Vault Guardian renewal education

Nursing License (RN / LPN / APRN)

Quick answer:

Most U.S. Boards of Nursing renew licenses every 2 years and require 20–30 continuing education (CE) hours. Fees range from $50 to $180 depending on state and license type. Practicing on a lapsed license is a criminal misdemeanor in most states and grounds for permanent revocation.

Renewal facts

Validity period2 years (typical)
Renewal window60–90 days before expiration
Cost$50–$180
Processing timeInstant if CE met; 2–4 weeks otherwise

Required documents

  • CE hours transcript
  • Practice attestation
  • Background check (some states)

Common mistakes

  • Practicing while lapsed (criminal misdemeanor in most states).
  • Not saving CE certificates for state audits.
  • Missing NLC (compact) multi-state renewal implications.

Official resource

NCSBN — State Boards