Alabama Nursing Continuing Education: Requirements, Steps & Official Links

Direct answer

Alabama nurses generally complete 24 CE hours per license period. APRNs need 6 pharmacology hours. Newly licensed or credential-specific records may use the official CE proration chart.

Alabama Board of Nursing ↗ABN Verification ↗ABN License Lookup ↗ABN Nursys Guidance ↗

Alabama factual snapshot for this workflow

Reviewed item	Jurisdiction-specific detail
Authority	Alabama Board of Nursing
Public verification	ABN License Lookup and Nursys
Renewal cycle	RN/APRN: even-numbered years; LPN: odd-numbered years; published Alabama multistate RN/LPN cycle: odd-numbered years
Renewal deadline	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.
Continuing competence	Alabama nurses generally complete 24 CE hours per license period. APRNs need 6 pharmacology hours. Newly licensed or credential-specific records may use the official CE proration chart.
Fees	RN/LPN single-state $103.50; RN/LPN multistate $203.50; APRN $78.50; MAC $53.50; NST-C $53.50.
Compact status	Compact jurisdiction
Credentials	LPN, RN, APRN, MAC, NST-C
Phone	1-800-656-5318
Physical location	RSA Plaza, Suite 250, 770 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104

11 primary official source records and 15 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide. Source verification dates are shown separately from editorial release dates.

Core requirementAlabama nurses generally complete 24 CE hours per license period. APRNs need 6 pharmacology hours. Newly licensed or credential-specific records may use the official CE proration chart.

Audit practiceRetain completion evidence and review the ABN online CE record. Upload or correct documentation through official account instructions when the record is incomplete.

CredentialsLPN, RN, APRN, MAC, NST-C

Renewal cycleRN/APRN: even-numbered years; LPN: odd-numbered years; published Alabama multistate RN/LPN cycle: odd-numbered years

Continuing education or continuing competence rule

Alabama nurses generally complete 24 CE hours per license period. APRNs need 6 pharmacology hours. Newly licensed or credential-specific records may use the official CE proration chart.

Mandatory topics, pathways and conditions

Check the ABN CE record in My Profile before renewal.
APRN renewal includes 6 pharmacology hours.
Use the official proration chart for newly issued licenses or partial periods.
Do not duplicate CE entries that an ABN-approved provider reports electronically.

Credential-specific checks

Credential note

Alabama routing note: The Alabama Board of Nursing regulates RN, LPN, APRN, medication assistant and related nursing permits. Use ABN License Lookup for Alabama records, My Profile for CE and account maintenance, and Nursys for participating-board national verification and monitoring.

Credential note

RN: renews in even-numbered years; verify status in ABN License Lookup.

Credential note

LPN: renews in odd-numbered years; verify status in ABN License Lookup.

Credential note

APRN: verify the underlying RN license and advanced-practice approval; renewal includes 6 pharmacology hours.

Credential note

MAC: verify the exact medication-assistant credential or permit and use the published MAC renewal route.

Credential note

NST-C and permits: do not treat these records as interchangeable with RN, LPN or APRN authority.

Credential note

Alabama LPN: verify that the Alabama Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Alabama credentials.

Credential note

Alabama RN: verify that the Alabama Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Alabama credentials.

Credential note

Alabama APRN: verify that the Alabama Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Alabama credentials.

Credential note

Alabama MAC: verify that the Alabama Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Alabama credentials.

Credential note

Alabama NST-C: verify that the Alabama Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Alabama credentials.

Keep evidence for an audit

Retain completion evidence and review the ABN online CE record. Upload or correct documentation through official account instructions when the record is incomplete.

Keep certificates and provider details for the published retention period.
Confirm course completion falls inside the correct renewal period.
Do not assume RN and APRN requirements are identical.
Check whether the provider reports electronically or whether you must upload documentation.

Common CE problems

CE or competence is not accepted

Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Alabama rule: Alabama nurses generally complete 24 CE hours per license period. APRNs need 6 pharmacology hours. Newly licensed or credential-specific records may use the official CE proration chart. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.

Wrong credential rule

Return to the official source and match RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, certificate or assistant requirements before purchasing additional coursework.

Course not accepted

Confirm provider approval, topic, completion date and documentation against the authority instructions. A generic completion certificate does not prove acceptance.

Fraud and privacy safety

Begin every Alabama transaction from a reviewed authority domain (www.abn.alabama.gov) or a source-reviewed link on this guide.
Do not give a caller payment-card details, a password or a one-time code merely because the caller claims to represent Alabama Board of Nursing.
If threatened with immediate suspension or arrest, end the call and verify the issue through 1-800-656-5318 or the secure Alabama account.
Use ABN License Lookup to confirm current status rather than a private lookup page or emailed screenshot.
Upload identity, background, education or legal documents only through a secure method explicitly named by Alabama Board of Nursing.
Before paying, verify the credential, transaction and amount against the current Alabama instructions; save the receipt and then verify the public record.
For Alabama, report a suspected licensing impersonation or phishing attempt to the authority and the relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement channel.

Frequently asked questions

How much continuing education is required in Alabama?

Alabama nurses generally complete 24 CE hours per license period. APRNs need 6 pharmacology hours. Newly licensed or credential-specific records may use the official CE proration chart.

Are there mandatory topics?

Check the ABN CE record in My Profile before renewal. APRN renewal includes 6 pharmacology hours. Use the official proration chart for newly issued licenses or partial periods. Do not duplicate CE entries that an ABN-approved provider reports electronically.

Should I keep completion records?

Retain completion evidence and review the ABN online CE record. Upload or correct documentation through official account instructions when the record is incomplete.

Can CE rules differ by credential?

Yes. RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, assistant and certificate-specific rules can differ.

What if CE does not appear in my account?

Can I use any online course?

No. Confirm accepted providers, course categories, mandatory topics and completion dates before purchasing a course.

Is CE always required for every renewal?

Not necessarily. Some jurisdictions use practice hours, competency pathways, exemptions or credential-specific requirements. Use the exact official rule.

Where do I verify CE information?

Use the official continuing education or competence source listed in the official-resource directory.