National renewal comparison
Nursing license renewal by jurisdiction
Compare the cycle, deadline, published fee summary and CE or competence rule before entering an official renewal portal.
What must be checked before renewal?
Confirm the credential, renewal window, current fee, continuing competence, required disclosures and final status-update process for the jurisdiction that issued the license.
| Jurisdiction | Cycle | Deadline | Fee summary | CE / competence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | RN/APRN: even-numbered years; LPN: odd-numbered years; published Alabama multistate RN/LPN cycle: odd-numbered years | The published renewal period opens September 1 at 8:00 a.m. and ends December 31 at 4:30 p.m. in the applicable renewal year. | RN/LPN single-state $103.50; RN/LPN multistate $203.50; APRN $78.50; MAC $53.50; NST-C $53.50. | 24 CE hours per license period; APRNs need 6 pharmacology hours. Check proration and credential-specific instructions. |
| Alaska | Biennial, even-numbered years | RN: November 30; LPN: September 30. APRN coordinates with RN renewal. | Confirm the credential-specific amount in the official renewal system. | Complete two of three: 30 contact hours, 30 hours of uncompensated professional activities, or 320 hours of nursing employment. |
| American Samoa | Confirm directly with the Regulatory Board | Use the license expiration and written Board instructions. | A stable current official fee source was not identified; confirm directly before payment. | A stable blanket CE total was not identified; request credential-specific requirements in writing. |
| Arizona | Every four years for RN/LPN | Renewal is due by April 1 in the applicable renewal year. | Confirm the current fee in the Arizona Nurse Portal before payment. | Arizona uses continuing-competence pathways; review the current Board options before renewal. |
| Arkansas | Every two years | Renew according to the expiration date and renewal window shown in the Arkansas Nurse Portal. | Use the current ASBN fee schedule; amounts vary by credential and transaction. | 15 contact hours per two-year cycle for LPN, RN and APRN renewal, or another Board-accepted option where applicable. |
| California | Every two years | Renew before the expiration date shown on the license record. | Timely RN renewal: $190; delinquent RN renewal: $280. | 30 contact hours of approved continuing education every two years. |
| Colorado | Credential-specific renewal schedule | RN licenses generally expire September 30 according to the applicable odd/even renewal cycle; the online renewal window typically opens several weeks before expiration. | Colorado changes fees through the Division’s fee-setting process; confirm the amount shown in the current online transaction. | No routine continuing education is required for RN or LPN renewal. APN/RXN requirements and national certification obligations remain separate. |
| Connecticut | Annual after the initial registration period | Most licenses expire in the first birth month after issuance and renew annually; confirm the exact date in eLicense. | RN renewal: $110. | RN/LPN topic requirement applies once every six years for actively practicing nurses; APRN requirements are separate and more extensive. |
| Delaware | Two-year credential-specific schedule | LPN licenses expire February 28 of even years; RN dates are assigned in odd years. Confirm the individual record. | Renewal amount is shown in DELPROS; published application fee is $181 and reinstatement is $272. | RN: 30 hours; LPN: 24 hours for a full two-year renewal period, including specified subject requirements. |
| District of Columbia | Birth-month and birth-year cycle | 2026 RN/APRN renewal: April 1–June 30; individual transition dates may differ. | Confirm the credential-specific amount in the DC Health portal. | Transition terms may receive CE prorating; mandatory LGBTQ cultural-competency and public-health-priority components remain. |
| Florida | Biennial, with RN cohorts assigned different expiration dates | Renew by the expiration date shown for the nurse’s assigned group. | Active-to-active before expiration: $75. | The standard RN framework includes 16 general hours plus required subject hours; some courses occur every other or every third biennium. |
| Georgia | Every two years | Use the expiration date and renewal window shown in GOALS. | Confirm the license fee in GOALS; GOALS also states that online application and license processing carries a $10 processing fee. | Complete one of the Board-approved continuing competency options and report required CE through CE Broker. |
| Guam | RN/LPN/APRN odd years; CNA even years | RN/LPN/APRN generally renew by September 30; portal opens about three months before expiration. | Confirm the credential fee; the payment portal may add a 5% convenience charge. | RN/LPN/APRN: 30 CE hours; APRN prescribers include 5 pharmacology hours; CNA: 15 hours. |
