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State Cert Guide

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

Ohio RNs and LPNs need 24 contact hours of CE each licensure period, with exceptions. Your first renewal after the NCLEX in Ohio needs none. If you were licensed by reciprocity for a year or less, you need 12. A Category A hour on Ohio law and rules is part of the count.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
RNs: 24 contact hours of CE related to nursing practice each licensure periodAn RN who took the NCLEX in Ohio has no CE to complete at the first renewal.
Verified. elicense.ohio.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Course hours
A nurse licensed by reciprocity for one year or less needs 12 contact hours of CECheck how long you have held your Ohio license by reciprocity.
Same source and date as above
Who needs it
LPNs: 24 contact hours of CE related to nursing practice each licensure periodAn LPN who took the NCLEX in Ohio has no CE to complete at the first renewal.
Verified. elicense.ohio.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Agency
Ohio Board of NursingThe renewal instructions open on the Board’s online renewal site.
Same source and date as above
Category A hour
One contact hour of Category A, directly related to Ohio law and rulesYour CE hours must include it.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check which count applies to you. RNs and LPNs each complete 24 contact hours of CE related to nursing practice. If you were licensed by reciprocity a year ago or less, the count is 12. A first renewal after the NCLEX in Ohio needs none.

  2. Step 2. Pick your Category A course first. The Board lists approved online courses on Ohio law and rules. The rest of your hours need to be CE related to nursing practice.

  3. Step 3. Finish your hours by October 31 of your renewal year. For an RN, that is October 31 of the current odd-numbered year. An LPN counts CE from the date the most recent license was issued through October 31 of the renewal year.

  4. Step 4. Keep your certificates. Ohio law says you must keep your CE documentation for six years. Do not send it to the Board.

Before you pay

We haven’t confirmed a course price. Before you pay, check the approver and the expiration date next to the course on the Board’s list of Category A courses.

Questions

Can any national course count as my Category A hour?

Not every one. Among those who can approve or offer it, the renewal instructions name an OBN Approver and an OBN approved provider unit headquartered in Ohio. The Board’s Category A page also names accredited providers. Confirm with the Board that your course counts before you pay.

Is there a fee besides the renewal fee?

Yes. Besides the application fee, the State of Ohio charges an eLicense System Transaction Fee of $3.50.

When is the Ohio RN renewal deadline?

The RN instructions give September 15 as the first deadline, with no late fee if you renew on or before it. You can still renew until October 31, with a late processing fee between September 16 and October 31. A license lapses on November 1 if you miss the October 31 deadline.

What to do next

Start with the Ohio Board of Nursing list of approved online Category A courses. Check each course’s expiration date there before you pay.

nursing.ohio.gov

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