District of Columbia Registered Nurse (RN) License Renewal Requirements

District of Columbia registered nurse licenses are regulated by the DC Board of Nursing, under DC Health (Department of Health), Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA). DC is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact.

At a Glance

Detail	Information
Regulatory Body	DC Board of Nursing (DC Health / HRLA)
Renewal Cycle	Every 2 years
RN Expiration	Last day of birth month (new system as of Sept 2024)
CE Hours Required	24 contact hours (RN); 18 hours (LPN)
Renewal Fee	$195 (on time); $280 (late/reinstatement)
Late Fee	$85
Compact State (NLC)	No
Online Renewal	Yes — DC Health Licensing Portal (Google Chrome only)
CE Tracking	CE Broker

Continuing Education Requirements

RN — 24 Contact Hours Every 2 Years

• 2 hours LGBTQ cultural competency — required for all DC health professionals
• 10% in Director's public health priority topics (approximately 2–3 hours) — topics include responsible opioid prescribing, effective pain management, and other priorities published by the Director
• 3 hours in public health priorities identified by the Director of the Department of Health
• Remaining hours in nursing-related topics from approved providers
• ANCC-accredited courses accepted
• Courses under 1.0 contact hour are not accepted

LPN — 18 Contact Hours Every 2 Years

• 3 hours in HIV/AIDS or Director's Topics
• 2 hours in LGBTQ or cultural awareness

First-Time Renewals

First-time renewals are exempt from CE requirements.

DC-Specific Notes

• Not a compact state. DC does not participate in the NLC or APRN Compact. Out-of-state nurses must apply for DC licensure by endorsement.
• Birth-month expiration (new system). As of September 2024, DC is transitioning licenses to expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month, replacing the previous fixed June 30 date.
• LGBTQ cultural competency training required. 2 hours mandatory for all licensed health professionals in DC — a distinctive requirement.
• Director's public health priority topics. At least 10% of CE must be in topics designated by the Director. These are published periodically and may change.
• CE Broker is the official tracking system. Many approved providers report completions automatically.
• Criminal background check required at every renewal — fingerprint scan or name-based search. Start early to avoid delays.
• 60-day grace period after expiration with $85 late fee. After the grace period, license lapses and reinstatement ($280) is required.
• Google Chrome only for the online licensing portal — Internet Explorer and Edge are not supported.
• Application abandoned after 90 days if incomplete.
• Renewal opens mid-April for June 30 expirations.
• $195 renewal fee is higher than most states.
• Retain CE documentation for at least 3 years.
• Full practice authority for NPs — no physician supervision required.

How to Renew

1. Complete 24 contact hours of approved CE (including mandatory topics)
2. Ensure CE is reported in CE Broker or have certificates ready
3. Log in to DC Health Licensing Portal (Google Chrome)
4. Complete the renewal application
5. Complete criminal background check
6. Pay the $195 renewal fee

Fees

Fee Type	Amount
RN/LPN Renewal	$195
Late Fee	$85
Reinstatement	$280
Initial Application (endorsement)	$280

Contact Information

DC Board of Nursing

• Website: dchealth.dc.gov/bon
• Licensing Portal: DC Health Licensing Portal
• Phone: (202) 442-5955 or (877) 672-2174
• Address: 899 N. Capitol St. NE, Washington, DC 20002

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This page is for informational purposes only. Requirements may change — always verify current requirements with the DC Board of Nursing before renewing. Last reviewed March 2026.

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