DC Board of Nursing · RN

24 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birth month.

Below is exactly what DC Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from DBN~4 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 11, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 24 hours is the total CME requirement. District of Columbia also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 24-hour total.

Cultural Competency & Health Equity[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 of the 24 contact hours must be on LGBTQ cultural competency. The DC BON CE Methods of Compliance PDF lists '2 hours in LGTBQ or Cultural Awareness,' and the governing statute D.C. Code § 3-1205.10(b)(5)(A) requires 2 credits of cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on LGBTQ patients. Counts toward the 24-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“require that any continuing education requirements for the practice of any health occupation licensed, registered, or certified under this section include 2 credits of instruction on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression ("LGBTQ").”
D.C. Code § 3-1205.10(b)(5)(A)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Public Health Priority Topics[2]
2.4 hrs
Biennial
17 DCMR § 5406.1(b) sets DC RN public-health-priority CE at ten percent (10%) of the 24-hour total, i.e. 2.4 hours. The statutory HIV/AIDS-specific 3-credit mandate (D.C. Code § 3-1205.10(b)(4)) is separately WAIVED for registered nursing by 17 DCMR § 5406.2, pursuant to § 3-1205.10(b-1)(3) — so there is no live, additive HIV/AIDS obligation; HIV/AIDS content is absorbed into the Director's public-health-priorities topics under 'sexual and reproductive health.' Topics identified by the Director include: sexual and reproductive health, chronic disease management, One Health, healthcare professional retention/capacity building (including suicide prevention, burnout, substance use, and implicit bias/cultural humility/CLAS), and community and patient safety. Counts toward the 24-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Ten percent (10%) of the total shall be in subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed necessary.”
17 DCMR § 5406.1(b)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your District of Columbia cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, District of Columbia Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
DC Board of Nursing recognizes CE from ANCC-accredited providers. The DC Board also recognizes CE from registered nurse organizations, health services organizations recognized by the Board, accredited educational institutions, and CME certified by the American Medical Association.Sourcehttps://dchealth.dc.gov/service/education-resources-nurses[3]
Board-approved credit
CE from health care facilities, institutions, organizations, colleges, schools, or universities accredited by the Secretary of the US Department of Education. Certificate of Participation required after each CE activity.Sourcehttps://dchealth.dc.gov/service/education-resources-nurses[3]
Documentation & audit

Effective June 16, 2024, DC nursing licenses now expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month rather than a fixed renewal date (previously June 30). This change aligns DC with the birth-month renewal model used by many states.

Waivers & exemptions

Nurses who have not practiced in DC during the previous licensing cycle or who do not see patients in clinical settings may qualify for exemptions per D.C. Code § 3-1205.10.

FAQ
Is the District of Columbia a Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction?
No. DC is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). All nurses practicing registered nursing in DC must hold a DC-issued license. There are no compact multistate privileges in DC.
What are the Director's Topics requirement for DC nurses?
DC requires 2.4 contact hours (10% of the 24-hour total) per biennial period on public health topics identified by the DC Director of Health. The current five domains are: sexual and reproductive health; chronic disease management; One Health; healthcare professional retention and capacity building (including suicide prevention, burnout, and substance use); and community and patient safety. The Director republishes the domains roughly every five years. A separate 3-hour statutory HIV/AIDS mandate exists on the books (D.C. Code § 3-1205.10(b)(4)) but is waived for registered nursing by 17 DCMR § 5406.2 — it is not an additional requirement on top of the public health priority hours.
When does a DC nursing license expire?
As of June 16, 2024, DC nursing licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month rather than a fixed date. Nurses should confirm their specific expiration date through the DC Health online renewal portal at dohlicenseinfo.secure.force.com/dchealthrenewals/.

Never miss a District of Columbia CME deadline.

Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your birth month renewal.

Start tracking freeSee how it works

Other roles in District of Columbia

Registered Nurses CME requirements in other states

Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. D.C. Code § 3-1205.10 — Term and Renewal of Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Except as provided in subsection (b-1) of this section, require that any continuing education requirements for the following practices include 3 credits of instruction on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus ("HIV") and the Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome ("AIDS") in accordance with subparagraph (B) of this paragraph: (i) The practice of medicine; (ii) The practice of registered nursing; (iii) The practice of practical nursing; (iv) The practice by nursing assistive personnel; and (v) The practice of physician assistants. ... Except as provided in subsection (b-1)(4) of this section, require that any continuing education requirements for the practice of any health occupation licensed, registered, or certified under this section include 2 credits of instruction on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression ("LGBTQ").”D.C. Code § 3-1205.10
    “require that any continuing education requirements for the practice of any health occupation licensed, registered, or certified under this section include 2 credits of instruction on cultural competency or specialized clinical training focusing on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression ("LGBTQ").”D.C. Code § 3-1205.10(b)(5)(A)
  2. 17 DCMR § 5406 — Renewal of License (current official register text, eff. 2022-09-02; capture district-of-columbia/rn/dcmr-17-5406-rn-renewal)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-07-11
    Show verbatim text
    “Ten percent (10%) of the total shall be in subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed necessary.”17 DCMR § 5406 (current)
  3. DC Board of Nursing — Education Resources for Nurses
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the DC Board of Nursing, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state medical board before relying on any information presented here.

Privacy policyTerms of serviceContact