State of Missouri
Missouri.
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
¶ Missouri does not require general continuing education hours for RN license renewal, one of the few states without mandatory CE for registered nurses.
Nursing in Missouri.
Missouri has approximately 105,000 licensed registered nurses serving a population of 6.2 million. The state has major health systems in both Kansas City and St. Louis, including BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, and Saint Luke's Health System. Missouri faces nursing shortages in rural areas, particularly in the Ozarks and northern Missouri.
Missouri does not require general continuing education hours for RN license renewal. The state relies on initial education standards and employer-based competency. This approach gives Missouri nurses flexibility to pursue education relevant to their specific practice areas.
Common practice settings
St. Louis Academic Centers
Washington University and SLU hospitals offer nurses access to academic medicine and specialty practice.
Kansas City Health Systems
Multiple health systems in the KC metro provide diverse nursing opportunities.
Rural Ozarks
Rural southern Missouri communities face healthcare access challenges and nursing shortages.
Renewal tips
01
Although CE is not state-mandated, employers typically require ongoing education.
02
Maintain specialty certifications and their CE requirements.
03
Missouri nurses should document education for professional portfolios.
04
Consider opioid-related CE given Missouri's substance use challenges.
The Nurse Licensure Compact in Missouri
Missouri is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. Nurses in Kansas City can practice across the state line in Kansas, and those near other borders can work in Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, or Kansas.
Read the compact license guide→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
- Missouri 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
- Missouri 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. Missouri does not require general CE for RN license renewal. Compared with neighbors, Iowa requires 36 hours, while Illinois requires 20 hours. As a Nurse Licensure Compact state, Missouri allows nurses to practice across state lines with a multistate license.
Continue.
Verify with the source
Missouri State Board of Nursing.
Verify before relying on this