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Nebraska LPN License Renewal 2027: 20 CE Hours + 500 Practice Hours

nebraska ceu requirements Sep 29, 2026

Nebraska LPN license renewal 2027: 20 CE hours and 500 practice hours

Nebraska asks LPNs two questions at renewal time. Have you been working? And have you been learning?

Most states only care about the second one. Nebraska usually wants both: 500 hours of nursing practice in the last five years and 20 contact hours of continuing education in the last two. Every LPN license in the state expires on October 31 of odd-numbered years, so the next deadline is October 31, 2027.

Here's what Nebraska LPN license renewal involves, what counts toward each requirement, and how to renew without a Halloween-night scramble.

Nebraska LPN license renewal at a glance

Deadline: October 31, 2027. Nebraska LPN licenses expire on October 31 of every odd-numbered year.
What most LPNs need: 500 practice hours in the past five years and 20 CE contact hours in the past two years.
Where to renew: Online through Nebraska's licensing system, or on a paper form.
Fee: The active LPN renewal fee was $123 in 2025.
New nurses: If your first Nebraska license was issued during the current renewal period, you don't need CE hours for this renewal.

One Common Nebraska Renewal Path: 500 Practice Hours + 20 CE Hours

Nebraska calls its renewal requirement continuing competency. For most working LPNs, it means both of these:

500 hours of nursing practice during the past five years
20 contact hours of nursing CE from an approved provider during the past two years

The practice half is easier than it sounds. Five hundred hours over five years is about 42 twelve-hour shifts, or less than two hours a week.

The CE half has a tighter window. For the October 31, 2027 renewal, it covers courses you complete from November 1, 2025 on. Courses you took before that won't count this time.

Other ways to meet Nebraska's continuing competency requirement

If the practice-plus-CE route doesn't fit your situation, Nebraska offers other options. You only need to meet one:

You graduated from a nursing program more than two but less than five years ago and completed 20 CE contact hours in the past two years.
You graduated from a nursing program within the last two years.
You completed an approved refresher course within the last five years.
You hold a current certification in a nursing specialty from a nationally recognized certifying organization.
You keep a portfolio with your current competency goals and proof of the professional activities you used to meet them.

How many CE hours do LPNs need in Nebraska?

Twenty contact hours in the two years before you renew, if you're using a CE route. RNs need the same 20.

If your first Nebraska license was issued during the current renewal period, the Board doesn't require CE hours for that first renewal.

What counts toward your 20 hours

Any board of nursing's approval works. The Nebraska Board of Nursing accepts programs approved by any board of nursing. It also accepts providers accredited by the ANCC and by Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education.
Online is fine. There's no limit on online or home-study hours, so all 20 can come from the internet.
CPR and BLS are capped. You can count no more than 4 hours from CPR and BLS combined.
Advanced certifications: For certifications like ACLS or PALS, you can claim the hours listed on your certificate. If none are listed, a current certification counts as 4 contact hours.
CME doesn't count for LPNs. Continuing medical education is only accepted for APRNs.
College courses: One semester hour equals 15 contact hours.

How to renew your Nebraska LPN license online

For 2027, Nebraska nursing license renewal happens online at nebraska.mylicense.com, or you can mail in a paper application. Either way, it has to be done or postmarked by October 31.

Go to nebraska.mylicense.com and start your LPN renewal.
Choose the continuing competency option you met. For most LPNs, that's 500 practice hours plus 20 CE hours.
Pay your renewal fee. The active LPN fee was $123 in 2025.

You don't send practice records or CE certificates when you renew. Keep them in case you're audited.

One warning from the Board: renewing at midnight on October 31 doesn't guarantee you'll have a license to work on November 1. Processing can take up to a week, so renew in early October at the latest.

What happens if your Nebraska nursing license expires?

If you don't renew by October 31, your license expires, and you can't work as a nurse until it's reinstated. You'll have to apply for reinstatement, meet the continuing competency requirements, and pay the renewal and reinstatement fees.

Working on an expired license gets expensive, too. The renewal form warns of an administrative penalty of $10 per day, up to $1,000.

Not working as a nurse right now? You can choose inactive status when you renew, and there's no charge for that. To go active again later, you'll need to meet the continuing competency requirements and pay a reinstatement fee.

What to expect from a Nebraska nursing CE audit

After each renewal period, the Board picks a percentage of nurses at random for an audit. If you're selected, you'll need to send documentation showing you met the continuing competency option you chose.

For most LPNs, that means your CE certificates plus something that shows your practice hours. The Board's FAQ doesn't say how long to keep them. Since the practice rule looks back five years, holding on to everything for five years is a safe habit.

Get your 20 hours done with LVN Learning Institute

Looking for online CE for your Nebraska LPN license? Our Nebraska LPN continuing education bundle covers all 20 contact hours:

20 contact hours
Self-paced online courses
No tests
Instant certificates when you finish
One payment of $26.99, no subscription

LVN Learning Institute is a California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) approved Continuing Education Provider, CEP #15135. The Nebraska Board of Nursing accepts programs approved by any board of nursing.

Get the Nebraska LPN 20-Hour CE Bundle →

Nebraska LPN license renewal FAQs

When do Nebraska LPN licenses expire?

October 31 of every odd-numbered year. The next deadline is October 31, 2027.

What are the Nebraska LPN CE requirements?

Most LPNs need 20 contact hours of nursing CE from an approved provider in the past two years, plus 500 hours of nursing practice in the past five years. Other options, like a refresher course or a specialty certification, can take the place of that combination.

How much does it cost to renew an LPN license in Nebraska?

The Nebraska LPN license renewal fee for an active license was $123 in 2025. Check the current renewal form before you renew.

Does Nebraska accept CE approved by other states?

Yes. The Nebraska Board of Nursing accepts programs approved by any board of nursing.

Can I do all of my Nebraska CE online?

Yes. Nebraska has no limit on online or home-study hours.

Do CPR and BLS count toward Nebraska CE?

Only up to 4 hours. CPR and BLS combined can't make up more than 4 of your 20 hours.

Do new graduates need CE for their first Nebraska renewal?

No. If your first Nebraska license was issued during the current renewal period, CE hours aren't required for that renewal. Nurses who graduated within the last two years also meet the requirement through that option.

What if I haven't worked 500 hours in the last five years?

You'll need another option. If you graduated more than two but less than five years ago, 20 CE hours can cover you. Otherwise, look at an approved refresher course, a nursing specialty certification, or a portfolio.

Plan now, renew early in October

October 31, 2027 falls on a Sunday, and it's Halloween. Don't make it the night you renew. Chip away at your 20 hours over the next year, make sure your practice hours add up, and renew in early October so the Board has time to process it.

Start the Nebraska LPN 20-Hour CE Bundle →

Sources

This article is general information based on Nebraska Board of Nursing rules as of September 2026. Rules and fees change, so check with the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit if you're unsure about your situation.