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State Cert Guide

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What continuing education does a nurse need to renew in Washington, DC?

After its first renewal, a Washington, DC registered nurse (RN) license needs 24 hours of CE earned in the two years before it expires. A licensed practical nurse (LPN) license needs 18 contact hours earned in the two years before you apply, though the Board's LPN sheet says first renewals are exempt. The Board gives credit only for programs it has approved.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
Twenty-four hours of CE in the two years before the license expiresFor an RN, two of the hours are in LGBTQ cultural competency or clinical training, and ten percent are in public health priorities the Director sets.
Verified. dcregs.dc.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
LPN hours
Eighteen contact hours of CE in the licensee's current area of practiceOnly hours earned in the two years before the application date are accepted.
Verified. dcregs.dc.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
RN first renewal
No CE for the first renewal after a license is first grantedA reinstatement or reactivation does not count as an initial grant of the license.
Same source and date as above
Credit unit
Fifty minutes of an approved program equal one CE creditA semester hour of an approved college course counts as fifteen hours.
Verified. dcregs.dc.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check whether this is your first renewal. An RN renewing for the first time after the license was first granted needs no CE. The Board's 2023 LPN sheet says first-time renewals are exempt from CE.

  2. Step 2. Pick a program the Board has approved, because credit goes only to approved programs. For LPNs the Board keeps a list of approved sponsors, open to the public during regular business hours.

  3. Step 3. Complete 24 hours as an RN, or 18 contact hours as an LPN. The Board's LPN sheet says the law requires 2 hours in LGBTQ or cultural awareness, and topics from DC Health's public health list. For an RN, fifty minutes of an approved program count as one credit.

  4. Step 4. Get a Certificate of Participation after each activity and keep it for renewal or audits.

Before you pay

We haven’t confirmed course prices or the date your license expires. Before you enroll, check that the Board approved the program. The rule leaves that check to you.

Questions

Which sponsors does the Board of Nursing recognize?

The Board recognizes credits that a registered nurse group or a health services group it recognizes has administered and approved. It also recognizes credits from a health care facility, institution, organization, college, school or university that the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation has accredited. The American Nurses Credentialing Center and AMA-certified CME count too.

Can I take nursing CE online in DC?

It can count. For RNs and LPNs, the Board may approve an educational course offered through the internet when a licensee or the program’s sponsor asks. The course still has to meet the rule’s requirements.

What if an LPN is short on CE when the license expires?

An LPN who has not filed proof by the day the license expires may renew within 60 days after it by submitting proof and paying the late fee. After 60 days the license is considered lapsed as of the day it expired, and the nurse must apply for reinstatement. The Board may extend the 60 days for good cause, such as serious and protracted illness.

What counts as a public health priority?

A DC Health public notice lists five domains: sexual and reproductive health, chronic disease management, One Health, healthcare professional retention and capacity building, and community and patient safety. Its examples are not meant to be exhaustive.

What happens if the Board audits my CE?

The RN rule lets the Board audit licensees from time to time. If you are picked, you have 30 days from the notice to submit proof that you completed the CE.

What to do next

Start with the DC Health page for nurses. Read it again before you renew.

dchealth.dc.gov

Sources we read