Licensing

Understanding Your 2024 NYS Nursing License Renewal Requirements

  • 2024 New York State nursing license renewal guidelines stipulate that nurses cannot legally work with an expired license.
  • Many nurses in New York 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 LPNs, RNs, and APRNs continuing education in New York.

NCC News & Content Team

October 17, 2024
new york nursing license renewal

The 2024 New York State 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 New York state nursing CEUs. 

In the state of New York, RNs must renew their licenses every three years on their birth month, or they will incur a $10 late fee for every month they are late renewing.

1. What are the 2024 New York State nursing license renewal CE requirements?

Nurses who graduated from a New York State Education Department nursing education program before Sept. 1, 1990, must complete a two-hour course on child abuse reporting before they are issued a license.

They must also complete NYSED-approved infection control coursework every four years. Nurses who can verify that they completed infection-control coursework in the past four years that met minimum state requirements can apply for an exemption. 

Nursing CE Central provides both courses, which the New York Board of Nursing accepts for license renewals.

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

Nursing CE Central’s New York APRN Bundle includes APRN license renewal CE.

APRNs with DEA registration are required to complete at least three contact hours of continuing education every three years.

The contact hours must cover all of the following topics:

  • New York State and federal requirements for prescribing controlled substances
  • Pain management
  • Appropriate prescribing
  • Managing acute pain
  • Palliative medicine
  • Prevention, screening, and signs of addiction
  • Responses to abuse and addiction
  • End-of-life care

APRNs without DEA registration have no specific continuing education requirements at this time.

2. Which nurses must complete CE requirements in New York State?

RNs and LPNs must fulfill CE requirements to renew a nurse license in New York.

3. Are nurses required to complete a test to fulfill the New York CE requirements?

The mandated child abuse reporting course requires completion of a post-test to receive credit for the course when renewing a nursing license.

4. Do nurses need to use CE Broker to submit completed continuing education certificates?

No. They must submit completed certificates directly to the New York State Education Department to renew a LPN or RN license.

5. Do nurses have to keep documentation proving they completed their CE requirements?

Yes. It’s recommended that nurses retain CE certificates for at least five years in case of a random audit or a disciplinary investigation from the board.

Nursing CE Central keeps a record of all completed certificates, and they can be easily accessed by logging into the website.

6. How often do I need to renew my license?

In New York State, RNs and LPNs must renew their licenses every three years on their birth month.

Nurse preparing for the NYS nursing license renewal online

7. What happens if I don’t renew my license on time?

NYSED will mail your nurse license renewal application four months before your license’s expiration date. If you fail to renew your license prior to the expiration date, your registration status will show as inactive at the beginning of the new registration period (your birth month).

You’ll have to reactivate your registration status by submitting a delayed registration application. You cannot practice with an inactive or expired license and will have to pay the $73 fee plus a $10 late fee for every month your registration has been inactive.

8. How can I renew my nursing license?  

You can renew your nursing license through the New York Office of the Professions’ online license renewal service.

9. What materials or information do I need to use the New York Office of the Professions’ online renewal service?

You’ll need the registration renewal document that was mailed to you. This contains your license number and your pin number, which are needed to renew a nursing license online. A valid payment method will also be needed for RN and LPN license renewal fees.

10. How can I verify the status of my license?

Visit the online nursing license verification page to verify your license status.

NYS Nursing License Renewal

Still have questions?

You can contact the NYS BON board through their website, email, phone, fax, or traditional mail.

Phone number: (518) 474-3817

Fax number: (518) 474-3706

Address: New York State Education Department Office of the Professions
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234

Their office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

Visit our NYS nursing license renewal page for more information or to enroll for a New York State nursing license renewal bundle today!

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