RNs and LPNs are required to renew their licenses every two years before midnight on the last day of their birth month. License may be renewed one of the following ways:

• National certification or re-certification by a national credentialing body recognized by the Board; or
• Thirty (30) contact hours of continuing education activities; or
• Completion of a Board approved refresher course; or
• Completion of a minimum of two semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of a continuing education activity and completion of a nursing project as principal or co-principal investigator to include statement of the problem, project objectives, methods and summary of findings; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and authoring or coauthoring a published nursing-related article, paper, book or book chapter; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and developing and conducting a nursing education presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours for nurses or other health professionals to include a copy of program brochure or course syllabi, objectives, content and teaching methods, and date and location of presentation; or
• Fifteen (15) contact hours of continuing education activities and 640 hours of active practice within the previous two (2) years.

APRNs: Required to complete 50 contact hours each annual year licensing period, a minimum of 20 of the 50 hours must be granted by the ANCC or other national credentialing body.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please contact the North Carolina Board of Nursing at (919) 656-5318 orhttp://www.ncbon.com/dcp/i/licensurelisting-renewalreinstatement-continuing-competence-requirements – RNs and LPNs or http://www.ncbon.com/dcp/i/nursing-practice-nurse-practitioner-continuing-education-requirements – APRNs, for additional information regarding your continuing education.