Nursing (RN)NC
North Carolina Registered Nurse (RN) License Renewal Requirements
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North Carolina Registered Nurse (RN) License Renewal Requirements
North Carolina registered nurse licenses are regulated by the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON). North Carolina is a member of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Body | North Carolina Board of Nursing |
| Renewal Cycle | Every 2 years |
| Expiration | Last day of birth month |
| CE Hours Required | 30 contact hours (or alternative pathway) |
| Renewal Fee | $100 |
| Compact State (NLC) | Yes (eNLC member) |
| Online Renewal | Yes — Nurse Gateway portal |
Continuing Competency Requirements
Choose one of the following eight pathways:
- 15 CE hours + 640 practice hours: 15 contact hours of CE and 640 hours of active practice within the previous 2 years
- 30 CE contact hours: Complete 30 hours of approved CE
- National certification/recertification: By a national credentialing body recognized by the Board (APRNs must maintain national certification)
- Board-approved refresher course
- Academic education: Minimum 2 semester hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice
- Nursing project: 15 CE hours + completion of a nursing project as principal/co-principal investigator
- Published article: 15 CE hours + authoring/co-authoring a published nursing-related article, paper, book, or book chapter
- CE presentation: 15 CE hours + developing and conducting nursing CE presentation(s) totaling at least 5 contact hours
North Carolina-Specific Notes
- Compact state. If NC is your primary state of residence, you may hold a multistate license. NC will NOT issue an active license when the nurse claims another compact state as their primary residence.
- Birth-month expiration. License expires on the last day of your birth month.
- No grace period. License automatically expires at midnight on the last day of the expiration month. You cannot practice with an expired license — reinstatement application required.
- No unlimited online CE. There is no limit on the number of hours completed online.
- Submit evidence only if audited. You do not need to submit CE documentation at renewal unless specifically notified by the Board through a random audit.
- Application valid for 12 months. If incomplete after 12 months, the application is discarded.
- Inactive status: If continuing competence requirements are not met, the license is placed on inactive status until compliance is achieved.
- Lapsed 5+ years: Must complete a Board-approved refresher course.
- Military fee waiver: Active-duty military or spouses may qualify for application fee waiver.
- Only Visa and MasterCard accepted for payment.
How to Renew
- Complete one of the eight continuing competency pathways
- Log in to the Nurse Gateway portal
- Complete the online renewal application
- Pay the $100 renewal fee
- Retain CE documentation — submit only if selected for audit
Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| RN/LPN Renewal | $100 |
| Endorsement Application | $150 |
| Temporary License (endorsement) | Included in application |
Contact Information
North Carolina Board of Nursing
- Website: ncbon.com
- Renewal: ncbon.com/rnlpn-renewal
- Continuing Competence: ncbon.com/rn-lpn-continuing-competence
- Nurse Gateway: ncbon.com (login)
This page is for informational purposes only. Requirements may change — always verify current requirements with the North Carolina Board of Nursing before renewing. Last reviewed March 2026.
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