If you hold a California LVN license, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) requires 30 contact hours of approved continuing education every two-year renewal cycle. All 30 hours are elective — you choose topics relevant to your practice — and your first renewal after initial licensure is exempt. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
30 hours / 2 years
Thirty BVNPT-approved contact hours each biennial renewal cycle.
All elective
No state-mandated subject; all 30 hours can be in topics relevant to your practice.
First cycle exempt
LVNs are exempt from CE for their first renewal after initial licensure.
Keep records 4 years
Retain CE certificates for four years in case of audit.
How many CE hours California LVNs need
California requires 30 contact hours of approved continuing education every two years for LVN renewal. All 30 hours are elective and may be in any subject relevant to your nursing practice.
Mandated subject requirements
California does not impose a mandatory CE subject for LVN renewal — all 30 hours are elective. Hours must be earned through BVNPT-approved providers (the Board also accepts California BRN- and ANCC-accredited courses).
Renewal cycle and deadlines
California LVN licenses renew every two years. Your first renewal after initial licensure is exempt from the CE requirement; thereafter, complete and document 30 hours each cycle. Retain certificates for four years.
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View pricingCalifornia Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) CME at a glance
Always confirm with your licensing board
California licenses Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) through the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. LVNs complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years; all 30 hours are elective. The first renewal after initial licensure is exempt from CE.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians before relying on these figures.
Source: Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. 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 California or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
California LVN CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do California LVNs need?
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30 approved contact hours every two years.
Are there mandatory CE topics for California LVNs?
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No — all 30 hours are elective and may be in any subject relevant to your practice.
Is my first LVN renewal exempt from CE?
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Yes — the first renewal following initial licensure does not require the 30 hours of CE.
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