Arizona Registered Nurse: CE & renewal requirements

No fixed CE-hour count — Arizona uses a practice-competency model (no CE hours); RN licenses renew every 4 years.

Renews every 4 years (not 2). Competency via one of: 960 practice hours in 5 years, a nursing degree, a refresher course, or an advanced degree.

Source: Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN) · confirmed 2026-06. Requirements change — always verify with the board.

First renewal & exemptions

No CE to exempt from — meeting any single competency pathway satisfies renewal.

If your license lapses

Practicing on an expired license is unlawful; reinstatement may require a refresher course if competency can't be shown.

How CE is tracked

Attest competency at online renewal in the AZBN portal; may be audited.

Watch out: Arizona has NO CE-hour requirement for RNs and a 4-YEAR cycle — the 960 hours is active practice, not continuing education.

Are you on track? Check free

Arizona doesn't use a single CE-hour number here, so enter the hour-based requirement that applies to your situation (or just track your renewal date). No signup.

Informational only, based on the numbers you enter — not legal or licensing advice, and not an official record. Confirm your exact requirement and current status with the Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN).