California nursing license renewal

Where and when to renew

The reviewed route is BreEZe-linked renewal services. Renew before the expiration date shown on the license record.

1. Confirm that the RN license is eligible for online renewal.
2. Complete the required 30 contact hours before renewal.
3. Review fingerprint and disclosure requirements that may apply to the license.
4. Submit the renewal through the official BreEZe route and pay the current fee.
5. Verify the updated license status through DCA License Search.

Portal and account safety

• For California, open public status checks through DCA License Search; use License/Certificate Renewal only for account or transaction work.
• The reviewed California renewal timing is Every two years. Renew before the expiration date shown on the license record.
• Before payment, match the exact credential (RN, Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse-Midwife, Public Health Nurse) and compare the displayed charge with this source-reviewed summary: Timely RN renewal: $190; delinquent RN renewal: $280.
• Use only reviewed authority domains (www.rn.ca.gov); avoid search advertisements and look-alike renewal or verification pages.
• If the California portal does not show the expected option, check credential type, current status and renewal window before creating a second account or paying again.
• For unresolved account or routing issues, contact California Board of Registered Nursing at 916-322-3350 and keep the confirmation number, date and staff response.
• After any transaction, return to DCA License Search and verify the public record; a receipt by itself is not practice authority.

Renewal requirements and cautions

• A lapsed license can require additional steps; licenses lapsed longer than eight years have special competency requirements.
• Fees are non-refundable once received by the Board.
• Prescribing-related certificates can include an additional CURES assessment.

CE or competence connection

30 contact hours every two years for active RN renewal.

• Use a California BRN-approved continuing education provider.
• Keep completion records for the period required by the Board.
• Additional certificate-specific requirements may apply.

Published fee records

Common renewal problems

Fraud and privacy safety

• Begin every California transaction from a reviewed authority domain (www.rn.ca.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 California Board of Registered Nursing.
• If threatened with immediate suspension or arrest, end the call and verify the issue through 916-322-3350 or the secure California account.
• Use DCA License Search 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 California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Before paying, verify the credential, transaction and amount against the current California instructions; save the receipt and then verify the public record.
• For California, report a suspected licensing impersonation or phishing attempt to the authority and the relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement channel.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources reviewed