North Carolina Nursing License Renewal: Deadlines, CE & How to Renew

On or before the date the current license expires, every person who desires to continue to practice nursing must apply for licensure renewal to the Board on forms furnished by the Board and must also file the required fee.

On or before the date the current license expires, every person who desires to continue to practice nursing shall apply for licensure renewal to the Board on forms furnished by the Board and shall also file the required fee. Applies to: North Carolina nursing licenses; two-year renewals excluding temporary licenses

Every unencumbered license, except temporary license, issued under this Article shall be renewed for two years. On or before the date the current license expires, every person who desires to continue to practice nursing shall apply for licensure renewal to the Board on forms furnished by the Board and shall also file the required fee.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Continuing competence requires self-assessment, a continued-learning plan, and a learning-activity option. Options include national certification, 30 nursing CE contact hours, a Board-approved refresher course, two semester hours of post-licensure nursing education, or 15 CE hours plus 640 practice hours in the previous two years. Other 15-hour combinations include a nursing project, publication or educational presentation.

Continuing competence requires self-assessment, a continued-learning plan, and a learning-activity option. Options include national certification, 30 nursing CE contact hours, a Board-approved refresher course, two semester hours of post-licensure nursing education, or 15 CE hours plus 640 practice hours in the previous two years. Other 15-hour combinations include a nursing project, publication or educational presentation.

Complete a self-assessment of practice Develop a plan for continued learning; National Certification or re-certification related to the nurse's practice role Thirty contact hours of continuing education activities related to the nurse's practice; Completion of a Board-approved refresher course Completion of a minimum of two semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice; Fifteen contact hours of a continuing education activity related to the nurse's practice and completion of a nursing project Fifteen contact hours of a continuing education activity related to the nurse's practice and authoring or co-authoring a published nursing-related article, paper, book, or book chapter; Fifteen contact hours of a continuing education activity related to the nurse's practice and designing, developing, and conducting an educational presentation or presentations totaling a minimum of five contact hours for nurses or other health professionals; Fifteen contact hours of a continuing education activity related to the nurse's practice and 640 hours of active practice within the previous two years.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026