How many CE hours do Louisiana nurses need?

Louisiana requires 30 board-approved contact hours OR 900 practice hours, completed during the 2-year licensure period on a license renews annually, but the ce/practice requirement is measured over the 2-year licensure period cycle.

CE Marketplace / Louisiana CE Requirements

Louisiana Nursing CE Requirements

Everything Louisiana RNs need for license renewal — required contact hours, renewal cycle, mandatory topics, and the best continuing-education providers, in one place.

Required Hours

30 board-approved contact hours OR 900 practice hours, completed during the 2-year licensure period

Renewal Cycle

License renews ANNUALLY, but the CE/practice requirement is measured over the 2-year licensure period

Tracking / Reporting

Self-attested at renewal. No less than 3% of RNs/APRNs are randomly audited (around March). Submit proof only if selected.

Renewal Deadline

Renew each year through the LSBN portal; the renewal window closes December 31, with a late period through January 31 ($50 late fee). At midnight Jan 31 unrenewed licenses expire.

Required & specialty topics

Complete ONE of: 30 board-approved contact hours of CE; OR 900 practice hours verified by your employer on the LSBN form (qualifying academic coursework can substitute for CE hours).
APRNs: national certification satisfies RN renewal; APRNs with prescriptive authority complete 6 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics each year (3 related to controlled substances when renewing that authority).

New & first-time renewals

RNs licensed for the first time by exam or endorsement are NOT required to meet the CE / practice-hour minimum during their initial licensure period.

Good to know

No mandatory CE topics for RNs. Practice hours need not be performed in Louisiana.
Louisiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. LPNs (regulated by a separate board) have no CE requirement.

Official source

Requirements change. Always confirm the current rules directly with the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) before you renew.

Visit the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) →

Recommended CE providers for Louisiana nurses

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NurseCE4Less · $59 / yr unlimited

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Nurse.com

Large accredited library with structured state renewal packages and built-in CE tracking.

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Elite Learning

Unlimited CE passes covering required state topics, with mobile access and reporting.

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LearnTastic

ANCC-accredited, state-specific CE bundles you can buy as a package — pay only for the hours you need.

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NetCE

One of the largest jointly-accredited CE providers, with a deep catalog of individual courses and special offers.

Per-course / bundle Mobile access Large accredited course catalog

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Verify before you rely on this. This page is a free planning guide, not legal or licensing advice. Nursing CE rules change and individual situations vary (specialty, license type, first renewal, endorsement). Confirm your exact requirements with the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN) before completing any course or renewal.

Last verified 2026-05-29 · Source: Louisiana State Board of Nursing (lsbn.state.la.us). Some links on this page may be affiliate links; if you purchase through them, The RN Network may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.