Nursing CEU Requirements by State: What Every Nurse Needs to Know
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Reviewed by Dr. Pam Vollmer, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, NPD-BC, Accredited Provider Program Director for CE Ready
What nurses need to know
Nursing CEU requirements differ by state in total hours, renewal period length, mandatory topics, and approved provider types. Most states require RNs and LPNs to complete between 12 and 30 contact hours every two years. APRNs typically face higher requirements, sometimes double those of RNs. Many states also require specific topics — such as medical errors, human trafficking, or opioid prescribing — and these mandatory hours count within your total, not on top of it. Nurses with active licenses in multiple states must meet each state’s nursing CEU requirements separately. Nurses with a multistate license through the Nurse Licensure Compact follow the requirements of their primary state of residence. CE Ready is an ANCC-accredited CE provider (P0986) based in Florida. Because all 50 state boards accept ANCC contact hours, CE Ready courses work wherever you’re licensed.
Nursing CEU requirements aren’t one-size-fits-all. Your renewal obligations depend on your state and your license type — and the differences between states can be substantial. This guide covers the nursing CEU requirements for the states CE Ready serves, explains how mandatory topics work, and helps you build a renewal plan that leaves nothing out.
Why Nursing CEU Requirements Vary by State
Each state’s board of nursing sets its own CE standards independently. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers national guidance, but states decide the specifics for themselves. As a result, two nurses with identical license types can face completely different renewal obligations just because they practice in different states.
That variation reflects local public health priorities. Florida, for example, mandates human trafficking training for nurses with direct patient contact. Texas requires nursing jurisprudence every six years. Kentucky focuses on opioid education for APRN prescribers. In contrast, states like Wyoming and Arkansas give nurses full flexibility to choose CE that fits their practice area — with no mandated topics at all.
The bottom line is simple: your state’s nursing CEU requirements are the only numbers that matter for your renewal. A general estimate won’t protect your license.
Nursing CEU Requirements at a Glance
This table reflects current state board requirements for active license holders. Before your renewal cycle begins, always verify current requirements directly with your state board of nursing.
| State | RN/LPN CE Hours | APRN CE Hours | Renewal Period | Mandatory Topics? |
| Florida | 27 hours | 30 hours | Every 2 years | Yes — multiple required |
| Georgia | RN: 30 hrs / LPN: 20 hrs | Varies by certification | Every 2 years | No |
| Texas | 20 hours | 20 hours | Every 2 years | Yes — jurisprudence, human trafficking |
| Kentucky | 14 hours | 14 hours | Annually | Yes — for APRNs |
| Illinois | None for RN/LPN | 80 hours | Every 4 years (APRN) | Yes — for APRNs |
| Wyoming | 15 hours | 30 hours | Every 2 years | No |
| North Dakota | 12 hours | 24 hours | Every 2 years | No for RN/LPN |
| Arkansas | 15 hours | Varies | Every 2 years | No |
State-by-State Nursing CEU Requirements
Florida
Florida sets some of the most detailed nursing CEU requirements in the country. RNs and LPNs must complete 27 contact hours every two years. APRNs need 30. Within those totals, nurses must cover specific mandatory topics — prevention of medical errors (2 hours), Florida laws and rules of nursing (2 hours), recognizing impairment in the workplace (2 hours), human trafficking (1 hour, for nurses with direct patient contact), and HIV/AIDS (1 hour, one-time). Additionally, domestic violence education (2 hours) applies once every six years. APRNs with prescriptive authority must also complete 3 hours on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances.
Florida uses CE Broker for tracking, so approved providers report completions automatically. One important note: some outdated sources list 24 hours for Florida RNs and LPNs. That number is wrong — the current requirement is 27.
Georgia
Georgia sets different hour requirements by license type. RNs complete 30 contact hours every two years. LPNs need 20. Neither group faces mandated topics, so nurses choose CE that fits their specialty and practice setting. Georgia also uses CE Broker, which means choosing an integrated provider eliminates the manual reporting step.
Texas
Texas requires 20 contact hours every two years for RNs, LPNs, and LVNs. A 2-hour nursing jurisprudence course applies every third renewal cycle — that is, every six years. Beyond that, nurses who provide direct patient care must complete a Texas Health and Human Services Commission-approved human trafficking prevention course each cycle. APRNs with prescriptive authority should also include controlled substance prescribing education. Unlike Florida and Georgia, Texas doesn’t participate in CE Broker. Nurses there maintain their own CE documentation.
Kentucky
Kentucky stands apart from most states with an annual — not biennial — CE requirement. Nurses must complete 14 hours between November 1 and October 31 each year. RNs and LPNs choose 14 elective hours with no mandated topics. APRNs, however, must complete 5 mandatory hours plus 9 elective hours. Kentucky uses CE Broker, and providers must report completions within one business day. In addition, DEA-registered practitioners must complete an 8-hour one-time training on opioids and substance use disorder.
Illinois
Illinois takes a split approach that surprises many nurses. RNs and LPNs face no state CE requirement for license renewal at all. APRNs, however, face one of the highest nursing CEU requirements in the country — 80 contact hours every four years. Those hours break down into 20 hours of clinical practice in the APRN’s specialty area, 30 hours of pharmacology, and 30 elective hours. Illinois doesn’t use CE Broker.
