New York Nursing CE Requirements (2026): 4 Hours Every 3 Years
Requirements Overview
New York has one of the lowest general CE requirements in the United States, requiring registered nurses to complete only 4 contact hours per 3-year registration period. Renewal is based on birth month, and courses must be from ANCC-accredited providers.
In addition to the 4-hour general CE, two mandated training requirements operate on separate cycles. Infection control and barrier precautions training is required every 4 years (not aligned with the 3-year renewal) and must cover seven core elements including infection prevention, sepsis awareness, and HIV/hepatitis B transmission prevention. The child abuse and maltreatment mandated reporter course is a one-time requirement, though an updated curriculum must be completed by November 17, 2026 due to Social Services Law 413 amendments.
Recent graduates from NYSED-approved programs are exempt from infection control training for 4 years after graduation. Nurses who live outside New York, don't practice in the state, and attest they won't practice during the next registration period may also be exempt from infection control coursework.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infection Control and Barrier Precautions | — | Periodic | Required every 4 years (separate from the 3-year renewal cycle). No strict minimum hours set by law, but NYSED anticipates 2-4 hours to cover content. Must cover seven core elements including infection prevention, sepsis awareness, barrier precautions, HIV and hepatitis B transmission prevention. |
| Child Abuse and Maltreatment Mandated Reporter Training | 2 | One-time | One-time requirement for licensure. Updated curriculum required by November 17, 2026 due to amendments to Social Services Law 413. 15-minute addendum option available for those trained between Nov 1, 2022–Aug 31, 2025. |
Exemptions
- Infection Control Exemption (Out-Of-State) — Exempt from infection control coursework if you live outside New York, don't practice in New York, and attest you won't practice during the next registration period.Must still complete general CE hours.
- Infection Control Exemption (Recent Graduate) — If graduated from NYSED-approved program within past 4 years, infection control requirement is satisfied.Only applies to infection control mandate.
- Child Abuse Exemption — Exempt if you document no professional contact with persons under age 18 based on the nature of your practice.Must document the exemption basis.
How You Can Complete Your CE
New York CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to New York that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — No carry-over provisions specified in New York CE requirements.
- New York has one of the lowest general CE requirements in the US at only 4 hours per 3-year cycle.
- Infection control training operates on a separate 4-year cycle from the 3-year registration renewal.
- Child abuse mandated reporter training curriculum was updated in 2024 (Social Services Law 413 amendments). All nurses must complete the updated training by November 17, 2026.
- New York is NOT a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
- Nurses with prescriptive authority (NPs) have additional 3-hour pain management/palliative care/addiction requirement every 3 years (not applicable to standard RNs).
Provider Requirements
ANCC-accredited (American Nurses Credentialing Center) providers. Courses must be approved by NYSED for mandated training (infection control and child abuse).
Tips for New York RNs
- Track the infection control training cycle separately from your 3-year renewal — it operates on its own 4-year schedule and the deadlines won't always align.
- Complete the updated child abuse mandated reporter training by November 17, 2026. If you were trained between November 2022 and August 2025, a 15-minute addendum option is available.
- With only 4 required CE hours every 3 years, consider completing them early in the cycle to avoid last-minute issues around your renewal date.
- New York is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact. If you plan to practice in other states, you will need separate licenses for each.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions's official rules and continuing-education sources and recorded with the exact source excerpt. Last verified Mar 2026. Read how we compile and verify this data.