Nursing License Renewal Requirements by State
As a nursing professional, you know that the knowledge you amass doesn’t end in the classroom, or, for that matter, on the job. Your education is ongoing. As a way to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based findings and provide optimal care to the patient population, you need to renew a nursing license regularly. This usually applies to all levels of nursing: CNA, LPN, RN, and APRN.
Depending on where you live and work, however, the details can vary. Take a look at the links below to help you become familiar with specific nursing license renewal requirements by state.
In general, there are three major steps involved in renewing a nursing license:
1. Figuring out the renewal deadline. Your state and license type may require renewal every year, every two years, or more. If you miss the deadline, your license lapses, and you’ll be unable to practice legally. Furthermore, to get your license back in action, you’ll need to pay a late fee.
2. Complete continuing education requirements. Again, this varies greatly depending on your license type and the state in which you work. For example, you may need to fulfill a certain number of contact hours, complete specific courses, and/or work a certain number of hours. Have questions? Check out our article on continuing education requirements for nurses.
3. File your renewal application. Most likely, you’ll be filing online via the state board of nursing website or a third-party site. However, there are usually options if you prefer the traditional mail-in route.
Nursing License Renewal Requirements by State
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