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State Cert Guide

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What continuing education does a nurse need to renew a license in Maryland?

To renew an active license, a Maryland RN or LPN shows 1,000 practice hours or a nursing degree from the last 5 years, or 30 CEUs earned in the 2 years before applying. Practice hours are an alternative route, not CE. CEUs must come from a listed body and cannot be carried forward.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
1,000 practice hours or a degree within 5 years, or 30 CEUs within 2 yearsThe degree route needs a diploma or degree from a Board-approved nursing education program.
Verified. regs.maryland.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Agency
CEUs must come from a listed body, such as ANCC or MNAThe list also includes the Area Health Education Centers and the National League for Nursing, among others.
Same source and date as above
Timing
CEUs must be earned in the 2 years before you applyThe count runs back from the date you apply.
Same source and date as above
Audits
CEUs are subject to random audits; keep proof 6 yearsThe applicant must also make sure a listed body approved the course.
Same source and date as above
College coursework
A college course earns 15 CEUs per semester hour with a C or higherThe course must relate to the applicant's nursing practice.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Find your renewal year. Maryland renews licenses biennially. A nurse born in an odd-numbered year always renews in an odd-numbered year, and one born in an even-numbered year renews in an even-numbered year, no later than the 28th day of the birth month.

  2. Step 2. Choose the route that fits you. The rule lists the three as alternatives, so practice hours or a recent degree can stand in for CEUs. A nurse who meets none of them must finish a Board-approved refresher or preceptorship program before renewing.

  3. Step 3. Take CEUs from a listed body. Among them are the Area Health Education Centers, the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Maryland Nurses Association, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the National League for Nursing.

  4. Step 4. Earn the CEUs in the 2 years before you apply, since they cannot carry into the next renewal period. A college course relevant to your nursing practice earns 15 CEUs per semester hour if you receive a C or higher.

  5. Step 5. Keep proof of every CEU you submit for 6 years after the license is renewed. If the Board or its designee audits you, produce it within 30 days of the request.

Before you pay

Before you pay for a course, check that one of the listed bodies awards or approves its CEUs. We haven't confirmed course prices or which providers hold that status.

Questions

Does renewal include a criminal background check?

For some renewal applicants, yes. The Board schedules criminal history record checks by birth month. In 2026 the schedule covers September or October birth months, and in 2027 it covers October or November birth months.

What if no renewal notice arrives?

The Board sends the notice at least 3 months before a license expires, by first-class mail or electronically to the last known address. Telling the Board that none arrived is the licensee's job. The Board cannot guarantee that a renewal application received later than 30 days before expiry will be processed before the expiration date.

Can a nurse who only volunteers get a volunteer license?

Yes, if the nurse meets the licensure renewal rules. The nurse also certifies to the Board that professional services are provided only as a volunteer. Then the nurse completes the required application and pays the required fee.

What to do next

Start with the Maryland rule on renewal of a nursing license. Read it again before your renewal month.

regs.maryland.gov

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