| Hawaii | Biennial Board schedule | Use the expiration date shown on the individual Hawaii license record. | Active RN/LPN renewal is listed at $196 and active APRN renewal at $36; confirm before payment. | Complete one Board-approved continuing-competence learning activity and retain evidence for random audit. |
| Idaho | Transitioning to biennial licensure beginning April 1, 2026 | Follow the expiration and renewal window displayed in DOPL during the transition. | PN/RN/APRN renewal: $70. | Meet current continued-competence requirements in Idaho Board rules; this record does not substitute an outdated generic hour total. |
| Illinois | Credential-specific renewal periods administered by IDFPR | Renew while the profession is listed as open for renewal, generally during the months before expiration. | Confirm the current fee inside the official renewal system. | Meet the Nurse Practice Act and rules plus applicable statewide mandated training. |
| Indiana | Biennial | RN licenses expire October 31 of odd-numbered years; verify the exact expiration shown for the credential. | Indiana lists a $50 RN/LPN renewal fee. Confirm the amount in the current transaction. | No general continuing-education hours are required for routine RN/LPN renewal. APRN prescriptive-authority requirements can include continuing education. |
| Iowa | Every three years | The license expires on the fifteenth day of the licensee’s birth month; renewal opens up to 60 days before expiration. | Renewal: $99; late renewal: $149. | 36 continuing-education hours per three-year cycle. |
| Kansas | Every two years | Renew before the expiration displayed in the KSBN record and renewal system. | Biennial renewal: $85. | 30 approved continuing nursing education hours for active RN/LPN renewal. |
| Kentucky | Annual | The regular renewal period runs September 15 through October 31. | Confirm the current annual renewal amount in the Nurse Portal; endorsement and reinstatement fees are separately published. | A primary RN/LPN continuing-competence route is 14 contact hours during the November 1 through October 31 earning period. |
| Louisiana | Biennial | The regular RN renewal period is generally October 1 through December 31, followed by a late-renewal period January 1 through January 31; licenses expire January 31. | The RN renewal base fee is $100; the portal can add transaction or late charges. Confirm the displayed total. | Meet either 30 approved contact hours or 900 employer-verified nursing practice hours during the two-year licensure period. |
| Maine | Every two years by birthday | Renew before the individual birthday expiration shown in the official record; the Board publishes no grace period. | LPN renewal $50; RN renewal $75; APRN renewal $100 on the official fee page. | No general RN/LPN contact-hour total is published on the renewal FAQ; APRN approval requires role-specific continuing education. |
| Maryland | Credential-specific cycle shown in the Maryland record | Online renewal is generally available 90 days before expiration and remains available for 30 days after expiration; confirm the individual date. | RN renewal: $191; LPN renewal: $165. | No generic RN/LPN CE-hour total is asserted; meet the active-practice or approved refresher requirement and any current mandated training. |
| Massachusetts | Biennial by credential schedule | RN: birthday in even-numbered years. LPN: birthday in odd-numbered years. | The official renewal page publishes the current transaction fee and a $57 late-renewal fee; confirm the base amount in the portal. | 15 contact hours during each renewal period. |
| Michigan | Biennial | Renew before the expiration shown in MiPLUS. A 60-day grace period can be available with an additional late fee, but practice authority must be confirmed. | Michigan lists RN/LPN renewal at $131 and specialty RN renewal at $161.40. A late fee can apply during the grace period. | Complete 25 CE hours per renewal cycle, including at least two hours in pain and symptom management. |
| Minnesota | Every two years after initial registration | Renew by the expiration associated with the licensee’s birth month and renewal year. | Renewal: $85. | RN: 24 hours per 24 months; LPN: 12 hours per 24 months. |
| Mississippi | Biennial by credential | RN: December 31 of even-numbered years. LPN: December 31 of odd-numbered years; renewal opens July 1. | The Board’s current renewal application lists an active renewal fee of $100; late fees escalate after expiration. | RN CE is generally required after more than five years out of practice; LPN and APRN requirements differ. |
