State of North Carolina
North Carolina.
Updated 2026
Contact hours
For RN renewal, every 2 years
15
Mandatory topics
For RN renewal, topics
0
Online CE
For RN renewal, fully accepted
Yes
¶ North Carolina requires registered nurses to complete 15 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years to maintain an active license. CE requirements apply to all renewal periods, including the first renewal after initial licensure.
Nursing in North Carolina.
North Carolina has approximately 145,000 licensed registered nurses serving a population of 10.7 million. The Research Triangle area is home to Duke University Hospital, UNC Hospitals, and WakeMed, while Charlotte has Atrium Health and Novant Health. North Carolina's rapidly growing population creates ongoing demand for nursing professionals.
North Carolina does not require general continuing education hours for RN license renewal. The state relies on initial education standards and employer-based competency requirements. Specialty certifications and advanced practice designations have their own CE requirements.
Common practice settings
Research Triangle
Duke and UNC hospitals offer nurses access to academic medicine and pharmaceutical research.
Charlotte Health Systems
Atrium Health and Novant Health operate numerous facilities in the growing Charlotte metro.
Rural Eastern NC
Eastern North Carolina faces nursing shortages and health disparities.
Renewal tips
01
Although CE is not state-mandated, employers typically require ongoing education.
02
Maintain specialty certifications and their CE requirements.
03
Document continuing education for your professional portfolio.
04
Consider rural health topics if practicing in underserved areas.
The Nurse Licensure Compact in North Carolina
North Carolina is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. This benefits the many travel nurses who work in the state and those in border communities near Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, or Georgia.
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
15
every 2 years
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for RN renewal.
Notes
- NC requires continuing competence - must complete self-assessment, learning plan, and ONE of these options:.
- Option 1 (most common): 15 contact hours CE + 640 hours active practice (within past 2 years).
- Option 2: 30 contact hours of CE.
- Option 3: National certification or recertification.
- Option 4: 2 semester hours post-licensure academic education.
- Failure to comply results in inactive license status.
License
LPN
LPN / LVN.
Contact hours
15
every 2 years
Renewal cycle
2
years
Online CE
Yes
fully accepted
First renewal
Required
Mandatory topics
No mandatory topics for LPN renewal.
Notes
- NC requires continuing competence - must complete self-assessment, learning plan, and ONE of these options:.
- Option 1 (most common): 15 contact hours CE + 640 hours active practice (within past 2 years).
- Option 2: 30 contact hours of CE.
- Option 3: National certification or recertification.
- Option 4: 2 semester hours post-licensure academic education.
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. North Carolina requires 15 contact hours every 2 years for RN license renewal. Compared with neighbors, Virginia has no general CE requirement, while Tennessee has no general CE requirement. As a Nurse Licensure Compact state, North Carolina allows nurses to practice across state lines with a multistate license.
Continue.
Track your CEUs
Log courses, monitor progress toward North Carolina requirements.
Open tracker →
Compare states
See how North Carolina stacks up.
Compare →
Compact license guide
What the NLC means for North Carolina nurses.
Read guide →
Audit preparation
Be ready if North Carolina audits your CE compliance.
Read guide →
Verify with the source
North Carolina Board of Nursing.
Verify before relying on this