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State Cert Guide

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Do free nursing CEUs count for license renewal?

If your state asks for CE to renew, a free or online course counts only if it meets your state's rule. The states below do not agree on who may approve a course. Montana asks for no CE to renew. Mississippi asks an RN or LPN for it only after more than 5 years out of practice. Read your regulator's rule before you start a free course.

By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.

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The steps, in order

  1. Find your regulator

    The agency that licenses you

  2. Read its rule

    Hours and who may approve a course

  3. Check the course

    Free or paid, the provider counts

  4. Keep your certificate

    Proof of what you took

Four steps in order: find your state's nursing regulator, read its rule on who may approve a course, check the course against that rule, and keep your certificate.

What the rule says

Can a state board offer free CE itself?

Yes. The Alabama Board of Nursing says its My Profile section gives access to dozens of hours of free, Board-provided CE courses.

www.abn.alabama.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Does a free course count in Alabama?

Alabama's rule asks a licensed nurse for at least 24 contact hours of Board-approved or Board-recognized CE in each earning period. For the first renewal, it asks for 4 hours of Board-provided CE plus 1 hour for each month left in the period, up to 24. So a free course helps only if it is one of those.

admincode.legislature.state.al.us · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Is a free course always CE credit?

No. Montana's Board offers free online modules, but its page says they are currently available for completion certificates only, without ANCC accreditation or contact hours.

boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Does every state ask for CE to renew?

No. The Montana Board of Nursing no longer requires CE contact hours for renewal of a nursing license.

boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Is Montana the only state that skips CE at renewal?

No. Mississippi's Board says its Nursing Practice Law does not mandate CEUs to renew or maintain an RN or LPN license. An RN or LPN out of practice for more than 5 years must complete at least 20 contact hours of accepted CE, earned in the 2 years before applying, to renew.

www.msbn.ms.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Who may offer the courses in Florida?

Florida's RN renewal page says all mandatory courses must be offered by a Florida Board of Nursing approved provider. The 2 hour Human Trafficking course is the exception.

Florida Board of Nursing · Registered nurse renewal · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

How does the District of Columbia decide?

For registered nurses, DC rules grant CE credit only for programs or activities the Board approves. A program must be current and taught by qualified individuals. It must also meet one of two tests. Either a registered nurse, nursing organization or health services organization the Board recognizes administers and approves it. Or a state board of nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education or another national accrediting body the Board recognizes approves it.

dcregs.dc.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

What does Texas accept?

Texas says any offering with CNE contact hours in your area of practice can be used for renewal, as long as a credentialing agency or provider the Board recognizes approved it.

Texas Board of Nursing · Continuing Competency · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Does Massachusetts keep a list of courses?

No. The Board does not have a list of approved CE programs. Choosing a program that meets its regulatory requirements is your responsibility.

www.mass.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Does Georgia approve providers?

Not one by one. The Georgia Board of Nursing says it does not approve individual continuing education providers. To check a course, it points you to its complete list of accepted providers.

Georgia Board of Nursing · Nursing continuing education · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

How do I check an Illinois sponsor?

An Illinois CE sponsor must be pre-approved under Rule 1300.130 or hold a CE sponsor license. The Department says there is no single list of valid CE sponsors.

idfpr.illinois.gov · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)

Check your state's page

Alabama: nursing CE, Florida: nursing CE, Texas: nursing CE, Illinois: nursing CE, Massachusetts: nursing CE, Georgia: nursing CE, Nebraska: nursing CE

Where people go wrong

  • You count a free course because it is free. Montana's free modules, for example, are currently available for completion certificates only.
  • You take a course your state does not accept. Florida's RN renewal page wants mandatory courses from a Board approved provider, and DC grants credit only for programs the Board approves.
  • You look for a state list that does not exist. Illinois says there is no single list of valid CE sponsors, and Massachusetts says it has no list of approved programs.
  • You plan CE for a state that does not ask for it. Mississippi's Board says its law does not mandate CEUs to renew an RN or LPN license, unless you have been out of practice for more than 5 years.

Questions

Can I take all my CE online?

It depends on the state. Nebraska says there is no limit, and you can get all your contact hours from the Internet or other home-study courses. Georgia says CE may be taken through online courses. Florida says all courses can be live or home study.

Who counts as an accrediting body in Nebraska?

Nebraska says nursing CE is offered by an accrediting body or by providers an accrediting body has approved. Its examples include the American Nurses Credentialing Center or a State Board of Nursing, among others.

Can the District of Columbia approve an internet course?

Possibly, on request. A licensee or the sponsor of a program can ask the Board to approve an educational course offered through the internet. The Board may approve it if it meets the requirements of that section.

What does Mississippi ask after a long break from practice?

If you have not practiced nursing in the last 5 years or more, the Board's reinstatement page asks for proof of basic nursing competence first. One of three options works: a Board-approved refresher program finished in the 5 years before you apply, 20 hours of accredited CE in the 2 years before you apply, or at least 3 semester hours of nursing credit in those same 2 years.

Your next step

Look for your state above. Then check any free course against your regulator's rule before you spend an hour on it.

Sources we read

Who publishes this guide

State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we fix it.

How we checkReport a mistake