRNs with prescriptive authority need pharmacology CE
• Renewal tied to the nurse’s birthday month

California

• 30 hours every 2 years
• No mandatory topics, but cultural competence and documentation are encouraged
• CE provider must be state-approved

New York

• 3-hour Infection Control course required
• Every nurse must complete training in child abuse reporting
• 1-hour implicit bias training required as of 2023
• Total CE hours vary depending on license type

Compact State Considerations

If you have a multistate license through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), you must meet CEU requirements for your primary state of residence.

Example:

• A Florida-based RN working in Georgia must follow Florida’s CEU rules
  
• If that nurse moves to Georgia and updates residency, they’ll follow Georgia’s requirements

APRNs are not yet included in the compact and must hold individual licenses in each state of practice.

CEU Tips for Staying Compliant

1. Check your board’s website at the start of each renewal cycle
   
2. Use a tracker to record completed courses, topics, and provider names
   
3. Choose a trusted provider like CE Ready that offers state-aligned, board-approved content
   
4. Complete high-priority CEUs early to avoid expiration risks
   
5. Match CEUs to your career goals as well as your compliance needs

Online Options Make It Easier

Self-paced, mobile-friendly platforms now offer:

• ANCC approved CE bundles
  
• State specific CEU packages with automatic CE Broker reporting where required
  
• Online continuing education courses tailored by role (LPN, RN, APRN)

These platforms help nurses manage CEU workloads without disrupting work or family life.

References

1. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2025). Continuing Education Requirements by State. www.ncsbn.org
   
2. American Nurses Association (2024). Staying Current: How CEUs Support Safe Practice. www.nursingworld.org