California nursing credentialing compliance
Verify before you rely on this. Renewal cycles, CE hours and compact status change as boards and legislatures update their rules, and the figures below have not all been confirmed against current board publications. Treat this page as a starting point and confirm the requirements with the California board before making licensing or staffing decisions.
License types
| License | Renewal cycle | CE hours |
|---|---|---|
Registered Nurse (RN) | 24 months | 30 |
Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) | 24 months | 30 |
Audit gotchas specific to California
- 30 contact hours per 2-year cycle.
- One-time implicit-bias CE required for license issuance/renewal (AB 241).
- Not an NLC compact state — out-of-state staff need a CA license.
Other West states
Requirements differ state by state, so compare against the jurisdictions your staff are most likely to hold licenses in.
- Alaska nursing credentialing
- Arizona nursing credentialing
- Colorado nursing credentialing
- Hawaii nursing credentialing
- Idaho nursing credentialing
- Montana nursing credentialing
- Nevada nursing credentialing
- New Mexico nursing credentialing
- Oregon nursing credentialing
- Utah nursing credentialing
- Washington nursing credentialing
- Wyoming nursing credentialing
Source: state board reference · Last updated May 31, 2026 · All states