California license renewal and CE requirements
Renewal cycle, continuing education hours, and mandated topics for each healthcare license type in California, read from the state board and dated. 14 of 27 license types are verified so far.
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Requirements by license type
Units differ by profession: contact hours, CME credits, and CEUs are not interchangeable.
| License | Renewal | CE per cycle | Mandated topics | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Two-year | 30 contact hours | None listed | September 7, 2026 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Two-year | 30 contact hours | Gerontology, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients; Implicit bias course; Schedule II controlled substances and the risks of addiction associated with their use | September 8, 2026 |
| Physician (MD) | Two-year | 50 CME credits | Pain management and treatment of terminally ill and dying patients; Geriatric medicine or dementia care | September 7, 2026 |
| Physician Assistant | Two-year | 50 CME credits | Controlled substance education course | September 8, 2026 |
| Registered Nurse | Two-year | 30 contact hours | Implicit bias course (AB 1407) | September 7, 2026 |
| Certified Nurse-Midwife | Two-year | 30 contact hours | Implicit bias course; Continuing education specific to the use of Schedule II controlled substances in settings other than a hospital; Advanced pharmacology course covering the drugs and devices to be furnished, including the risks of addiction and neonatal abstinence syndrome associated with the use of opioids | September 10, 2026 |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | Two-year | 30 contact hours | Implicit bias course | September 8, 2026 |
| Occupational Therapist | Two-year | 24 contact hours | None listed | September 9, 2026 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Two-year | 24 contact hours | None listed | September 9, 2026 |
| Pharmacist | Two-year | 30 contact hours | Cultural competency and humility course; Board provided law webinar; Board provided ethics webinar; Advanced pharmacist practitioner continuing education | September 10, 2026 |
| Physical Therapist | Two-year | 30 contact hours | Ethics, laws and regulations; Life support for health care professionals (Basic Life Support) | September 7, 2026 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | Two-year | 30 contact hours | Ethics, laws and regulations; Life support for health care professionals (Basic Life Support) | September 8, 2026 |
| Dental Hygienist | Two-year | 25 contact hours | Dental Board of California approved California Dental Practice Act course; Dental Board of California approved Infection Control course; Basic Life Support (BLS) | September 8, 2026 |
| Dentist | Two-year | 50 contact hours | Board-approved Infection Control course; Board-approved course on the California Dental Practice Act; Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs; Basic Life Support (BLS) | September 8, 2026 |
Coming soon for California
These license types are coming soon. We publish a combination only after reading the board's own rule, so nothing is estimated here.
- Osteopathic Physician (DO)
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Psychologist
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Radiologic Technologist
- Registered Dietitian
- Optometrist
- Chiropractor
- Podiatrist
- Paramedic
Read from state board pages, statutes, and administrative rules. Requirements change through legislative sessions, so confirm with the board before relying on them. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.