North Dakota Registered Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
North Dakota registered nurses must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the North Dakota Board of Nursing.
Licenses are valid for two calendar years and must be renewed before December 31 of the second year (NDAC 54-02-05-02). An initial license issued by examination or endorsement expires December 31 of the year following the year of licensure, so the renewal year is set by when the license was first issued. Renewal is completed in the Nurse Portal with an attestation to the CE and practice requirements.
Summary
North Dakota registered nurses must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the North Dakota Board of Nursing. Licenses are valid for two calendar years and must be renewed before December 31 of the second year (NDAC 54-02-05-02). An initial license issued by examination or endorsement expires December 31 of the year following the year of licensure, so the renewal year is set by when the license was first issued. Renewal is completed in the Nurse Portal with an attestation to the CE and practice requirements. Hours do not carry over between cycles and the first renewal is exempt.
North Dakota 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 cycle |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 12 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Academic coursework from an accredited college or university; Publication of one article in a refereed nursing journal, one book chapter, or a published research project; Presentations or lectures, limited to 6 contact hours per renewal cycle |
NDAC 54-02-05-08 and the Board's renewal page state one requirement for all individuals renewing a nursing license, RN and LPN alike, so the same source supports both records: at least 12 contact hours of Board-approved or recognized continuing education within the preceding two years. The FAQ states that LPNs and RNs are not required to obtain CE in specific areas. A nurse whose first North Dakota license was obtained by examination is not required to complete CE before the first renewal (the Board treats the academic program as meeting it); a nurse first licensed by endorsement must meet the 12 hours even at the first renewal. Excess hours cannot be applied to a future period (54-02-05-08(4)). Separate from CE, NDAC 54-02-05-05.1 requires at least 400 hours of nursing practice within the preceding four years for renewal, with exceptions for nurses who completed a refresher course in the preceding year or graduated from a nursing program in the last four years. CE completed after December 31 of the renewal year is assessed a $50 per contact hour fee. The APRN pharmacotherapy requirement (15 hours) does not apply to the RN license.
Required CE topics for North Dakota registered nurses
The North Dakota 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 must be approved or recognized by the Board (NDAC 54-02-05-08) |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a North Dakota RN need to renew?
- North Dakota registered nurses must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the North Dakota Board of Nursing. NDAC 54-02-05-08 and the Board's renewal page state one requirement for all individuals renewing a nursing license, RN and LPN alike, so the same source supports both records: at least 12 contact hours of Board-approved or recognized continuing education within the preceding two years. The FAQ states that LPNs and RNs are not required to obtain CE in specific areas. A nurse whose first North Dakota license was obtained by examination is not required to complete CE before the first renewal (the Board treats the academic program as meeting it); a nurse first licensed by endorsement must meet the 12 hours even at the first renewal. Excess hours cannot be applied to a future period (54-02-05-08(4)). Separate from CE, NDAC 54-02-05-05.1 requires at least 400 hours of nursing practice within the preceding four years for renewal, with exceptions for nurses who completed a refresher course in the preceding year or graduated from a nursing program in the last four years. CE completed after December 31 of the renewal year is assessed a $50 per contact hour fee. The APRN pharmacotherapy requirement (15 hours) does not apply to the RN license.
- How often does a North Dakota RN license need to be renewed?
- Registered Nurse licenses in North Dakota renew every two years. Licenses are valid for two calendar years and must be renewed before December 31 of the second year (NDAC 54-02-05-02). An initial license issued by examination or endorsement expires December 31 of the year following the year of licensure, so the renewal year is set by when the license was first issued. Renewal is completed in the Nurse Portal with an attestation to the CE and practice requirements.
- Does North Dakota require specific CE topics for registered nurses?
- The North Dakota Board of Nursing does not list mandated subject areas for RN renewal on the pages we verified; the 12 contact hours may be in any approved subject.
- Do North Dakota 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 must be approved or recognized by the Board (NDAC 54-02-05-08)
- Is the first North Dakota RN renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. North Dakota does not require continuing education for a RN's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Renew or Reactivate Your Nursing License, ND Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Continuing Education Requirements for renewal, ND Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Nurse Renewal FAQ, ND Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- NDAC Chapter 54-02-05 Licensure renewal (renewal dates, practice requirements, continuing education requirement)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
Hours, first-renewal exemption, audit, and retention confirmed on the Board's CE and FAQ pages; the two-year cycle and December 31 expiration confirmed in NDAC 54-02-05-02 (ndlegis.gov PDF). Retention: the CE page says not less than two renewal cycles and the FAQ says at least four years, which agree for a two-year cycle; recorded as 4. The Board does not publish an odd/even year split by license type; the renewal year follows the year of initial licensure. Documentation is submitted only on random audit. Approved-provider details beyond 'approved or recognized by the board' were not read.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the North Dakota Board of Nursing before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.