Wyoming, North Dakota, and Arkansas
These three states offer more flexibility than most. Wyoming requires 15 hours for RNs and LPNs and 30 for APRNs every two years, with no mandatory topics. Similarly, North Dakota sets 12 hours for RNs and LPNs and 24 for APRNs biennially, also without RN/LPN topic mandates. Arkansas requires 15 hours for RNs and LPNs every two years. All three states accept ANCC-accredited CE, and none require CE Broker reporting.
How Mandatory Topics Fit Into Your Nursing CEU Requirements
Nursing CEU requirements don’t stop at total hours — and that’s where many nurses run into trouble. You can log every required hour and still fail renewal if those hours don’t include your state’s mandatory topics.
Here’s how it works. Mandatory topics count within your total, not on top of it. If your state requires 27 hours and mandates 2 hours of medical errors content, those 2 hours are part of your 27 — not in addition to it. However, you can’t substitute a different topic for a mandated one. Completing 27 hours of elective content doesn’t satisfy a mandate you skipped.
Before enrolling in any CE package, therefore, confirm it covers every mandatory topic your state requires for your license type. Common topics across states include medical errors and patient safety, nursing laws and professional standards, human trafficking, domestic violence, opioid prescribing, and suicide risk assessment.
Nursing CEU Requirements for Nurses with Licenses in Multiple States
Nurses with active licenses in more than one state must meet each state’s nursing CEU requirements independently. In practice, that means tracking separate hour totals, separate mandatory topics, and separate renewal deadlines — all at once.
Fortunately, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) simplifies this for eligible nurses. Under the NLC, nurses hold one multistate license and follow only the CE requirements of their primary state of residence. As of 2026, 41 states participate in the NLC for RN and LPN licenses. That said, the compact doesn’t cover APRN licensure — APRNs must renew each state license individually.
Even with a compact license, it’s worth checking whether states where you regularly practice carry employer or credentialing CE expectations that go beyond your home state’s requirements.
Choosing CE That Travels With You
For nurses who move between states or hold multiple licenses, ANCC-accredited CE offers the broadest coverage. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) sets the national quality standard for nursing continuing education, and all 50 state boards accept ANCC contact hours. That means your CE history stays valid no matter where you practice next.
CE Ready is an ANCC-accredited provider (P0986) based in Florida, with state-specific CE packages for Florida, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, Wyoming, North Dakota, Arkansas, and more. All courses run self-paced, stay available 24/7, and report automatically to CE Broker in participating states. Browse by state at ceready.com/states/.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing CEU Requirements
How do I find the nursing CEU requirements for my state?
Your state board of nursing is the authoritative source. The NCSBN maintains a directory of all state boards at ncsbn.org. CE Ready also publishes state-specific guides at ceready.com/states/ for the states we serve. Since nursing CEU requirements change periodically, check your state board before each renewal cycle — don’t rely on what applied at your last renewal.
Can I use the same CE courses to meet nursing CEU requirements in multiple states?
Yes, with one condition. All 50 state boards accept ANCC-accredited contact hours, so the same courses can count toward multiple licenses. However, each state’s mandatory topics still apply independently. If one state mandates medical errors content and the other doesn’t, you still need to complete that topic for the state that requires it — the other state’s flexibility doesn’t carry over.
How does the Nurse Licensure Compact affect nursing CEU requirements?
Under the NLC, nurses with a multistate license follow the nursing CEU requirements of their primary state of residence only — not the requirements of every state where they practice. If you relocate to a new compact state, your home state changes and you follow that state’s nursing CEU requirements going forward.
What happens if I move from a state with no mandatory topics to one that has them?
Your prior CE hours may count toward the new state’s total hour requirement. However, they won’t satisfy mandatory topics you haven’t completed. For example, moving to Florida means completing Florida’s required topics — medical errors, Florida laws and rules, recognizing impairment, and others — before your first Florida renewal, regardless of your prior CE history.
How far in advance should I start meeting my nursing CEU requirements?
Start at least 90 days before your license expires. That buffer gives you time to complete courses, allow CE Broker reporting to process if your state requires it, and resolve anything unexpected before your deadline. Nurses who wait until the final few weeks face the most renewal problems — and the fewest options for fixing them.
Find the Right CE for Your State with CE Ready
CE Ready offers state-specific CE packages built to match the nursing CEU requirements for each state we serve. Every package covers the correct number of hours, includes all applicable mandatory topics, and carries ANCC accreditation that all 50 state boards recognize. Courses run self-paced, stay mobile-friendly, and report automatically to CE Broker in participating states.
Browse CE packages by state at ceready.com/states/ and take your nursing CEU requirements off the worry list today.
References
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2024). Contact a Board of Nursing. https://www.ncsbn.org/membership/us-members/contact-bon.page
Nurse Licensure Compact. (2024). About the NLC. https://www.nursecompact.com/
Florida Board of Nursing. (2024). Continuing Education Requirements. https://floridasnursing.gov/continuing-education-ce/
Georgia Board of Nursing. (2024). License Renewal. https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-board-nursing
Texas Board of Nursing. (2024). Continuing Education. https://www.bon.texas.gov/education_continuing_education.asp.html
Kentucky Board of Nursing. (2024). Continuing Education. https://kbn.ky.gov/Registered-Nurse/Pages/Continuing-Education.aspx
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. (2024). Nursing. https://idfpr.illinois.gov/
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2024). Accreditation. https://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/
CE Broker. (2024). For Licensees. https://cebroker.com/