| Missouri | RN and LPN follow alternating two-year schedules | RN renewal is generally February 1–April 30 of odd years; LPN licenses generally expire May 31 of even years. Confirm the current Board notice and MOPRO record. | The current renewal amount is displayed in MOPRO; no general RN/LPN amount is published here without a separately verified Board fee source. | The general RN/LPN renewal page does not publish a routine CE-hour total; credential-specific maintenance can apply, especially for APRNs. |
| Montana | Use the credential expiration shown in the licensing system | Renew before the official expiration date. | Confirm the current amount in Montana online licensing. | The former general RN/LPN/APRN CE requirement was repealed effective November 18, 2023; individual credential conditions still control. |
| Nebraska | Biennial on alternating credential years | RN: October 31 in even-numbered years. LPN: October 31 in odd-numbered years. | Confirm the current fee in the DHHS renewal system; payment-support contact information is published on the official renewal page. | Meet one of the continued-competency routes or waivers; a common route requires 500 practice hours in five years and 20 CE hours. |
| Nevada | Individual two-year expiration cycle | Renew within the window shown by the Nevada Nurse Portal before the expiration date in the public record. | Confirm the current renewal charge inside the official Nurse Portal; the Board periodically updates fees and instructions. | RNs and LPNs complete 30 nursing-related CE hours; Nevada-specific one-time and practice-setting courses may also apply. |
| New Hampshire | Two years | Renew before the OPLC expiration date, commonly tied to the birthday cycle. | RN/LPN renewal is $80 under the current OPLC fee rule. | RN/LPN renewal, endorsement or reinstatement generally requires 30 contact hours. |
| New Jersey | Biennial | Use the expiration date and renewal notice for the individual credential; renew through the official state route. | Confirm the current renewal and late charges in the state portal; unsupported amounts are intentionally not copied here. | 30 contact hours each biennial period, including one hour on prescription opioid drugs. |
| New Mexico | Two years after the initial license period | Renew before the expiration shown in the Nurse Portal. | RN and LPN renewal: $110; eligible multistate license fee: $50 effective June 1, 2026. | Generally 30 contact hours per renewal period or a qualifying specialty-recertification pathway. |
| New York | Registration is renewed about every three years | Online renewal is generally available in the final five months of the registration period and up to four months after the last valid period. | Confirm the registration renewal fee in the official renewal transaction. | New York does not impose a generic RN CE-hour total; required nursing training includes infection control every four years unless exempt and child abuse coursework where applicable. |
| North Carolina | Every two years | Renew by the last day of the birth month; the application opens 90 days before expiration. | RN/LPN renewal: $100. | Complete one of eight continuing-competence options before renewal. |
| North Dakota | Two years | Renew before the expiration shown in the Board record. | LPN $130; RN $140; APRN $220; APRN with prescriptive authority $295. | RN/LPN: 12 contact hours every two years; APRN prescriptive authority: 15 pharmacotherapy hours. |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Credential-specific Board cycle | Use the expiration date and current credential-specific renewal document. | Confirm the amount in the official CNMI portal. | Follow the current credential-specific total; all licensees must complete current substance-use-disorder education. |
| Ohio | Every two years | The exact window depends on credential type and year; consult the official renewal schedule. | Confirm the current single-state or multistate fee on the official fee page and in eLicense. | Complete the credential-specific CE requirements before submitting renewal. |
| Oklahoma | Every two years | Renew before the individual expiration date shown in Nursys and the Nurse Portal. | Use the current Nurse Portal amount; the Board’s application page is the authoritative route. | Meet one continuing-qualification pathway; a common option is 24 contact hours during the two-year renewal period. |
| Oregon | Every two years by birthday | Renew before the birthday expiration shown in the official Oregon record. | Confirm the current amount in Oregon licensing services; fee rules changed with 2026 modernization. | Current: one hour pain management in 36 months and two hours cultural competency in 48 months. The 20-hour RN/LPN total begins in 2028. |
| Pennsylvania | Biennial | Renew by the expiration date on the license; failure to receive a notice does not remove the licensee’s responsibility. | Confirm the current credential-specific fee in PALS before payment. | Renewal includes credential-specific and mandated training requirements; the Board links child-abuse, organ-donation and other required education resources. |
