North Dakota Nursing Continuing Education Requirements
North Dakota RNs and LPNs must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education during the two years preceding license renewal. Nurses must also meet a recent-practice requirement of at least 400 hours of nursing practice during the previous four years, unless an applicable exception applies.
C-E-U.com offers online nursing continuing education that North Dakota RNs and LPNs may use toward the 12-contact-hour requirement when the selected courses meet Board standards. North Dakota recognizes continuing education from a health care regulatory board or nationally accredited professional organization, and C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308.
North Dakota CE Requirements at a Glance
| RN | LPN | |
|---|---|---|
| Total CE Hours | 12 contact hours | 12 contact hours |
| Renewal Period | Every 2 years | Every 2 years |
| Recent Practice Requirement | 400 hours within the previous 4 years | 400 hours within the previous 4 years |
| First-Renewal Exception | Examination applicants generally satisfy CE through recent nursing education | Examination applicants generally satisfy CE through recent nursing education |
North Dakota RN and LPN Continuing Education
North Dakota RNs and LPNs must complete 12 contact hours of approved continuing education during each two-year renewal period. The Board also requires nurses to meet a recent-practice standard of at least 400 hours of nursing practice during the previous four years, unless an applicable exception applies.
North Dakota recognizes continuing education from health care regulatory boards and other approved organizations. C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308, so qualifying nursing-related C-E-U.com courses may be used toward North Dakota’s 12-contact-hour requirement.
North Dakota RN/LPN Continuing Education — 12 Contact Hours
C-E-U.com offers self-paced online nursing courses that North Dakota RNs and LPNs may use toward the 12-contact-hour renewal requirement. C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308, which fits North Dakota’s recognized-provider pathway. Nurses should select nursing-related courses and retain completion certificates for audit purposes.
North Dakota Nursing Continuing Education References and Resources
North Dakota Board of Nursing — Official source for North Dakota RN, LPN, and APRN licensure, renewal, continuing education, rules, and Board guidance.
North Dakota Nursing Renewal — Explains renewal and reactivation requirements, including the 400-hour recent-practice standard and the Board’s current approach to CE audits.
North Dakota Nursing Renewal FAQs — Confirms the 12-contact-hour CE requirement, the two-year completion period, first-renewal exceptions, the 400-hour practice requirement, and related renewal questions.
North Dakota Continuing Education for Renewal — Provides guidance on acceptable continuing education, contact-hour equivalencies, college coursework, publications, and other qualifying activities.
North Dakota Continuing Education Approval Applications — Explains how organizations may apply directly to the North Dakota Board of Nursing for approval of continuing-education contact hours.
North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry — Official North Dakota Health and Human Services resource for Nurse Aides, Certified Nurse Aides, Home Health Aides, and Medication Assistants.
North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide Information — Provides information about CNA training programs, competency evaluation, registry requirements, and initial certification pathways.
North Dakota Health and Human Services Contact Directory — Includes contact information for the Nurse Aide Registry, CNA and Medication Aide programs, and other Health Facilities Unit services.
North Dakota Nurse Practice Act — Provides access to the North Dakota Nurse Practices Act governing nursing licensure, professional practice, and Board authority.
North Dakota Administrative Rules and Regulations — Provides access to the current North Dakota administrative rules governing nursing licensure, practice, and professional standards.
North Dakota Nurse Licensure Compact — Explains North Dakota’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact and provides access to current compact information.
North Dakota License Verification Services — Provides official North Dakota Board of Nursing license and registration verification information.
Frequently Asked Questions: North Dakota Nursing CE
North Dakota RNs and LPNs must complete 12 contact hours of approved continuing education during each two-year renewal period.
Yes. Nurses generally must have completed at least 400 hours of nursing practice during the previous four years unless an applicable exception applies.
Yes. Qualifying online continuing education may be used when it is nursing-related and offered through a recognized provider pathway.
Yes. North Dakota recognizes continuing education from health care regulatory boards and other accepted approval bodies. C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308, so qualifying nursing-related C-E-U.com courses may be used toward the 12-contact-hour requirement.
North Dakota does not impose a universal subject requirement for the general RN/LPN 12-hour renewal requirement. Nurses should choose education relevant to nursing practice and any separate employer, specialty, or credential requirements.
Nurses initially licensed by examination generally satisfy the first-renewal CE requirement through recent nursing education. Nurses licensed by endorsement should verify and complete the applicable CE requirement before renewal.
No. Continuing education and recent nursing practice are separate continuing-competence requirements. Completing 12 contact hours does not replace the practice requirement when both apply.
A nurse who does not meet the recent-practice requirement may need to qualify through another Board-recognized pathway, such as completion of an approved refresher program, depending on the nurse’s circumstances.
No. North Dakota does not require RNs or LPNs to report continuing education through CE Broker for routine renewal. Nurses should retain their own completion records.
North Dakota nurses should retain continuing education documentation for at least four years because the Board may request records during an audit.
No. Nurses generally attest that they have met the continuing education requirement. Supporting certificates should be retained and provided if the Board requests documentation.
Yes, when the employer accepts the subject matter and course format for that purpose. Nurses should confirm any employer-specific requirements before relying on a course for workplace compliance.
Start Your Continuing Education Today!
Complete online continuing education and training at your own pace. Access practical courses, downloadable certificates, and eligible CE Broker reporting for one year.