Alabama Registered Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
Alabama registered nurses must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Alabama Board of Nursing.
Alabama single-state RN licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years; multistate RN licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years (Rule 610-X-4-.08(1)). The renewal period runs from 8:00 a.m. September 1 to 4:30 p.m. December 31 of the year the license expires, and an unrenewed license lapses at that point.
Summary
Alabama registered nurses must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Alabama Board of Nursing. Alabama single-state RN licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years; multistate RN licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years (Rule 610-X-4-.08(1)). The renewal period runs from 8:00 a.m. September 1 to 4:30 p.m. December 31 of the year the license expires, and an unrenewed license lapses at that point. Alabama also mandates specific subjects. Board-provided continuing education on the statutory and administrative frameworks for nursing regulation, scope of practice, and standards of practice (the Mandatory course): 4 contact hours at the first renewal only (newly licensed nurses (by examination or endorsement) before their first renewal). Hours do not carry over between cycles.
Alabama Registered Nurse renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Same date for every licensee, 12/31 each cycleFirst renewal is prorated. |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 24 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | No |
| Other accepted activities | Academic credit applicable to nursing (15 contact hours per semester credit, 10 per quarter credit); Development and oral presentation of a paper on nursing theory or practice, if approved by a Board-approved provider; Authoring or contributing to an article, book, or publication, or designing or conducting a research study, if approved by a Board-approved provider; Serving as an appointed facility preceptor for students or new-hire orientation (recognized for 8 contact hours); Standardized national courses (BLS 1.75, ACLS 8, PALS 8, TNCC 12, NRP 11 contact hours maximum) |
Rule 610-X-4-.08(3)(c)3(ii): a licensed nurse shall earn in each earning period not less than 24 contact hours of Board-approved or Board-recognized continuing education as a condition for renewal. The board FAQ states the same 24 contact hours for both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. First renewal is prorated: four contact hours of the Board-provided mandatory course plus one contact hour for each calendar month remaining in the earning period, up to a maximum of 24 including the four (610-X-4-.08(3)(c)3(i)). One contact hour is 50 minutes; 15 contact hours equal one semester credit; contact hours cannot be carried over (board FAQ). Classes may not be repeated for credit within an earning period. Failure to meet the CE requirement is cause for the license to lapse.
Required CE topics for Alabama registered nurses
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board-provided continuing education on the statutory and administrative frameworks for nursing regulation, scope of practice, and standards of practice (the Mandatory course)Counts toward the prorated first-renewal total. Any licensed nurse may view the course and receive credit once per renewal period. | 4 contact hours | First renewal only | Newly licensed nurses (by examination or endorsement) before their first renewal | Ala. Admin. Code 610-X-4-.08(3)(c)3(i); 610-X-10-.02(6) |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | Yes |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 4 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Board-approved provider with an ABNP number, or a Board-recognized provider (another state board of nursing, ANCC- or IACET-accredited providers, national nursing organizations, ACCME or MASA-accredited AMA PRA Category 1, state nurses associations, accredited colleges and universities, Alabama regulatory boards) |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Alabama RN need to renew?
- Alabama registered nurses must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Alabama Board of Nursing. Rule 610-X-4-.08(3)(c)3(ii): a licensed nurse shall earn in each earning period not less than 24 contact hours of Board-approved or Board-recognized continuing education as a condition for renewal. The board FAQ states the same 24 contact hours for both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. First renewal is prorated: four contact hours of the Board-provided mandatory course plus one contact hour for each calendar month remaining in the earning period, up to a maximum of 24 including the four (610-X-4-.08(3)(c)3(i)). One contact hour is 50 minutes; 15 contact hours equal one semester credit; contact hours cannot be carried over (board FAQ). Classes may not be repeated for credit within an earning period. Failure to meet the CE requirement is cause for the license to lapse.
- How often does a Alabama RN license need to be renewed?
- Registered Nurse licenses in Alabama renew every two years. Alabama single-state RN licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years; multistate RN licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years (Rule 610-X-4-.08(1)). The renewal period runs from 8:00 a.m. September 1 to 4:30 p.m. December 31 of the year the license expires, and an unrenewed license lapses at that point.
- What specific CE topics are required for Alabama registered nurses?
- Board-provided continuing education on the statutory and administrative frameworks for nursing regulation, scope of practice, and standards of practice (the Mandatory course): 4 contact hours at the first renewal only (newly licensed nurses (by examination or endorsement) before their first renewal). Citations: Board-provided continuing education on the statutory and administrative frameworks for nursing regulation, scope of practice, and standards of practice (the Mandatory course) (Ala. Admin. Code 610-X-4-.08(3)(c)3(i); 610-X-10-.02(6)).
- Do Alabama registered nurses have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Proof of completion must be submitted with the renewal, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 4 years. Board-approved provider with an ABNP number, or a Board-recognized provider (another state board of nursing, ANCC- or IACET-accredited providers, national nursing organizations, ACCME or MASA-accredited AMA PRA Category 1, state nurses associations, accredited colleges and universities, Alabama regulatory boards)
- Is the first Alabama RN renewal exempt from CE?
- No. Alabama applies the continuing education requirement to the first renewal as well.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Renewal, Alabama Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Ala. Admin. Code Chapter 610-X-4 Licensure (Rule 610-X-4-.08 Renewal of License)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Ala. Admin. Code Chapter 610-X-10 Continuing Education for LicensureStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Continuing Education FAQs, Alabama Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- CE Proration Chart, Alabama Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
Hours and cycle confirmed against Rule 610-X-4-.08 and the board renewal and FAQ pages. Rule 610-X-10-.07(1)(c) and (d) require documented evidence of CE at renewal and electronic upload of credit from Board-recognized providers without an ABNP number, so proof_at_renewal is true; ABNP providers report hours electronically. Audit notices are mailed 30 days before renewal opens (610-X-10-.07(2)). The board pages read do not state a live or online hour limit. No em dashes used. The single-state and multistate RN licenses are on opposite two-year cycles; the fixed deadline is December 31 in either case.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Alabama Board of Nursing before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.