Georgia Nursing CE Requirements for License Renewal: RN, LPN, Hours, Topics, and CE Broker

Introduction

Georgia nursing renewal is often reduced to “30 CE hours,” but that answer applies only to registered nurses choosing the continuing education pathway. Georgia RNs may instead qualify through certification, academic study, documented practice hours, or another approved competency activity. Georgia LPNs follow a narrower rule: 20 CE hours or completion of an accredited registered nursing program.

CE Broker records the evidence used to satisfy the competency requirement; it does not replace the license renewal application. Nurses still renew through the Georgia Online Application Licensing System, or GOALS. Georgia Board of Nursing continuing education guidance explains the reporting process, while the Georgia GOALS portal handles renewal applications.

Key takeaways

Georgia RNs do not automatically have to take 30 CE hours. Thirty hours is one of five continuing competency pathways available during each biennial renewal period.
Georgia LPNs generally need 20 CE hours. Their only alternative is completion of an accredited academic program in registered professional nursing.
The general RN and LPN rules do not assign minimum hours to specific subjects. Employer, certification, or role-specific education requirements may still apply separately.
Georgia uses CE Broker for competency documentation. Basic reporting and recordkeeping services are available without charge.
RN and LPN deadlines are different. RNs expire January 31 in an odd- or even-numbered year based on their licensing cohort; LPNs expire March 31 of odd-numbered years.

The governing requirements appear in Georgia Board of Nursing Rule Chapter 410-13 and the state’s nursing license renewal rules.

Georgia RN vs. LPN renewal requirements

Requirements verified against the Georgia RN competency packet, the Georgia LPN competency packet, and Georgia’s license expiration rules.
Comparison point	Registered nurse	Licensed practical nurse
CE-hour pathway	30 continuing education hours during the biennial renewal period	20 continuing education hours during the biennial renewal period
Alternatives to CE hours	Four alternatives, including qualifying certification, academic study, 500 practice hours with eligible employer verification, or an approved reentry or nursing education activity	Completion of an accredited academic program in registered professional nursing
Statewide subject minimums	No subject-specific minimum in the general RN competency rule	No subject-specific minimum in the general LPN competency rule
CE Broker	Competency evidence must be recorded or submitted through CE Broker	Competency evidence must be recorded or submitted through CE Broker
Regular expiration	January 31 of an odd- or even-numbered year, depending on licensing cohort	March 31 of odd-numbered years
Record retention	Keep supporting documentation for at least four years after renewal	Keep supporting documentation for at least four years after renewal

Do Georgia nurses have to take 30 CE hours?

Georgia RNs need 30 CE hours only when they choose the CE pathway. The 30-hour route is usually the simplest option for an RN who is not relying on national certification, a qualifying academic program, documented practice hours, or a recent reentry or nursing education activity.

The five ways a Georgia RN can meet the competency requirement

Full documentation criteria are provided in the April 2026 Georgia RN continuing competency packet.
Pathway	What must be completed during the renewal period	When it is practical
30 CE hours	Thirty hours from an accepted provider, supported by certificates or transcripts showing accreditation and awarded hours	Most practical when the nurse wants a direct, self-managed route without employer paperwork
National certification	Certification, recertification, or maintenance through a national certifying body recognized by the Board	Useful when specialty certification activity already falls within the biennium
Academic study	At least two academic credit hours in nursing or a related recognized field	Useful for nurses completing RN-to-BSN, graduate, informatics, administration, or related coursework
500 practice hours	At least 500 hours of practice plus competency verification from an eligible facility, federal entity, or qualifying health-system physician office	Useful when the employer qualifies and will complete the Board’s verification process
Reentry or nursing education	Completion of a Board-approved reentry program or graduation from an approved nursing education program	Relevant to recent graduates and nurses returning to practice

When the 30-hour route is the lower-friction choice

The CE route removes dependence on an employer, registrar, or certifying organization to produce supporting documentation. It is often the more predictable option for travel nurses, nurses between employers, and anyone approaching renewal without enough time to coordinate a competency form.

