California RN license renewal requirements

What California Board of Registered Nursing requires registered nurses to complete for license renewal — total hours, the topics that are specifically mandated, and how often each one comes due.

Independently verifiedagainst California Board of Registered Nursing’s published requirements. The exact date and primary source are free with an account.About the source ↗

Total required

30 contact hours

every 2 years, at renewal

Applies to
Registered Nurses licensed in California
Renewal cycle
2 years
Mandated topics
2 mandated subjects

Renewal at a glance

How to renew your California RN license

  1. Confirm your renewal date

    Check the expiration date on your California RN license and begin before the board deadline.

  2. Complete the required education

    Complete 30 contact hours every 2 years, including any mandated subjects listed below.

  3. Keep your completion records

    Save course certificates and supporting documents in case the board requests proof or selects your renewal for audit.

  4. Renew through the official board

    Submit your renewal through California Board of Registered Nursing and confirm that your renewed license is active.

The direct link to the official California source is free with an account.

Mandated topics

The full breakdown is free with an account

California mandates 2 specific subjects. A free account shows which subjects they are, the hours earmarked for each, and how often each comes due — including the ones due only every second or third renewal, which are exactly what gets missed.

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Quick answers

California RN renewal questions

How many CE hours are required for California RN renewal?

California requires 30 contact hours every 2 years for this license.

How often does a California RN license renew?

The published renewal cycle is 2 years. Confirm your individual expiration date with California Board of Registered Nursing.

Where should I verify the requirements before renewing?

Use the official source from California Board of Registered Nursing. A free Currendo account shows the exact source link and the date these figures were last checked, below.

Source & verification

Where this comes from

Issuing board
California Board of Registered Nursing
Primary source
The board’s own published document, linked in full — free with an account.
Last verified
Every figure on this page carries the date it was last checked — shown free with an account.
Re-checked
Every 90 days, and whenever the board posts a rule change. A page that falls behind says so at the top rather than presenting stale figures as current.
Not legal advice
Currendo publishes what the board publishes. Confirm with California Board of Registered Nursing before you rely on it for a renewal deadline.

Related

Other California licences

California LVN
Licensed Vocational Nurse
California APRN
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
All states
Every jurisdiction Currendo tracks

Email me this checklist

A one-page PDF of the California RN requirements — hours, cycle, and every mandated topic. No account needed.

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Currendo watches your California renewal date, counts the hours you have actually completed against each of these requirements, and tells you what is still missing — including the ones that only come due every second or third renewal.

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Requirements data is public record, published by state licensing boards. Currendo LLC