Continuing Education Requirements by Profession and State (2026)
2026-04-05 (Updated 2026-04-10) · 10 min read · Maintenance
Why Continuing Education Matters
Continuing education (CE) is a requirement for maintaining most professional licenses. It ensures practitioners stay current with evolving standards, technologies, and regulations. Failing to complete CE requirements can result in license suspension, fines, or non-renewal. Our database tracks CE requirements across all 53 US jurisdictions and 26 licensed professions.
CE Requirements by Profession
Healthcare Professions
- Registered Nurse (RN): 20-30 hours per 2-year cycle. Often includes mandatory topics: opioid prescribing, cultural competency, domestic violence recognition.
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): 20-24 hours per 2-year cycle. Similar mandatory topics as RN.
- Pharmacist: 30 hours per 2-year cycle (1.5 CEU). Must include immunization training and patient safety.
- Physical Therapist: 20-40 hours per 2-year cycle. Some states require specific clinical hours.
- Dentist: 30-40 hours per 2-year cycle. Must include infection control, opioid prescribing, and CPR.
- EMT/Paramedic: National Registry recertification every 2 years requires 40 hours for EMT, 60 hours for Paramedic.
- Veterinarian: 15-30 hours per 2-year cycle depending on state.
Legal and Finance
- Attorney: 12-24 CLE hours per year (varies widely). Must include 1-4 hours of ethics. Some states require diversity/inclusion training.
- CPA: 40 CPE hours per year (80 per 2-year cycle). Must include ethics, accounting standards, and tax updates.
- Insurance Agent: 24 hours per 2-year cycle. Must include 3 hours of ethics. Specific product knowledge may be required.
Trades and Technical
- Electrician: 8-24 hours per renewal cycle. Focused on NEC code updates and safety.
- Plumber: 4-16 hours per renewal cycle. Code updates and backflow prevention.
- HVAC Technician: 8-16 hours per renewal cycle. Refrigerant handling and energy codes.
- General Contractor: 8-16 hours per renewal cycle. Building codes, safety, business practices.
- Professional Engineer (PE): 15-30 PDH per year. Can include conferences, publications, patents.
Education and Personal Care
- Teacher (K-12): 90-180 clock hours per 3-5 year cycle. Many states accept graduate credits (1 credit = 15 hours).
- Cosmetologist/Barber: 4-16 hours per 1-2 year cycle. Sanitation, safety, technique updates.
- Massage Therapist: 12-24 hours per 2-year cycle. Ethics, technique, anatomy review.
Cost of Continuing Education
CE costs vary dramatically by profession:
- Free options: Many professional associations offer free webinars and resources to members
- Online courses: $5-$50 per credit hour for most professions
- Conferences: $200-$2,000 for multi-day events (but can earn 20-40 CE hours)
- College courses: $300-$1,500 per credit for graduate-level courses
Annual CE costs for most professions fall between $100-$500, though attorneys and CPAs may spend $500-$1,500 on CLE/CPE programs.
Approved Providers and Formats
Most states accept CE from:
- State-approved CE providers
- Professional association programs
- Accredited colleges and universities
- Online platforms (increasingly popular post-2020)
- Employer-sponsored training (with state approval)
Self-study, teaching, and published research may also count toward CE requirements in some professions, particularly engineering and healthcare.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failing to meet CE requirements can result in:
- License suspension or non-renewal
- Late fees (typically double the renewal fee)
- Required to complete deficient hours plus additional penalty hours
- Audit findings that may trigger board investigation
- Inability to practice until requirements are met
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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists
The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many continuing education hours do most licenses require?
The most common CE requirement is 20-40 hours per 2-year renewal cycle. Healthcare professions typically require 20-30 hours, legal professions require 12-24 hours per year, and trades require 8-24 hours per cycle. Teachers often have the highest total requirements at 90-180 hours per 3-5 year cycle.
Can I complete continuing education online?
Yes, most states now accept online CE courses from approved providers. The shift to online CE accelerated significantly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some professions may require a portion of CE to be earned through in-person or hands-on formats, particularly in healthcare and trades.
What happens if I do not complete continuing education?
If you fail to complete required CE before your renewal deadline, your license may not be renewed, resulting in an inability to practice. Most states offer a grace period or late renewal option with additional fees. Repeated non-compliance can lead to disciplinary action or license revocation.
Are there free continuing education options?
Yes, many professional associations offer free CE to members. Government agencies, public health departments, and some employers provide free training. Journals and self-study may count toward CE in some professions. However, you should verify that free resources are from state-approved providers.
Do CE hours from one state count in another state?
CE hours from nationally accredited providers are generally accepted across states. However, state-specific mandatory topics may not transfer. If you hold licenses in multiple states, check each state individual requirements — you may be able to use the same courses to satisfy multiple states CE requirements.