Ohio Registered Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
Ohio registered nurses must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Ohio Board of Nursing.
An active RN license is subject to renewal in odd-numbered years; the renewal application is due September 15 of the renewal year and the license lapses on November 1 if not renewed (ORC 4723.24). The CE reporting period for RNs runs July 1 through June 30 in the odd-numbered years (OAC 4723-14-01).
Summary
Ohio registered nurses must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Ohio Board of Nursing. An active RN license is subject to renewal in odd-numbered years; the renewal application is due September 15 of the renewal year and the license lapses on November 1 if not renewed (ORC 4723.24). The CE reporting period for RNs runs July 1 through June 30 in the odd-numbered years (OAC 4723-14-01). Ohio also mandates specific subjects. Category A continuing education (Ohio Nurse Practice Act, Chapter 4723 ORC and the Board's rules): 1 contact hour every renewal cycle. The first renewal is exempt.
Ohio 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, 09/15 each cycle |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 24 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | Successfully completed course from an accredited educational institution for which academic credit is awarded; Continuing education approved by a board or agency regulating the licensee in another jurisdiction; Approved independent study or enduring activities awarded contact hours by an accredited or approved provider |
OAC 4723-14-03 states one requirement for nurses renewing an active license as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse, so it is the source for both the RN and LPN records: 24 contact hours of continuing education during the reporting period, at least one hour in Category A (Ohio nursing law and rules). A contact hour is sixty minutes. A nurse is not required to complete any contact hours for the first license renewal. The reporting period for RNs is July 1 through June 30 of odd-numbered years, which ends before the September 15 application deadline. Repetition of an activity with identical content within a reporting period and unapproved self-directed reading do not count (OAC 4723-14-05). The rule does not set a self-study cap or address carryover.
Required CE topics for Ohio registered nurses
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category A continuing education (Ohio Nurse Practice Act, Chapter 4723 ORC and the Board's rules)At least one of the 24 required contact hours must be Category A, defined as a continuing education activity directly related to Chapter 4723 of the Revised Code and the rules of the Board, approved by the Board, an OBN approver, an accredited provider, or an approved provider unit. | 1 contact hour | Every renewal | All licensees | OAC 4723-14-03; OAC 4723-14-01 |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | 6 years |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | Activities approved by an OBN approver, provided by an OBN approved provider unit, accredited provider, academic credit course, or approved by another jurisdiction's regulating board (OAC 4723-14-05) |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Ohio RN need to renew?
- Ohio registered nurses must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Ohio Board of Nursing. OAC 4723-14-03 states one requirement for nurses renewing an active license as a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse, so it is the source for both the RN and LPN records: 24 contact hours of continuing education during the reporting period, at least one hour in Category A (Ohio nursing law and rules). A contact hour is sixty minutes. A nurse is not required to complete any contact hours for the first license renewal. The reporting period for RNs is July 1 through June 30 of odd-numbered years, which ends before the September 15 application deadline. Repetition of an activity with identical content within a reporting period and unapproved self-directed reading do not count (OAC 4723-14-05). The rule does not set a self-study cap or address carryover.
- How often does a Ohio RN license need to be renewed?
- Registered Nurse licenses in Ohio renew every two years. An active RN license is subject to renewal in odd-numbered years; the renewal application is due September 15 of the renewal year and the license lapses on November 1 if not renewed (ORC 4723.24). The CE reporting period for RNs runs July 1 through June 30 in the odd-numbered years (OAC 4723-14-01).
- What specific CE topics are required for Ohio registered nurses?
- Category A continuing education (Ohio Nurse Practice Act, Chapter 4723 ORC and the Board's rules): 1 contact hour every renewal cycle. Citations: Category A continuing education (Ohio Nurse Practice Act, Chapter 4723 ORC and the Board's rules) (OAC 4723-14-03; OAC 4723-14-01).
- Do Ohio 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 6 years. Activities approved by an OBN approver, provided by an OBN approved provider unit, accredited provider, academic credit course, or approved by another jurisdiction's regulating board (OAC 4723-14-05)
- Is the first Ohio RN renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. Ohio 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.
- OAC 4723-14-03 Continuing education requirement for licensed practical and registered nursesStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- OAC 4723-14-01 Definitions (reporting period, category A, contact hour)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- ORC 4723.24 Renewal of licenses (RN odd-numbered years, LPN even-numbered years)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- OAC 4723-14-06 Proof of completion of continuing educationStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- OAC 4723-14-07 Continuing education auditStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- OAC 4723-14-05 Educational activities that do and do not meet the continuing education requirementStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- OAC Chapter 4723-14 Continuing Nursing Education (rule index)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
Hours, Category A hour, first-renewal exemption, reporting periods, six-year retention, and audit confirmed in the Ohio Administrative Code (codes.ohio.gov); the odd/even renewal years and September 15 due date confirmed in ORC 4723.24. The Board's own site (nursing.ohio.gov) returned 404 to every automated fetch, including the homepage, so no board page is cited and renewal_url is null; board_url is the Board's domain as returned by search results. fixed_deadline_month_day is the September 15 application due date; the license itself lapses November 1. Proof of CE is kept by the licensee and produced on Board request within sixty days of an audit notice (OAC 4723-14-07); documents are not submitted with the renewal. The Board published a change to the reporting period definition in 2026 that could not be read; the reporting period recorded is the one in the current OAC 4723-14-01 text.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Ohio Board of Nursing before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.