Hours required, cycle length, ethics minimums, and where to verify the rules for your license. Numbers below are typical — your state board has the final say.
Hours and cycles below come from the relevant boards or certifying bodies. Many professions also have state-by-state variations on top of these baselines.
| Profession | Hours | Cycle | Ethics required | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (RN, IL) | 20 contact hours | 2 years | Varies by state | WashU CME / IL Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation |
| APRN (IL) | 80 hours | 2 years | Varies by state | WashU CME |
| Physician Assistant (IL) | 100 hours | 2 years | Varies by state | WashU CME |
| Physician (IL) | 150 hours | 3 years | Varies by state | WashU CME |
| Enrolled Agent (IRS) | 72 hours, min. 16/year | 3 years | 2 hours per year | IRS, FAQs Enrolled Agent CE |
| CFP | 30 hours | 2 years | 2 hours per cycle | CFP Board |
| CPA (typical state) | 80–120 hours | 2–3 years | 4 hours typical | State board of accountancy |
| ARRT (radiologic tech) | 24 CE credits | 2 years (biennium) | Varies | ARRT |
| NHA-certified allied health | 10 CE credits | 2 years | 1 included | NHA |
| CompTIA certifications | Varies by certification | 3 years | — | CompTIA |
| NMLS Mortgage Loan Originator | 8 hours | 1 year (Dec 31 deadline) | 1 hour ethics | NMLS |
| FINRA Regulatory Element | Annual module | 1 year (Dec 31 deadline) | Built into module | FINRA Rule 1240 |
| Insurance producer (typical) | 24 hours | 2 years | 3 hours typical | NIPR / state DOI |
| Real estate agent (varies) | 12–24 hours | 1–4 years | Varies (often required) | State real estate commission |
| ABCOP credential holder | Varies by credential | 5 years | Required | ABCOP |
Numbers above are the typical baseline. State variations, specialty endorsements, and changes in board rules apply. Always verify with your specific licensing authority before planning a cycle.
Each profession has an authoritative source. Bookmark yours and check it once a cycle — rules change, hour requirements shift, and ethics minimums get added.
Your state board of nursing, board of medicine, or specialty certifying body (ARRT, NHA, NABP CPE Monitor for pharmacists). Hospital systems often have CE coordinators who track for staff.
IRS PTIN account for enrolled agents and tax preparers. CFP Board for financial planners. FINRA FinPro for registered reps. State board of accountancy for CPAs.
State real estate commission for agents and brokers. NMLS for mortgage loan originators. Each state sets its own hour totals and approved courses on top of NMLS.
NIPR.com for transcripts across states. Your state department of insurance sets line-specific hours (long-term care, flood, annuity). PSI online CE tracking system handles many states.
Knowing you need 30 hours over 2 years doesn't mean stacking them into the last quarter. Boards run audits on rushed late filings, course providers run out of seats near deadlines, and ethics or specialty hours often have stricter approval requirements that take time to finish.
A reasonable pace is roughly your cycle's hour total divided evenly across each year, with a 90-day buffer before the deadline for any required specialty credits. For a 30-hour CFP cycle, that's about 15 hours per year, with the last quarter set aside for ethics and any gap-filling.
Once you know your hour total, the next move is locking in the deadline so the cycle doesn't slip. See CE credit reminders for setting up advance notice, or check what happens if you miss the deadline if you're already late.
Set a reminder for your renewal date so the hour count translates into actual planning time.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
It varies by state. Most states require 20 to 30 contact hours every 2 years for RNs. Illinois, for example, sets 20 hours per 2-year renewal cycle. APRNs in Illinois need 80 hours per 2-year cycle. Always verify with your state board of nursing — requirements shift.
Most state CPA boards require 80 hours per 2-year cycle or 120 hours per 3-year cycle, with at least 4 hours of ethics. Some states require 40 hours every year. The AICPA also requires its members to meet 120 hours per 3 years. Confirm with your specific state board of accountancy.
Enrolled agents must complete 72 hours of CE every 3 years, with a minimum of 16 hours per year and 2 hours of ethics each year. This is set by the IRS, not state-by-state. You can verify completed credits in your PTIN account under "Continuing Education Credits."
Most states require 12 to 24 hours per renewal cycle, with cycles running 1 to 4 years. Texas, for example, requires 18 hours every 2 years. California requires 45 hours every 4 years. Some states mandate specific topics like fair housing, ethics, or agency law.
Most states require 24 hours every 2 years, with 3 hours of ethics included. Some states require additional hours for long-term care, flood, or annuity lines. Florida and California have notable variations. Check NIPR.com or your state department of insurance for state-specific requirements.
CE cycles run 1, 2, 3, or 5 years depending on profession. Annual: NMLS mortgage loan originators, IRS enrolled agents (minimum yearly), FINRA Regulatory Element. Biennial: most nurses, ARRT, NHA certifications. Triennial: physicians, CompTIA, CPAs in many states. 5-year: ABCOP-credentialed prosthetists.
Usually no. Ethics hours count toward your total but must be specifically labeled as ethics. Enrolled agents need 2 ethics hours per year as part of the 72-hour total. CFPs need 2 ethics hours within their 30 hours per 2 years. The board rejects filings that meet the total but skip the ethics requirement.
Free email reminder for your CE renewal date. Get notice in advance so the hour total turns into a paced plan, not a last-minute rush.
Set My CE ReminderLast modified: