State-by-State RN Licensing Requirements: A Comprehensive Overview

Registered nurse (RN) licensing requirements vary across the United States. Each state establishes its own rules for RN licensure, renewal, continuing education, competency, background checks, examinations, and endorsement.

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) can make interstate practice easier for eligible nurses, but it does not eliminate state-specific licensing or practice requirements.

This 2026 guide provides a practical overview of what RNs should check when applying for, renewing, or transferring a license in each of the 50 states. Requirements can change, so always confirm current rules with the official nursing regulatory authority before applying for or renewing a license.

What Are the RN Licensing Requirements by State?

While requirements differ by state, RNs may need to meet several common licensing and renewal requirements.

Before applying for an RN license, endorsement, or renewal, check:

• Licensure by endorsement: Requirements for nurses who already hold an RN license in another state
• License renewal: Renewal frequency, deadlines, and fees
• Continuing education: Required contact hours or approved competency alternatives
• State-specific education: Mandatory training required by state law
• Background checks: Fingerprinting or criminal-history checks, when applicable
• Examinations: NCLEX requirements for initial licensure and any state-specific examinations
• Practice requirements: Practice-hour or employment requirements used for competency or renewal
• Temporary licenses: Whether temporary authorization is available during endorsement

Because state requirements can change through legislation, regulations, and Board decisions, the official state nursing regulatory authority should always be treated as the final source.

Nurse Licensure Compact in Brief

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows eligible RNs and LPNs/LVNs to practice in participating jurisdictions with a multistate license. The NLC does not replace state nursing laws or eliminate state-specific renewal and practice requirements.

NLC participation and implementation can change, so nurses should confirm current Compact status before relying on multistate practice privileges.

This guide covers all 50 U.S. states. NLC status is described separately because the Compact also applies to certain U.S. jurisdictions.

State-by-State RN Licensing Requirements

Alabama

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Continuing-education requirements, endorsement requirements, license verification, and background-check requirements.

Official authority: Alabama Board of Nursing

Alaska

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Alaska uses continuing-competency requirements that can be satisfied through approved pathways, including continuing education, qualifying professional activity, or nursing employment.

Official authority: Alaska Board of Nursing

Arizona

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Every four years | What to check: Arizona uses continuing-competency pathways rather than a single fixed CE-hour requirement. Approved practice, education, refresher-course, and degree pathways may apply.

Official authority: Arizona State Board of Nursing

Arkansas

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Arkansas's current renewal, continuing-education, competency, endorsement, and background-check requirements.

Official authority: Arkansas State Board of Nursing

California

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: California requires continuing education for RN renewal, along with applicable mandatory education and state-specific renewal requirements.

Official authority: California Board of Registered Nursing

Colorado

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Colorado does not have a general fixed CE-hour requirement for RN renewal. Review applicable licensing, competency, reinstatement, or reactivation requirements.

Official authority: Colorado Board of Nursing

Connecticut

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Annual | What to check: Actively practicing RNs are subject to Connecticut's specified behavioral-health and suicide-prevention education requirement.

Official authority: Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing

Delaware

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Delaware's current continuing-education, endorsement, renewal, and background-check requirements.

Official authority: Delaware Board of Nursing

Florida

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Florida requires continuing education for renewal, including mandatory topic-specific education.

Official authority: Florida Board of Nursing

Georgia

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Georgia uses a continuing-competency framework. Approved pathways can include continuing education, national certification, academic education, or qualifying nursing practice.

Official authority: Georgia Board of Nursing

Hawaii

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Hawaii uses continuing-competency requirements for RN renewal. Review approved activities and applicable exemptions.

Official authority: Hawaii Board of Nursing

Idaho

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Idaho uses continuing-competency requirements. Review the Board's current approved pathways and renewal requirements.

Official authority: Idaho Board of Nursing

Illinois

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Illinois continuing-education requirements and state-specific mandatory education before renewal.

Official authority: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Indiana

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Indiana does not have a general CEU requirement for RN license renewal. Review all applicable renewal requirements with the Indiana licensing authority.

Official authority: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Nursing

Iowa

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Every three years | What to check: Review Iowa's continuing-education requirements and renewal conditions for the applicable licensing cycle.

Official authority: Iowa Board of Nursing

Kansas

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Kansas continuing-nursing-education requirements and applicable renewal conditions.

Official authority: Kansas State Board of Nursing

Kentucky

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Annual | What to check: Kentucky uses continuing-competency requirements, including approved continuing-education pathways.

Official authority: Kentucky Board of Nursing

Louisiana

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Louisiana uses continuing-competency requirements with approved education and practice pathways. Review the current renewal options with the Board.

Official authority: Louisiana State Board of Nursing

Maine

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Maine's current RN renewal, continuing-education, endorsement, and competency requirements.

Official authority: Maine State Board of Nursing

Maryland

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Maryland's continuing-education and state-specific competency requirements before renewal.

Official authority: Maryland Board of Nursing

Massachusetts

NLC: Enacted but not operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Massachusetts has enacted the NLC but has not completed implementation. Nurses should follow Massachusetts licensing requirements rather than relying on NLC multistate privileges.

Official authority: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Michigan

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Michigan's continuing-education, renewal, and state-specific education requirements.

Official authority: Michigan Board of Nursing

Minnesota

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Two-year registration cycle | What to check: RNs generally must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education during a typical 24-month registration period.

Official authority: Minnesota Board of Nursing

Mississippi

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Mississippi does not have a general CE requirement for active RN renewal. Nurses who have been out of practice for more than five years may have additional education requirements.

Official authority: Mississippi Board of Nursing

Missouri

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Missouri does not have a general state-mandated CE-hour requirement for RN renewal. Review current renewal requirements with the Board.

Official authority: Missouri Board of Nursing

Montana

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Montana does not have a general CE contact-hour requirement for RN renewal, although nurses remain responsible for maintaining professional competence.

Official authority: Montana Board of Nursing

Nebraska

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Nebraska uses continuing-competency requirements that include approved education and practice pathways. Review the current requirements for the applicable renewal period.

Official authority: Nebraska Board of Nursing

Nevada

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Nevada's continuing-education and mandatory education requirements before renewal.

Official authority: Nevada State Board of Nursing

New Hampshire

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review New Hampshire's current continuing-education and renewal requirements.

Official authority: New Hampshire Board of Nursing

New Jersey

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review New Jersey's continuing-education and state-specific mandatory education requirements.

Official authority: New Jersey Board of Nursing

New Mexico

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review New Mexico's continuing-education, renewal, and endorsement requirements.

Official authority: New Mexico Board of Nursing

New York

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Every three years | What to check: New York does not have a general fixed CE-hour requirement for RN renewal, but specific mandated education requirements apply, including infection-control and child-abuse-identification training.

Official authority: New York State Education Department, Nursing

North Carolina

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: North Carolina uses a continuing-competency framework with multiple approved pathways that can include continuing education and nursing practice.

Official authority: North Carolina Board of Nursing

North Dakota

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: RNs must meet the state's continuing-education and practice requirements for renewal.

Official authority: North Dakota Board of Nursing

Ohio

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Ohio's continuing-education and renewal requirements, including any applicable mandatory education.

Official authority: Ohio Board of Nursing

Oklahoma

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Oklahoma's continuing-education and renewal requirements.

Official authority: Oklahoma Board of Nursing

Oregon

NLC: Non-compact | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Oregon's RN competency framework changed on January 1, 2026. Practice hours are no longer required to demonstrate competency. Specified pain-management and cultural-competency education requirements apply, while the 20-hour general CE requirement begins January 1, 2028.

Official authority: Oregon State Board of Nursing

Pennsylvania

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Pennsylvania became fully operational under the NLC on July 7, 2025. Review current renewal and mandatory education requirements, including applicable 2026 requirements.

