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Renewal requirements by state › District of Columbia
District of Columbia license renewal
District of Columbia nursing CE renewal requirements
District of Columbia RNs renew every two years and need 24 contact hours of continuing education each renewal, and some of those hours may need to be on the required topics below.
District of Columbia APRNs renew every two years and need 24 contact hours of continuing education each renewal, including 15 contact hours of pharmacology.
✓ Verified October 8, 2026 against District of Columbia’s board of nursing, state rules and the Nurse Licensure Compact. Sources are listed below.
At a glance
- Renewal cycle
- Every two years
- RN continuing education
- 24 contact hours
- APRN continuing education
- 24 contact hours
- Nurse Licensure Compact
- Passed, not yet in effect
- Reports to CE Broker
- Yes
Required topics
“Part of the total” hours count toward the overall requirement; “on top of the total” hours are extra.
RNs
| Topic | Hours | How often | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGBTQ+ cultural competencyAll RNs | 2 | Every renewal | Part of the total |
| DC Health public health prioritiesAll RNs | 2.5 | Every renewal | Part of the total |
APRNs (in addition to RN requirements)
| Topic | Hours | How often | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| PharmacologyAll APRNs - 15 of the 24 hours | 15 | Every renewal | Part of the total |
RN renewal in detail
- Flat 24 hours per cycle.
- Your first renewal after licensure is exempt from the CE requirement.
- When it expires: Legacy licenses expired 30 Jun 2026; credentials issued on/after 16 Jun 2024 expire last day of birth month (even/odd year by birth year); shortened transition terms need 50% of CE but full LGBTQ and public-health hours.
APRN renewal in detail
- Same 24 hours; 15 of them must be pharmacology.
- APRNs must hold a current national certification.
- Your first renewal after licensure is exempt from the CE requirement.
- When it expires: Legacy licenses expired 30 Jun 2026; credentials issued on/after 16 Jun 2024 expire last day of birth month (even/odd year by birth year); shortened transition terms need 50% of CE but full LGBTQ and public-health hours.
Using HIVE Nurse for your hours
HIVE Nurse is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #50-57054). Boards differ on whether they accept CE from a provider approved by another state’s board, so check District of Columbia’s rules before you count a course.
The renewal checker builds your own list from these rules and can remind you before your license expires.
Sources
Some details for District of Columbia are being re-confirmed with the board. Check the source before you renew.
Rules change. Your board’s website is the final word.