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State Cert Guide

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How many CE hours does a nurse need to renew in Montana?

None. Montana no longer requires CE hours to renew a nursing license, and the Board no longer audits them. Every nurse must still stay competent.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
No CE contact hours required to renewThe same page says the Board's free contact hours continue, but ANCC CE is on hold for now.
Verified. boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
Licenses expire 12/31, in even or odd yearsThe renewal period opens on 11/2 of the year the license expires.
Verified. boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Competence
Licensees must still maintain competenceThe Board says CE credits can help a licensee meet that duty.
Verified. boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Audits
CE credits are no longer auditedThe Board's FAQ on the change says it took effect immediately.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Confirm your license and expiry date. No CE contact hours are needed to renew, and the renewal period opens on 11/2 of the expiry year.

  2. Step 2. Decide how you will stay competent in your area of practice. CE is one way, and the Board says to keep taking it where it helps.

  3. Step 3. Try the Board's free online modules if you want them. For now they give completion certificates only, without ANCC contact hours.

  4. Step 4. Keep any certificates for your own records. The Board says it no longer audits CE credits.

Before you pay

Check the Board's page before you pay for a course sold as a Montana renewal requirement. The Board says CE credits are no longer required.

Questions

Why did the Board drop the requirement?

The Board says many employers and certifying bodies already double-check such requirements, so it stopped overseeing them.

Did nurses get a say?

Yes. The Board emailed all Montana nurses in late June 2023 and told them how to send comments.

Who do I ask about continuing education?

The Board's page lists (406) 444-5696 and AUDIT@MT.GOV for questions about continuing education.

What to do next

Start with the Montana Board of Nursing page on continuing education. Check it again before you renew.

boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov

Sources we read