Understanding Your 2025 California Nursing License Renewal

• 2024 California nursing license renewal guidelines stipulate that nurses cannot legally work with an expired license.
• Many nurses in California do not have time to keep current with each update they must understand in order to renew their license.
• Nursing CE Central makes renewal easy to manage, with options for LPN, RN, and APRN continuing education in California.

The 2024 California nursing license renewal requirements exist for good reason. Our nurses must keep up as best practices evolve, so they are empowered to provide the highest level of care for their patients. 

However, we know you are facing burnout, staffing shortages and the high demands of a complex healthcare system. Nursing CE Central offers quick, effective courses that earn California nursing CEUs. 

1. What are the CE requirements for the 2024 California nursing license renewal period?

LPNs, RNs, and APRNs must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education courses from a California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) approved provider (such as Nursing CE Central) before their expiration date.

Nursing CE Central’s California Renewal Bundle includes LPN license renewal CE and RN license renewal CE.

APRNs with prescriptive authority are required to complete three contact hours on Schedule II controlled substances and the risks of addiction.

Nursing CE Central also offers a California APRN license renewal bundle.

Certified Nurse Midwives are required to complete two contact hours on Schedule II controlled substances and neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Licensees must complete one hour of direct participation in an implicit bias course within the first two years of obtaining their licensure. The CE hour can count toward the 30 required hours.

If you’ve completed the NCLEX within the past two years and this would be your first renewal, you are exempt from the 30 credit hour requirement. However, you still need to complete an implicit bias course during the first two years of licensure.

2. Can I renew my nurse license now and complete my nursing CE courses later?

 You can begin the California nursing license renewal online application through the BreEZe Services licensing portal, but your continuing education requirements must be met for the renewal to be fully processed. The California BRN explains that “payment will be processed, but your renewal will be considered incomplete.”

3. How can I check that my nursing license renewal application is complete?

After submitting all California nursing license renewal requirements and providing payment, log-off or exit your BreEZe browser window. Then, visit www.breeze.ca.gov and select the ‘License Search‘ button. Click ‘Search by License Number,’ and enter your information. A new expiration date will be listed for licenses that have been successfully renewed. This portal can also be used to look up a nursing license.

4. Can I still work or practice if my renewal is listed as pending?

According to the California BRN, any nurse who has paid their renewal fee and submitted all renewal requirements on time, can continue working through a pending renewal at their employer’s discretion.

5. What happens if I don’t renew my license before it expires?

According to the California BRN, a nurse who pays their renewal fee, but does not complete the required 30 hours of continuing education, will have their license placed on an INACTIVE status. Nurses with an INACTIVE license can not practice in California.

If a nurse misses both the continuing education and payment requirements for renewal, their license will be placed on a DELINQUENT status. DELINQUENT licensees may not practice in California, and are subject to an additional delinquent renewal fee.

6. How long do I need to keep documentation proving I completed my nursing CE requirements?

The California BRN requires that all licensees keep proof of nursing continuing education completion for each state nursing license renewal period for a minimum of four years. This documentation is needed in the event of an audit.

7. How can I get my license active again?

If you miss the license renewal deadline, you must submit proof that you completed 30 hours of continuing education courses within the past two years, certify compliance with the fingerprint requirement, and report any license discipline/convictions. You can do this by logging into your BreEZe account and selecting the “Inactive to Active” option.

If you did not renew your nurse license or complete your CE requirements, you now have a delinquent license. The cost to renew a delinquent license is $280 instead of the normal $190 renewal fee.

Still have questions?

The California Board of Registered Nursing can be contacted at (916) 322-3350, via email, or by visiting their offices at:

Board of Registered Nursing
1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834-1924

Visit our California nursing license renewal page for more information or to enroll for a California nursing license renewal bundle today! 

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