If you’re looking to renew your North Carolina nursing license, here’s a quick summary of what you need. Click below to download your North Carolina nursing CE checklist.
Download your North Carolina Nursing CE Checklist here
Explore North Carolina nursing CE courses
What do I need to renew my LPN license in North Carolina?
One of the following is required as a prerequisite to license renewal for North Carolina LPNs:
- 15 contact hours of continued education and 640 hours of active practice within previous 2 years
- National certification or re-certification by a national credentialing body recognized by the Board
- 30 contact hours of continued education
- Completion of a Board-approved refresher course
- Completion of a minimum of two (2) semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice
- 15 contact hours of continued education and completion of a nursing project as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator to include statement of problem, project objectives, methods, date of completion and summary of findings
- 15 contact hours of continued education and authoring or co-authoring a nursing-related article, paper, book or book chapter
- 15 contact hours of continued education and developing and conducting a nursing continuing education presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours, including:
- Program brochure or course syllabi
- Objectives, date and location of presentation
- Approximate number of attendees
What do I need to renew my RN license in North Carolina?
One of the following is required as a prerequisite to license renewal for North Carolina RNs:
- 15 contact hours of continued education and 640 hours of active practice within previous 2 years
- National certification or re-certification by a national credentialing body recognized by the Board
- 30 contact hours of continued education
- Completion of a Board-approved refresher course
- Completion of a minimum of two (2) semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice
- 15 contact hours of continued education and completion of a nursing project as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator to include statement of problem, project objectives, methods, date of completion and summary of findings
- 15 contact hours of continued education and authoring or co-authoring a nursing-related article, paper, book or book chapter
- 15 contact hours of continued education and developing and conducting a nursing continuing education presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours, including:
- Program brochure or course syllabi
- Objectives, date and location of presentation
- Approximate number of attendees
What do I need to renew my APRN license in North Carolina?
APRNs in North Carolina must complete fifty (50) hours of approved CE every two years. This includes 21 mandatory hours and 29 elective hours.
Mandatory subjects:
- Advanced practice nursing population focus of the NP role (20 hours)
Additional requirements for prescribers:
- Safe Prescribing Practices (1 contact hour every annual renewal period)
Holding a current national certification by a national credentialing body complies with the CE requirement.
NEW! DEA MATE Act requirements for North Carolina APRNs
Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required to complete 8 hours of one-time training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.
Important Note: This license renewal information is provided as a convenience only and is subject to change at any time. It’s ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to be sure that he or she is meeting all requirements for each license and corresponding renewal period.
Colibri Healthcare, LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Nursing boards in all states requiring continuing education (CE) accept courses offered by ANCC accredited providers.