| Puerto Rico | Three years | Use the individual expiration date and current ORCPS notice. | Confirm the current credential-specific amount in ORCPS. | Credential-specific CE totals apply; current official forms and regulations control. |
| Rhode Island | Two years | Renew before the expiration date shown in the licensing record. | Confirm the credential-specific amount in the official portal. | 10 CE hours per two-year cycle, including the current substance-related education specified by the Department. |
| South Carolina | Every even-numbered year | April 30 of the applicable even-numbered year. | RN/LPN renewal: $75. | Meet one accepted continued-competency pathway; 30 contact hours is a common documented route. |
| South Dakota | Use the expiration shown in the individual record | Renew before the official expiration date. | Confirm the amount in the Board renewal portal. | No blanket RN/LPN CE-hour total is stated here without a current Board source; follow credential-specific attestations and APRN requirements. |
| Tennessee | Biennial | Renew by the expiration date shown for the individual license. | The Board lists RN/LPN renewal at $140 after the April 2026 fee update. Confirm the current amount in LARS. | Maintain evidence of two approved continued-competence activities; 10 CE contact hours is one available activity, not automatically the entire requirement. |
| Texas | Typically every two years | The license normally expires on the last day of the nurse’s birth month in the applicable renewal year. | Timely RN renewal: $68; timely LVN renewal: $45. | 20 contact hours in the area of practice or an approved national nursing certification, plus applicable targeted requirements. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Biennial by birth month | LPN/CNA: even years; RN/APRN: odd years; expiration is last day of birth month. | Confirm the credential-specific amount in the nurse portal. | Complete two of three competence categories; the CE option is 15 hours RN/LPN and 30 hours APRN. |
| Utah | Biennial on alternating credential years | RN: January 31 in odd-numbered years. LPN: January 31 in even-numbered years. | The DOPL renewal guide lists $68 for RN and LPN renewal. | Complete 400 practice hours, or 200 practice hours plus 15 CE, or 30 CE; also complete one approved suicide-prevention training. |
| Vermont | Credential-specific OPR cycle | Use the expiration shown in the OPR record and current renewal notice. | Confirm the credential-specific amount in OPR online services. | Follow the current credential-specific practice or education pathway rather than assuming one blanket total. |
| Virginia | Biennial | Renew by the expiration shown for the license. Late renewal adds a credential-specific fee. | Virginia lists RN renewal at $140 and LPN renewal at $120; late fees are additional. | Complete one Board-approved continued-competency pathway, such as 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 practice hours. |
| Washington | Annual | Renew annually by the credential expiration date. | The Board lists the annual RN single-state renewal fee at $138. Confirm credential-specific and multistate amounts on the current fee page. | Washington continuing competency includes annual continuing education and active-practice requirements; the current RN CE component is 8 hours. |
| West Virginia | RN/APRN Board cycle; LPN annual cycle | 2026 RN/APRN: May 1–June 30. LPN generally March 1–June 30 annually. | RN renewal $90; confirm LPN fees with the separate LPN Board. | RN generally 12 hours per renewal; LPN 24 hours every two years plus specified topic and practice requirements. |
| Wisconsin | Biennial by credential | RN: February 28/29 in even-numbered years. LPN: April 30 in odd-numbered years. | Confirm the current renewal fee in LicensE; DSPS publishes a $25 late-renewal surcharge in relevant reinstatement situations. | No routine general RN/LPN contact-hour total is listed; advanced-practice credentials have separate education and certification rules. |
| Wyoming | Biennial, even-numbered years | 2026 renewal window: October 1–December 31. | RN/LPN renewal $90; APRN charges differ. | Meet one pathway: 400 practice hours, 40 CE hours, NCLEX, refresher course or advanced nursing degree. |
Frequently asked questions
When should I renew a nursing license?
Use the expiration date and renewal window published by the responsible authority. Deadlines can be based on birth month, odd or even years, or a fixed date.
Is a renewal payment receipt proof of an active license?
No. Confirm the updated status in the official public verification system after processing.
Can renewal CE requirements differ by credential?
Yes. RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal and certificate-specific requirements can differ.