State of Hawaii
Hawaii.
Updated 2026
Contact hours
For RN renewal, none required
0
Mandatory topics
For RN renewal, topics
0
Online CE
For RN renewal, fully accepted
Yes
¶ Hawaii does not require general continuing education hours for RN license renewal, one of the few states without mandatory CE for registered nurses.
Nursing in Hawaii.
Hawaii has approximately 18,000 licensed registered nurses serving a population of 1.4 million across six major islands. The state faces unique healthcare challenges due to its geographic isolation and the dispersed population across islands. Hawaii Pacific Health and The Queen's Health Systems are the largest employers, with facilities on multiple islands.
Hawaii does not require general continuing education hours for RN license renewal. The state requires nurses to complete a one-time training on human trafficking identification. Hawaii's approach reflects the challenges nurses face in accessing traditional CE programs in an island state while ensuring awareness of critical issues.
Common practice settings
Island Hospitals
Each major island has healthcare facilities, with nurses on smaller islands often handling broader scopes of practice.
Military Facilities
Tripler Army Medical Center and other military facilities are major employers of civilian nurses in Hawaii.
Tourism Healthcare
Resort areas see significant numbers of tourist patients requiring emergency and urgent care services.
Renewal tips
01
Complete the one-time human trafficking identification training.
02
Consider online CE options given Hawaii's geographic isolation.
03
Military employers may have additional CE requirements.
04
Maintain specialty certifications with their associated CE needs.
The requirements, by license
Every license type,side by side.
Hours, cycles, mandatory topics, exemptions. Switch between RN, LPN, APRN and the four advanced-practice specialties.
License
RN
Registered nurse.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for RN renewal.
Notes
- Hawaii does not require continuing education for RN renewal.
License
LPN
LPN / LVN.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for LPN renewal.
Notes
- Hawaii does not require continuing education for LPN renewal.
License
APRN
APRN, general.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for APRN renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
NP
Nurse practitioner.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for NP renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
CNS
Clinical nurse specialist.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for CNS renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
CNM
Certified nurse-midwife.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for CNM renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
License
CRNA
Nurse anesthetist.
Contact hours
0
none required
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for CRNA renewal.
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional requirements
In context. Hawaii does not require general CE for RN license renewal. Compared with neighbors, California requires 30 hours, while Alaska requires 30 hours. Hawaii is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses need a separate license to practice here.
Continue.
Verify with the source
Hawaii Board of Nursing.
Verify before relying on this
Nearby states