Official authority: Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing

Rhode Island

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Rhode Island's continuing-education and renewal requirements.

Official authority: Rhode Island Board of Nursing

South Carolina

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review South Carolina's continuing-education and renewal requirements.

Official authority: South Carolina Board of Nursing

South Dakota

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: South Dakota does not require a fixed number of CE hours for RN renewal. Nurses must meet applicable practice and competency requirements.

Official authority: South Dakota Board of Nursing

Tennessee

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Tennessee uses a continuing-competence framework requiring two qualifying activities during each renewal period. Approved activities can include continuing education, certification, practice-related activities, and other Board-recognized options.

Official authority: Tennessee Board of Nursing

Texas

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Texas continuing-competency requirements can include 20 contact hours of continuing nursing education or an approved national nursing certification. State-specific requirements may also apply.

Official authority: Texas Board of Nursing

Utah

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Utah's continuing-education or approved competency requirements for the applicable renewal period.

Official authority: Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Nursing

Vermont

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Review Vermont's continuing-education and competency requirements before renewal.

Official authority: Vermont Board of Nursing

Virginia

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Virginia uses multiple continuing-competency pathways. Nurses should review the Board's approved options rather than assuming one CE requirement applies to every RN.

Official authority: Virginia Board of Nursing

Washington

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Annual | What to check: Active RNs must meet Washington's annual practice-hour and continuing-education requirements.

Official authority: Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission

West Virginia

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Renewing RNs must meet the applicable continuing-education requirements for the renewal cycle.

Official authority: West Virginia RN Board

Wisconsin

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Wisconsin does not have a general CE-hour requirement for RN renewal, although nurses must meet applicable renewal and professional requirements.

Official authority: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Nursing

Wyoming

NLC: Operational | Renewal: Biennial | What to check: Wyoming does not require a fixed number of CE hours. Continuing competency can be demonstrated through approved pathways such as nursing practice, continuing education, NCLEX, a refresher course, or qualifying nursing education.

Official authority: Wyoming State Board of Nursing

How to Verify Your State's RN Licensing Requirements

Before applying for an RN license, endorsement, renewal, or reinstatement, use the official nursing regulatory authority for the state where you intend to practice.

Pay particular attention to:

• Current RN application and endorsement requirements
• License renewal frequency and deadlines
• Continuing education or competency requirements
• State-specific mandatory education
• Practice-hour requirements
• Fingerprinting and background checks
• Jurisprudence or other state-specific examinations
• Temporary licensing options
• Current fees
• NLC eligibility, if applicable

Requirements can change because of legislation, regulations, Board decisions, or administrative updates. The official state nursing regulatory authority should be treated as the final source for requirements applicable to an individual nurse.

Frequently Asked Questions About RN Licensing by State

Do RN licensing requirements vary by state?

Yes. Each state establishes its own requirements for RN licensure, endorsement, renewal, continuing education, competency, and other licensing matters.

Can an RN practice in multiple states with one license?

Eligible nurses who hold an NLC multistate license may practice in other operational NLC jurisdictions without obtaining a separate license in each jurisdiction. Nurses practicing in non-NLC states generally need that state's license.

Do all states require RN continuing education?

No. Some states have specific CE requirements, while others use continuing-competency systems or do not have a general CE-hour requirement for RN renewal.

How do I verify my state's RN license requirements?

Check the official Board of Nursing or nursing regulatory authority for the state where you plan to practice. It is the most reliable source for current application, renewal, education, competency, and licensing requirements.

Final Takeaway

RN licensing requirements differ from state to state. Understanding the renewal cycle, continuing-education or competency rules, endorsement requirements, state-specific education, and NLC status can help nurses avoid licensing delays and maintain compliance.

Use this guide as a starting point to identify what you need to check, then confirm the current requirements with the official nursing regulatory authority before applying for a license, renewing an existing license, or accepting a nursing assignment.