When 500 practice hours may be the stronger choice

The work-hours pathway can avoid unnecessary course purchases when an RN has completed at least 500 hours for a qualifying organization and the employer will certify competency on the required form. Ordinary pay records or a personal statement are not substitutes for the Board’s employer documentation. A focused explanation is also available in Do Georgia Nurses Really Need 30 CE Hours?

How many CE hours do Georgia LPNs need?

Georgia LPN renewal requires 20 continuing education hours during the biennial period unless the LPN completes an accredited registered nursing academic program. The RN alternatives for certification, related-field academic study, and 500 practice hours do not appear in the LPN rule.

A 30-hour RN package therefore exceeds the LPN’s general 20-hour total. It may still provide useful education, but it is not the most economical compliance choice for an LPN who only needs the state minimum. The applicable options and documentation requirements are listed in the Georgia LPN continuing competency packet.

Does Georgia require specific CE topics for nurses?

The general Georgia RN and LPN renewal rules do not require a minimum number of hours in named subjects. An RN using the CE pathway can apply accepted general nursing education toward the 30-hour total, and an LPN can do the same toward the 20-hour total.

That does not make every educational activity acceptable. Courses must be professional in character and come through an accepted provider pathway. Offerings for lay audiences, activities shorter than 30 minutes, routine workplace orientation, and training on new workplace policies or equipment are excluded. Unaccredited employer-sponsored education may account for no more than half of the total hours. Georgia’s accepted-provider guidance lists ANCC, ANA-affiliated provider units, NCSBN, the National League for Nursing, and other recognized sources.

The Georgia continuing competency FAQ also confirms that the Board does not assign minimum hours to particular areas of study. APRNs, specialty-certified nurses, and employees may have separate education obligations outside the basic RN or LPN renewal rule.

When Renew Now CE is the stronger choice for a Georgia RN

Renew Now CE is most useful when an RN has chosen the 30-hour pathway and wants to avoid piecing together individual courses, subscriptions, and reporting steps. Its Georgia-compatible package provides 30 ANCC-accredited contact hours, including 16 pharmacology hours, in one purchase.

One-time pricing: The 30-hour package costs $49 as of August 25, 2026, with no membership or automatic renewal.
Accepted nursing accreditation: Renew Now CE is ANCC-accredited Provider P0557, and Georgia recognizes qualifying ANCC-accredited nursing education.
Reporting and documentation: Eligible Georgia completions are reported to CE Broker within 24 hours, and certificates are available after course completion.
Flexible completion: Courses are online and self-paced, with saved progress for nurses completing CE around clinical schedules.

Package details, included subjects, current pricing, and certificate terms are available on the Renew Now CE 30-Hour Nursing CE Package. Accreditation and Georgia CE Broker participation can be checked through the Renew Now CE accreditation directory.

When Renew Now CE is not the right fit for Georgia renewal

An RN is using another competency pathway. Buying 30 hours adds unnecessary work if recognized certification, academic study, 500 qualifying practice hours, or a recent nursing program already satisfies the requirement.
An LPN only needs the state minimum. Georgia LPNs generally need 20 hours, so a 30-hour RN package provides more hours than the renewal rule requires.
A nurse needs a separate employer or certification topic. A complete Georgia license total does not automatically satisfy every hospital, specialty certification, or prescribing requirement.

Does Georgia use CE Broker for nursing CE?

Yes. Georgia uses CE Broker to collect and verify RN and LPN continuing competency records. Nurses can use its basic reporting and recordkeeping functions without paying for an upgraded account.

Complete the applicable CE hours or another permitted competency option during the biennial period.
Allow an integrated provider to report the completion, or upload the required certificate, transcript, certification, or employer form.
Check the CE Broker transcript and compliance status before filing the license renewal.
Resolve missing hours, incorrect license information, or unmatched completions before the deadline.
Submit the separate renewal application and fee through GOALS.

Automatic reporting does not remove the nurse’s responsibility to confirm that the correct license and renewal period received credit. The Georgia nursing CE instructions explain self-reporting and course searches, while Rule Chapter 410-13 establishes CE Broker as the Board’s reporting and recording system.

When does a Georgia nursing license expire?

