Idaho Board of Nursing
Idaho Nursing CE Requirements
Idaho does not require continuing education hours for RNs and LPNs to renew.
At a glance
Idaho nursing license renewal
| Licenses covered | Registered nurse (RN), Licensed practical nurse (LPN) [1] |
|---|---|
| CE required for renewal | No [1] |
| CE period | Every 2 years [2] |
| Renewal deadline | RN licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years; from April 1, 2026 the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses is moving licensees to 2-year licenses that expire on their birthdays. [3] |
Good to know
- Under the Board's current rules, LPN and RN renewal consists of submitting the completed renewal application and renewal fee, dated no later than August 31 of the renewal year. [1]
- The Board's 2022 rulemaking analysis proposed eliminating the former rule that required RNs and LPNs to have 15 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle. [5]
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must document completion of a peer review process to renew. [2]
Rules change, and your own license record decides your deadline. Confirm with the Idaho Board of Nursing ↗ before you renew.
Free continuing education
Free nursing CE
Idaho does not require CE hours for renewal, but free courses remain useful for practice and certification. Each course lists its own accreditation.
Questions
Idaho nursing CE, answered
How many CE hours do Idaho nurses need?
Idaho does not require continuing education hours for RNs and LPNs to renew. RN licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years; from April 1, 2026 the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses is moving licensees to 2-year licenses that expire on their birthdays.
Sources & verification
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. We fetched each page on the date shown and confirmed the exact wording below appears on it.
- IDAPA 24.34.01 — Rules of the Idaho Board of Nursing ↗adminrules.idaho.gov · PDF · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (3)
“LPN, RN, and APRN License Renewal. The original completed renewal application and renewal fee as prescribed in Section 400 of these rules, are submitted to the Board”
“The original completed renewal application and renewal fee as prescribed in Section 400 of these rules, are submitted to the Board and dated not later than August 31 of the appropriate renewal year.”
“LPN, RN, and APRN License Renewal. The original completed renewal application and renewal fee as prescribed in Section 400 of these rules, are submitted to the Board and dated not later than August 31 of the appropriate renewal year.”
- Idaho State Legislature — Section 54-1411 Renewal and reinstatement of license ↗legislature.idaho.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (2)
“No license shall be valid unless renewed each and every two (2) years on the renewal dates fixed by the board.”
“Certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse practitioners desiring license renewal must provide proof, satisfactory to the board, of the applicant’s competence to practice by documenting completion of a peer review process.”
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Board of Nursing ↗dopl.idaho.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (1)
“Registered Nurse (RN) August 31st (Odd Years)”
- Idaho DOPL — Big changes are on the way! Stay informed about important licensure updates that may impact your renewal cycle ↗dopl.idaho.gov · HTML · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (1)
“Beginning April 1, 2026; The Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) begins transitioning to 2-year licenses that expire on the licensee’s birthday.”
- Idaho DOPL — Prospective Analysis, Board of Nursing, IDAPA 24.34.01 ↗dopl.idaho.gov · PDF · Retrieved Oct 12, 2026
Quoted wording (3)
“The proposed rule eliminates the current rule in place for continuing education requirements for RN's and LPN's.”
“The proposed rule eliminates the current rule in place for continuing education requirements for RN's and LPN's.”
“The current rule requires RN's and LPN's to have 15 contact hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle.”