Maine Licensed Practical Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
Maine does not require continuing education for LPN/LVN license renewal, which happens every two years.
After the first renewal, the license renews every two years on or before the licensee's birthday. The first license is active for at least one year and no more than two years depending on birth date. There is no grace period: a license not renewed by the birthday lapses. Renewal is online only.
Summary
Maine does not require continuing education for LPN/LVN license renewal, which happens every two years. After the first renewal, the license renews every two years on or before the licensee's birthday. The first license is active for at least one year and no more than two years depending on birth date. There is no grace period: a license not renewed by the birthday lapses. Renewal is online only.
Maine Licensed Practical 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 | Tied to the licensee's birth dateFirst renewal is prorated. |
| Continuing education required | No |
Maine requires no continuing education for LPN renewal. 32 M.R.S. Section 2255 (Renewals, Practical Nurses) states the license is renewable every 2 years and that the licensee shall complete the renewal application and return it with the renewal fee before expiration, after which the board issues a renewal for 2 years expiring on the anniversary of the applicant's birth; it lists no continuing education or practice-hour condition. This is the LPN-specific statute, separate from the RN section (32 M.R.S. Section 2206), and it reads the same. The board's License FAQs and Renewal pages describe the two-year birthday cycle for all nurses and contain no CE requirement. The board's Chapter 3 rule covers only name and address changes, lost licenses, and verification. The 50 contact hours every two years that appear in Maine sources apply to APRNs only.
Required CE topics for Maine licensed practical nurses
The Maine State 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 | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | Not stated |
| Board audits compliance | Not stated |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Maine LPN/LVN need to renew?
- Maine does not require continuing education for LPN/LVN license renewal, which happens every two years. Maine requires no continuing education for LPN renewal. 32 M.R.S. Section 2255 (Renewals, Practical Nurses) states the license is renewable every 2 years and that the licensee shall complete the renewal application and return it with the renewal fee before expiration, after which the board issues a renewal for 2 years expiring on the anniversary of the applicant's birth; it lists no continuing education or practice-hour condition. This is the LPN-specific statute, separate from the RN section (32 M.R.S. Section 2206), and it reads the same. The board's License FAQs and Renewal pages describe the two-year birthday cycle for all nurses and contain no CE requirement. The board's Chapter 3 rule covers only name and address changes, lost licenses, and verification. The 50 contact hours every two years that appear in Maine sources apply to APRNs only.
- How often does a Maine LPN/LVN license need to be renewed?
- Licensed Practical Nurse licenses in Maine renew every two years. After the first renewal, the license renews every two years on or before the licensee's birthday. The first license is active for at least one year and no more than two years depending on birth date. There is no grace period: a license not renewed by the birthday lapses. Renewal is online only.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- 32 M.R.S. Section 2255, Renewals (Practical Nurses)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- License FAQs, Maine State Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- License Renewal and Reactivation, Maine State Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- 02-380 Chapter 3, General Requirements Relating to LicensureStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Maine State Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- A Guide to Nursing Licenses and Renewals in Maine, Incredible HealthThird-party summary, accessed September 7, 2026
Two-year cycle expiring on the birthday confirmed in the LPN-specific statute, 32 M.R.S. Section 2255, and on the board's License FAQs, which apply the same schedule to RNs and LPNs. The no-CE finding rests on the statute, which states the renewal requirements (application and fee) without any continuing education condition, on the absence of any CE requirement on the board's licensure pages and in its Chapter 3 rule, and on third-party CE vendors that state Maine requires no CE for LPNs. The board does not publish an explicit sentence saying CE is not required; if that wording is ever needed, contact the board. Documentation and audit fields are null because no CE applies. Nurse.com's Maine guides returned 403 to every client and are not cited.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Maine State Board of Nursing before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.