Missouri
Compact StateNursing Continuing Education Requirements
Missouri Nursing CEU Overview
Missouri does not require general continuing education hours for RN license renewal. This makes it one of the few states without mandatory CE requirements for registered nurses.
Missouri has minimal continuing education requirements, giving nurses flexibility in their professional development.
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 in Missouri
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.
Missouri License Renewal Tips
Although CE is not state-mandated, employers typically require ongoing education.
Maintain specialty certifications and their CE requirements.
Missouri nurses should document education for professional portfolios.
Consider opioid-related CE given Missouri's substance use challenges.
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.
Learn more about the Nurse Licensure Compact →Basic License Types
Registered Nurse (RN)
Contact Hours
0
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Online Allowed
Yes
First Renewal
Required
Notes
- Missouri does not require continuing education for RN renewal.
LPN/LVN
Contact Hours
0
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Online Allowed
Yes
First Renewal
Required
Notes
- Missouri does not require continuing education for LPN renewal.
APRN (General)
Contact Hours
0
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Online Allowed
Yes
First Renewal
Required
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional Requirements
Must maintain current national certification
Advanced Practice Specialties
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Contact Hours
0
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Online Allowed
Yes
First Renewal
Required
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional Requirements
Must maintain current ANCC or AANP certification
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Contact Hours
0
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Online Allowed
Yes
First Renewal
Required
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional Requirements
Must maintain current ANCC certification in specialty area
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
Contact Hours
0
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Online Allowed
Yes
First Renewal
Required
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional Requirements
Must maintain current AMCB certification
Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Contact Hours
0
Renewal Cycle
2 years
Online Allowed
Yes
First Renewal
Required
Notes
- Must maintain national certification which requires CE.
Additional Requirements
Must maintain current NBCRNA certification
Missouri does not require general CE for RN license renewal. Compared to neighboring states, 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.
Related Resources
Track Your CEUs
Log your completed courses and monitor progress toward Missouri requirements.
Start Tracking →Compare State Requirements
See how Missouri compares to other states' nursing CE requirements.
Compare States →Missouri State Board of Nursing
Important Disclaimer
Requirements can change. Always verify current requirements directly with the Missouri Board of Nursing before making decisions about your continuing education.