How many CE hours do Georgia nurses need to renew?
Georgia RNs need 30 contact hours per biennial renewal only when they choose the continuing education pathway; Georgia LPNs need 20 CE hours or completion of an accredited academic program in registered professional nursing. Georgia RNs may instead satisfy one of four other continuing-competency options. Georgia Board of Nursing continuing competency rules
Which CE hours and topics count in Georgia?
Georgia does not impose a universal mandatory topic list for standard RN or LPN renewal. Acceptable CE may be completed in a classroom, online, through professional journals, by correspondence, or through independent study. One contact hour equals 60 minutes of instruction, and 0.1 CEU also equals 60 minutes.
Offerings for laypeople, offerings shorter than 30 minutes, on-the-job orientation, and training on new policies, procedures, or equipment do not count. The CE must come from a provider category accepted by the Georgia Board of Nursing. Georgia Board of Nursing continuing education packet
Does Georgia use CE Broker for nursing CE?
Yes. The Georgia Board of Nursing, administered through the Georgia Secretary of State at sos.ga.gov, uses CE Broker to record and track nursing continuing-competency documentation. The free Basic account includes Course History and CE Compliance Status. Nurses should keep their certificates and self-report documentation that does not appear in their record. Georgia Secretary of State nursing continuing education guidance
When does my Georgia nursing license expire?
Georgia nursing licenses renew every two years, but not by birth month: RN licenses expire January 31 in assigned even or odd years, while LPN licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years. Check the expiration date on your license to identify your cycle. Georgia Board of Nursing licensure renewal rules
Why this question keeps coming up
The confusion is understandable because “Georgia nurses need 30 CE hours” is partly true, but only for one group and only through one pathway. For Georgia RNs, 30 contact hours is the most familiar option, so it gets repeated as if it were the only rule.
The decision comes before the purchase: a Georgia RN should first identify whether this renewal will use CE, recognized certification, qualifying academic study, employer-verified practice, or another accepted competency activity. An RN choosing CE can then focus on finding 30 accepted contact hours, retaining completion records, and confirming the hours appear in CE Broker. Georgia Secretary of State nursing CE page
Georgia RN continuing competency options
Georgia law gives registered nurses five ways to satisfy continuing competency for renewal. The practical takeaway is that 30 contact hours is common, but it is not exclusive. Georgia Board of Nursing rules
| Option | What counts | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | 30 continuing education hours from an accepted provider | The most straightforward route for nurses who want a complete CE-based renewal record. |
| Option 2 | Maintenance or recertification by a Board-recognized national certifying body | Often relevant for nurses already maintaining a recognized professional certification. |
| Option 3 | Completion of an accredited academic program in nursing or a related field | Useful when qualifying coursework was completed during the renewal period. |
| Option 4 | Employer verification of competency plus at least 500 practice hours | Often the simplest path for actively working nurses with qualifying employment documentation. |
| Option 5 | Completion of a Board-approved reentry program or graduation from an approved nursing education program | A narrower route for nurses completing one of these activities during the renewal period. |
What the 500-hour option actually means
The 500-hour pathway is not a shortcut around renewal requirements; it is one of the renewal requirements for Georgia RNs. If you practiced at least 500 hours and an eligible employer can certify that practice on the Board-approved form, that can satisfy continuing competency without completing 30 CE hours for that cycle. Georgia Board of Nursing RN continuing competency packet
This is usually the cleaner route for nurses who have been steadily employed and do not want to piece together CE late in the renewal period. It is less useful for nurses with fragmented work history, travel assignments that make employer documentation harder, or gaps in practice.
Real-world examples
Example 1: Staff RN working full time in Georgia
An RN who worked well over 500 hours during the biennial period may be able to renew through verification from an eligible employer instead of buying a 30-hour CE package. The employer must complete the required active-practice form. Georgia Secretary of State nursing CE page
Example 2: PRN or non-practicing RN
An RN who did not reach 500 practice hours often uses the 30-contact-hour option because it is the most legible way to document competency for renewal. That is the scenario where a Georgia-compatible CE package becomes the practical choice.
