California Continuing Education Requirements for RNs, LVNs, CNAs & HHAs
California CE Requirements at a Glance
| RN | LVN | CNA | HHA | Home Care Aide | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total CE Hours | 30 Hours | 30 Hours | 48 in-service/CE hours | 24 in-service/CE hours | 5 entry-level hours plus 5 hours annually |
| Renewal Period | Every 2 years | Every 2 years after the first renewal | Every 2 years; at least 12 hours each year | Every 2 years; 12 hours each year | Before client contact and annually |
| Governing Body | California Board of Registered Nursing | California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians | California Department of Public Health | California Department of Public Health | California Department of Social Services |
Required CE Courses for California Nurses (RNs)
Direct-Participation Implicit Bias Training — 1 CE Hour (Required for newly licensed California RNs)
California RNs must complete one hour of direct-participation implicit bias training from a California BRN-approved provider within the first two years immediately following initial licensure.
General/Elective Continuing Education Contact Hours (30 hours required every two years)
California LVN Continuing Education Requirements
California Licensed Vocational Nurses generally complete 30 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain an active license. The requirement begins after the first license renewal, and qualifying courses must relate to the LVN’s scope of practice. California LVNs may use eligible nursing-board-approved courses when the content meets BVNPT requirements, and they must retain completion certificates for four years in case of an audit by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
General/Elective Continuing Education Contact Hours (30 hours required every two years)
California Licensed Vocational Nurses generally complete 30 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain an active license. Qualifying courses must relate to the LVN’s scope of practice, and nurses must retain their completion certificates for four years. LVNs are exempt from the standard 30-hour requirement for their first license renewal.
California CNA Continuing Education
California Certified Nurse Assistants must complete 48 hours of in-service training or continuing education during each two-year certification period, with at least 12 hours completed during each year. A maximum of 24 hours may be completed online through a California Department of Public Health-approved online continuing education provider. At this time, C-E-U.com does not offer courses approved for California CNA certification renewal.
California HHA Continuing Education
California-certified Home Health Aides must complete 24 hours of in-service training or continuing education during each two-year certification period, with 12 hours completed during each year. Qualifying training must be completed through a California Department of Public Health-approved provider or approved employer-based in-service program. California HHAs may not use online continuing education to satisfy this requirement; therefore, C-E-U.com does not currently provide training that qualifies for California HHA certification renewal.
California Nursing Resources and References
- California Board of Registered Nursing
Official licensing, renewal, practice, regulatory, and continuing education information for California registered nurses. - California RN Continuing Education Requirements
Explains the 30-contact-hour renewal requirement, acceptable course content, provider recognition, certificate retention, exemptions, and implicit-bias training requirements for California RNs. - California RN License Renewal Information
Provides RN renewal instructions, license-status options, renewal-cycle information, and requirements for activating or reinstating a license. - California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
Official licensing and regulatory information for California licensed vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians. - California LVN Continuing Education Information
Explains continuing education requirements and acceptable providers for California LVNs, including the 30-hour requirement after the first renewal. - California LVN License Renewal Information
Provides information about active and inactive licenses, two-year renewal periods, and continuing education requirements for LVNs. - California Certified Nurse Assistant Information
Official California Department of Public Health information about CNA certification, renewal, applications, and certificate-holder resources. - California CNA Renewal Requirements
Explains the CNA renewal process, including the 48-hour training requirement, annual minimums, online-training limits, and reactivation procedures. - CDPH-Approved Online Continuing Education Providers
Lists online programs specifically approved by CDPH to provide continuing education for California CNAs. - California Home Health Aide Information
Official information about California HHA certification, approved training programs, renewal, and certificate verification. - California CNA and HHA Renewal Application
The official CDPH renewal form and instructions for California CNAs and HHAs, including their separate training and renewal requirements. - California CNA and HHA Certificate Verification
Search the state database to verify a California CNA or HHA certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions: California Nursing CE
California Registered Nurses must complete 30 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain an active license. RNs are generally exempt from the 30-hour requirement during the first two years following initial licensure, although applicable implicit bias training is still required.
California Licensed Vocational Nurses must complete 30 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain an active license. The 30-hour requirement does not apply to the first license renewal following initial licensure.
RNs and LVNs document or certify completion when renewing their licenses and must retain their course-completion certificates for four years. Certificates are generally submitted to the appropriate California nursing board only if the nurse is selected for an audit.
Yes. California RNs and LVNs may complete their 30 continuing education contact hours online, provided the courses are offered by a recognized nursing continuing education provider and meet the applicable board’s content requirements. Different rules apply to CNAs and HHAs: CNAs may complete only part of their required training online, while HHA renewal training cannot be completed online.
The terms are often used interchangeably depending on the state, but California officially measures nursing continuing education in contact hours. One contact hour represents at least 50 minutes of instruction, while one continuing education unit (CEU) equals 10 contact hours. California nurses should therefore look for courses listing the number of approved contact hours rather than CEUs.
If you do not complete the required continuing education before renewal, you cannot renew your California nursing license as active and must not practice until the requirements are satisfied and the license is active. California RNs may renew as inactive while completing their CE, but the BRN does not grant extensions. Late renewal may also result in a delinquent license and additional fees. Nurses should complete the missing hours, submit the required renewal or status-change application, and confirm that the license is active before returning to practice.
Each course advertisement or sales page includes:
- The C-E-U.com provider name exactly as registered with the BRN.
- A clear course description, learning objectives, or both.
- The number of approved contact hours.
- Your refund and cancellation policy, including the timeline for issuing refunds.
- The BRN provider statement:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number [NUMBER], for [NUMBER] contact hours.
Also, it's important to note that California uses contact hours, not “CEUs,” in advertising nursing continuing education.
C-E-U.com courses provide immediate access to digital continuing education. Purchases are generally nonrefundable once course content has been substantially accessed, a course has been completed, or a certificate has been issued. Requests involving duplicate charges, billing errors, or verified technical-access issues must be submitted within seven days of purchase. If C-E-U.com cancels a course or cannot provide reasonable access to a purchased course, the learner will receive restored access, enrollment in an equivalent course, or a full refund. Full details are available in our Terms Of Service, which is reviewed upon checkout.
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