Georgia RN expiration dates

Georgia RN licenses expire on January 31 every two years, but not every RN renews in the same year. For licenses issued on or before May 31, 2004, the odd or even cycle follows the final digit of the license number. For licenses issued on or after June 1, 2004, the cycle follows whether the license was issued in an odd- or even-numbered year.

As of August 25, 2026, active RNs in the odd-year cohort next expire on January 31, 2027; RNs in the even-year cohort next expire on January 31, 2028. The exact date displayed on the license record controls. The Georgia RN renewal guide directs nurses to renew by January 31 of their assigned year.

Georgia LPN expiration dates

Georgia LPN licenses expire on March 31 of odd-numbered years. As of August 25, 2026, the next regular LPN expiration date is March 31, 2027. The late renewal period runs through April 30, but an LPN may not practice after March 31 without an active license. Georgia’s LPN renewal guide provides the filing instructions.

Late renewal does not extend practice authority

RNs generally have a late filing period through the last day of February, and LPNs through April 30. Those administrative filing periods do not authorize nursing practice after the license’s expiration date. The cohort rules and late periods are codified in Georgia Rule Chapter 295-2.

Georgia nursing renewal checklist

Confirm the license type. Do not apply the RN’s 30-hour figure to an LPN license.
Check the exact expiration date. RN dates depend on cohort; LPN licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years.
Select the competency pathway before purchasing CE. RNs have five choices, while LPNs have two.
Verify provider acceptance. Check the accreditation, awarded contact hours, completion date, and certificate information.
Complete the requirement within the current biennium. Prior-cycle hours should not be assumed to count.
Check CE Broker. Confirm that every completion or exemption is attached to the correct Georgia license and renewal period.
Save documentation for four years. Keep certificates, transcripts, certification evidence, and employer forms even when reporting is automatic.
File the license renewal separately. Submit the application and fee through the Georgia GOALS portal before expiration.

Before buying a course, nurses can also use the course acceptance verification checklist to compare the license, provider, credit type, subject, reporting method, and renewal cycle.

Frequently asked questions

Can ANCC-accredited courses count toward Georgia RN or LPN renewal?

Yes, qualifying ANCC-accredited nursing education can count toward Georgia renewal. Confirm that the activity awards nursing contact hours, was completed during the correct biennial period, and produces a certificate showing the provider’s accreditation and number of hours. Georgia’s accepted continuing education provider list includes ANCC among recognized nursing credentialing and accreditation sources.

Do I need to pay for CE Broker to renew a Georgia nursing license?

No, a paid CE Broker subscription is not required for Georgia nursing renewal. Georgia’s rules provide basic reporting and recording services without cost to the nurse. Optional upgraded services may add convenience features, but they are not a condition of satisfying the Board’s competency documentation requirement. Georgia Rule Chapter 410-13 establishes the no-cost basic service.

Can employer-provided education count toward my Georgia nursing hours?

Yes, but unaccredited employer-sponsored education can generally provide no more than half of the required contact hours. The activity must have at least one course objective and must be more than routine orientation, equipment instruction, or training on workplace policies. The limit may not apply when the employer’s activity is separately accredited through another accepted provider category.

Is anyone exempt from CE at a first Georgia nursing renewal?

A first-time renewer may be excused from the competency requirement when the initial license period was six months or less. The exemption applies until the second renewal and appears in both the RN and LPN competency rules. A nurse should verify the original issue date and renewal period rather than assuming every first renewal is exempt.

Does completing CE Broker reporting renew my Georgia nursing license?

No. CE Broker records competency evidence, while GOALS processes the license renewal. A compliant CE Broker transcript does not submit the application, pay the renewal fee, or extend an expiration date. Nurses must complete both processes before the applicable deadline. Renewal instructions and account access are available through the Georgia GOALS system.

Does a Georgia APRN renew separately from the RN license?

Yes. A Georgia APRN must renew the underlying RN license before renewing APRN authorization. The nurse submits separate RN and APRN renewal applications. National certification and any role-specific continuing competency obligations should also be checked independently; completing the basic RN requirement does not by itself establish that every certification requirement has been met. Georgia nursing renewal information explains the required order.

References

Requirements and product details reviewed August 25, 2026.