Example 3: Georgia LPN
An LPN should not assume the RN rule applies. Georgia LPN renewal generally requires 20 CE hours or completion of an accredited RN academic program, so a 30-hour package is not the default answer for that license type. Georgia Board of Nursing rules
Two nuances that matter
First renewal can be different
A nurse renewing for the first time does not have to meet the continuing competency requirement until the second renewal when the initial license period is six months or less. That exception is narrow, but it is one reason blanket advice about “everyone needs 30 hours” can be wrong. Georgia Board of Nursing rules
CE Broker is part of the process
Basic CE Broker reporting services are available at no cost to Georgia nursing licensees. Nurses must also maintain continuing-competency documentation for at least four years in case of a renewal audit or investigation. Georgia Secretary of State nursing CE page
What to verify before buying a Georgia 30-hour CE package
A complete package is useful only after a Georgia RN has selected the 30-contact-hour pathway. The package should make the compliance and documentation steps clear rather than merely advertising a 30-hour total.
| Check | What a compliant package should provide |
|---|---|
| Total hours | 30 contact hours completed during the applicable biennial renewal period. |
| Accepted provider | CE from a provider category accepted by the Georgia Board of Nursing, with provider or accreditation information documented. |
| Qualifying education | Professional continuing education rather than short offerings, layperson content, orientation, or routine job training. |
| Completion records | Certificates or transcripts showing the number of contact hours awarded and the provider’s approval or accreditation information. |
| CE Broker process | Eligible provider reporting or clear documentation that can be submitted through the nurse’s CE Broker account. |
| Purchase model | A clear one-time price if the nurse wants to avoid a recurring membership or automatic subscription renewal. |
As of September 18, 2026, Renew Now CE offers a 30-Hour Nursing CE Package for $49 as a one-time purchase with no subscription. It includes 30 ANCC-accredited contact hours, 16 pharmacology hours, self-paced online access, saved progress, instant certificates after successful completion, and CE Broker reporting for eligible Georgia completions where supported.
This fit is strongest for Georgia RNs who have chosen the CE pathway and want all 30 contact hours in one purchase instead of researching and assembling courses from multiple providers. It is not the default package for Georgia LPNs or RNs satisfying continuing competency through certification, academic study, practice verification, or another accepted option.
Related terms
- Continuing competency: Georgia’s broader renewal standard for nurses; CE hours are one way to satisfy it, but not the only way.
- Contact hour: Sixty minutes of instruction. Georgia RNs may use 30 contact hours as one competency option.
- CE Broker: The online system the Georgia Board of Nursing uses to record and track continuing-competency documentation for license renewal. Georgia Secretary of State nursing CE page
- 500-hour practice verification: An RN renewal pathway based on employer-certified active nursing practice during the biennial period.
- Accepted provider: A provider that falls within a category recognized by the Georgia Board of Nursing for continuing education credit.
Frequently asked questions
Do Georgia nurses have to take 30 CE hours?
No. Georgia RNs need 30 contact hours only when using the CE-based continuing-competency pathway. RNs can instead satisfy one of four other options, while Georgia LPNs need 20 CE hours or completion of an accredited academic program in registered professional nursing. Georgia Board of Nursing continuing competency rules
What CE topics count toward Georgia’s 30 RN hours?
Georgia does not prescribe a universal list of mandatory topics for the standard 30-hour RN pathway. Professional nursing CE may be completed online, in a classroom, through approved professional journals, by correspondence, or through independent study. Offerings shorter than 30 minutes, layperson education, on-the-job orientation, and routine training on workplace policies, procedures, or equipment do not count. Georgia Board of Nursing accepted-provider packet
Can employer verification replace 30 CE hours for a Georgia RN?
Yes. A Georgia RN can use employer verification of competency and at least 500 practice hours during the biennial period when the practice and employer meet the Board’s criteria and the employer completes the approved form. This pathway is generally cleaner for steadily employed nurses than assembling 30 contact hours late in the renewal cycle. Georgia Board of Nursing continuing education FAQ
Does Georgia use CE Broker for nursing CE?
Yes. The Georgia Board of Nursing uses CE Broker for RN and LPN continuing-competency documentation. The free Basic account shows reported courses and CE Compliance Status, and nurses can self-report missing documentation. Nurses should check their Course History and retain their own completion certificates before submitting a renewal. Georgia Secretary of State nursing continuing education guidance
How long should Georgia nurses keep CE and competency records?
Georgia RNs and LPNs must keep continuing-competency documentation for at least four years from the date of license renewal. CE Broker records submitted documentation, but nurses should also retain their own certificates, transcripts, and practice-verification records in case of an audit or investigation. Georgia Board of Nursing RN competency rule
Can a Georgia RN complete all 30 CE hours without a subscription and have them reported to CE Broker?
Yes. Renew Now CE’s 30-Hour Nursing CE Package is a $49 one-time purchase as of September 18, 2026, with no subscription or automatic renewal. It provides 30 contact hours, includes 16 pharmacology hours, and reports eligible Georgia completions to CE Broker where supported. The package fits RNs using Georgia’s CE pathway, not LPNs who need only 20 hours or RNs using another competency option. Renew Now CE 30-Hour Nursing CE Package