Georgia Registered Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
Georgia registered nurses must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Georgia Board of Nursing.
RN licenses expire on January 31 every two years (Rule 410-5-.01 says January 31 of even or odd years according to the Joint Secretary, Professional Licensing Boards rules). Submit the renewal application and fee on or before the posted deadline. A late renewal may be filed during February; the license lapses after the last day of February and may be reinstated at the Board's discretion. A registered nurse may not practice after the expiration date.
Summary
Georgia registered nurses must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Georgia Board of Nursing. RN licenses expire on January 31 every two years (Rule 410-5-.01 says January 31 of even or odd years according to the Joint Secretary, Professional Licensing Boards rules). Submit the renewal application and fee on or before the posted deadline. A late renewal may be filed during February; the license lapses after the last day of February and may be reinstated at the Board's discretion. A registered nurse may not practice after the expiration date.
Georgia 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, 01/31 each cycle |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 30 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | Not stated |
| Other accepted activities | Maintenance of national certification recognized by the Board (Rule 410-13-.03 list; work-related certifications excluded); Completion of an accredited academic program of study in nursing or a related field; Verification of competency by employer certification of at least 500 hours practiced during the biennial period; Completion of Board-approved activities demonstrating nursing competency |
Rule 410-13-.01: to renew, an RN completes one of the continuing competency options during the biennial licensure period. Option (a) is completion of thirty (30) continuing education hours by a Board approved provider; the other options are listed in alternatives_accepted. An applicant renewing for the first time whose initial license period is six months or less is not required to meet the requirement until the second renewal. The Board may waive or modify the requirement for hardship, disability or illness. Failure to meet the requirement is grounds for denial of renewal. This rule is specific to registered nurses; LPNs are covered by Rule 410-13-.02 with a 20 hour CE option.
Required CE topics for Georgia registered nurses
The Georgia Board of Nursing pages and rules we read do not mandate specific subject areas for this license type. Hours may be in any approved subject.
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 4 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Continuing education hours must be by a Board approved provider (Rule 410-13). Licensees maintain documentation of completed continuing competency activities for no less than four years from the renewal date and must produce it if audited at renewal or during an investigation; failure results in denial of renewal or discipline. The rule notes CE Broker services are available at no cost for tracking. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Georgia RN need to renew?
- Georgia registered nurses must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Georgia Board of Nursing. Rule 410-13-.01: to renew, an RN completes one of the continuing competency options during the biennial licensure period. Option (a) is completion of thirty (30) continuing education hours by a Board approved provider; the other options are listed in alternatives_accepted. An applicant renewing for the first time whose initial license period is six months or less is not required to meet the requirement until the second renewal. The Board may waive or modify the requirement for hardship, disability or illness. Failure to meet the requirement is grounds for denial of renewal. This rule is specific to registered nurses; LPNs are covered by Rule 410-13-.02 with a 20 hour CE option.
- How often does a Georgia RN license need to be renewed?
- Registered Nurse licenses in Georgia renew every two years. RN licenses expire on January 31 every two years (Rule 410-5-.01 says January 31 of even or odd years according to the Joint Secretary, Professional Licensing Boards rules). Submit the renewal application and fee on or before the posted deadline. A late renewal may be filed during February; the license lapses after the last day of February and may be reinstated at the Board's discretion. A registered nurse may not practice after the expiration date.
- Does Georgia require specific CE topics for registered nurses?
- The Georgia Board of Nursing does not list mandated subject areas for RN renewal on the pages we verified; the 30 contact hours may be in any approved subject.
- Do Georgia registered nurses have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates, the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation, and records must be kept for 4 years. Continuing education hours must be by a Board approved provider (Rule 410-13). Licensees maintain documentation of completed continuing competency activities for no less than four years from the renewal date and must produce it if audited at renewal or during an investigation; failure results in denial of renewal or discipline. The rule notes CE Broker services are available at no cost for tracking.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Ga. Comp. R. and Regs. Chapter 410-13 Continuing Competency (Rules 410-13-.01 RN, 410-13-.02 LPN, 410-13-.03), Georgia Board of NursingStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. and Regs. Chapter 410-5 Licensure Renewal (Rules 410-5-.01 RN, 410-5-.02 LPN), Georgia Board of NursingStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. and Regs. Chapter 410-1 Administration and General Requirements (Rule 410-1-.04 Fees, biennial licensure period)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Ga. Comp. R. and Regs. Department 410 Georgia Board of Nursing, chapter indexStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
Cycle, expiration date, CE hours, alternatives, four-year retention and audit confirmed in the rule text on rules.sos.ga.gov (chapters 410-5 and 410-13) as rendered through the fetch tool. The board homepage at sos.ga.gov/georgia-board-nursing and the rules.sos.ga.gov single-rule pages returned 403 or empty content to every automated fetch, so board_url points to the board's rules index on rules.sos.ga.gov, which did load; a human-verified link exception is needed before sos.ga.gov can be cited. O.C.G.A. 43-26-9 and 43-26-40 were not reachable (justia and Cornell blocked). Georgia mandates no specific CE subjects for RNs or LPNs. The Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses no longer exists as a separate board; LPN renewal and continuing competency are in the Georgia Board of Nursing rules. Rule 410-5-.01 does not state whether RN licenses currently expire in odd or even years, so deadline_description repeats the rule's wording.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Georgia Board of Nursing before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.