The Alabama Board of Nursing requires registered nurses to complete 24 contact hours of Board-approved or Board-recognized continuing education every two-year renewal period. There are no topic-specific subject mandates for standard RN renewal, but newly licensed nurses must also complete a one-time 4 contact hour Board-provided orientation course. Hours must be earned within the current license period and cannot be rolled over from a prior cycle.
24 hours / 2 years
Twenty-four Board-approved contact hours each biennial renewal cycle.
New licensee course
A one-time 4 contact hour Board-provided orientation course for first renewal.
No carryover
Surplus hours cannot be carried into a future renewal cycle.
Renewal window
September 1 through December 31 of the renewal year (even years for single-state RNs).
How many CE hours Alabama RNs need
Alabama requires 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years from a Board-approved or Board-recognized provider. Hours must be earned within the dates of the current license period; surplus hours cannot be carried over to the next cycle.
Mandated subject requirements
There are no specific subject-matter mandates for standard RN renewal in Alabama. Newly licensed RNs, however, must complete a one-time 4 contact hour Board-provided orientation course covering the Nurse Practice Act, Board regulations, professional conduct, and accountability, which counts toward the 24-hour total at first renewal.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Alabama RN licenses renew biennially. The renewal window opens September 1 and closes at 4:30 p.m. on December 31 of the renewal year. Single-state RNs renew in even-numbered years; multistate (compact) RNs renew in odd-numbered years.
Know exactly what CME you need.
Tell us your license type, state, and renewal date. We map your required hours, the state-mandated topics, and your deadline — a clear, personalized plan for a flat $99.
View pricingAlabama Registered Nurses (RN) CME at a glance
- Board-Provided Orientation Course (first renewal)4 hrs · one time
Newly licensed RNs must complete a one-time 4 contact hour Board-provided course covering Board functions, the Nurse Practice Act, regulations, professional conduct, and accountability. These hours count toward the 24-hour total for the first renewal.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Alabama RN licenses renew biennially. The renewal window opens September 1 and closes at 4:30 p.m. on December 31 of the renewal year; single-state RNs renew in even-numbered years and multistate (compact) RNs renew in odd-numbered years. Hours must be earned within the current license period and cannot be carried over.
CME requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Alabama Board of Nursing before relying on these figures.
Source: Alabama Board of Nursing. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Nurse Licensure Compact: active. Active. One multistate RN/LPN license from the home state authorizes practice in member states; practice-state requirements (including CE) may still overlay.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Also licensing in Alabama or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Alabama Registered Nurse CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE contact hours do Alabama RNs need?
+
24 Board-approved contact hours every two years.
Is there a course required for newly licensed Alabama RNs?
+
Yes — new RNs must complete a one-time 4 contact hour Board-provided orientation course covering the Nurse Practice Act and Board regulations, which counts toward the 24-hour total at first renewal.
Can I carry over extra CE hours in Alabama?
+
No. Hours must be earned within the current license period; surplus hours cannot be rolled into a future cycle.
Related
Need help meeting your Alabama RN CE before renewal?
Tell us your license type and renewal month and we'll map the fastest compliant path — required hours, mandated topics, and your deadline — for a flat $99.
- Flat $99 per plan
- Every license type
- All 50 states
Get my CME plan
Tell us your license type, state, and renewal — we'll map exactly what you need.