Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) · RN

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

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MBN(~8 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 30 hours is the total CME requirement. Maryland also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 30-hour total.

Cultural competency[1]
Hrs vary
Biennial
HB 783/Ch. 478 (2025) mandates implicit bias AND structural racism training at first renewal after April 1, 2026. Attestation-based — no statutory minimum hours. Hour count subject to COMAR implementing regulation (not yet published as of 2026-04-24). One-time only; not recurring.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Effective April 1, 2026, all applicants renewing a health occupation license or certificate must complete approved training in implicit bias and structural racism. These courses are required only once and should be completed at your first renewal after April 1, 2026.”
Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 1-225 / Health-Gen. § 20-1306See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Maryland cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Maryland 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
AHEC, ANA, professional organizations offering CE for national certification renewal, Maryland Nurses Association, NCSBN, NLN.SourceCOMAR 10.27.01.13
Board-approved credit
15 CEUs credited per semester hour of qualifying college/university coursework.SourceCOMAR 10.27.01.13
Documentation & audit

Records retention: 6 years after the license is renewed. Board audit response window: 30 days.

Renewal occurs biennially on the 28th day of the licensee's birth month. Odd-birth-year licensees renew in odd years; even-birth-year licensees renew in even years.

Waivers & exemptions

Practice hours pathway: 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 5 years preceding renewal

Approved nursing degree pathway: Satisfactory completion of an approved nursing degree within 5 years prior to renewal

FAQ
What are the alternative renewal pathways for Maryland RNs who don't complete 30 CEUs?
COMAR 10.27.01.13 provides two alternatives to the standard 30-CEU CE pathway. First, a nurse who documents at least 1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the five years immediately preceding renewal may satisfy the renewal requirement through documented practice experience alone. Second, a nurse who has satisfactorily completed an approved nursing degree within the five years before renewal may use that academic achievement as the renewal qualifying basis. Either alternative is accepted in lieu of the 30 CEUs — they are not additive. Nurses choosing an alternative pathway should retain documentation of practice hours or their degree completion, as MBON may audit renewal applications.
What is the new implicit bias training requirement for Maryland nurses?
Effective April 1, 2026, all Maryland health occupation licensees — including RNs — must complete approved training in implicit bias and structural racism as a one-time condition of renewal, pursuant to HB 783/Chapter 478 (2025), Health Occ. § 1-225, and Health-Gen. § 20-1306. The training is required only at the first renewal after April 1, 2026, and is not a recurring obligation. RNs who already completed implicit bias training for a prior renewal need not repeat that component, but structural racism training is required for everyone at the first qualifying renewal. The requirement is attestation-based — no minimum contact hour count is specified in the statute or MBON notices as of April 2026. Approved programs are listed on the MHHD website at https://health.maryland.gov/mhhd/Pages/Implicit-Bias-Resources.aspx.
Is Maryland in the NLC nursing compact?
Yes. Maryland is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). Maryland-licensed RNs who meet compact eligibility requirements hold a multistate license that allows them to practice in all other NLC member states without obtaining additional state licenses. For renewal and CE purposes, the rules of the nurse's home state — the state of primary residence — apply. Maryland RNs residing in Maryland renew with MBON and must complete 30 CEUs biennially or satisfy one of the alternative renewal pathways. Nurses can verify their license status and renewal date using MBON's online licensure portal at https://health.maryland.gov/mbon/Pages/licensure-lic-info.aspx.
Where can I check my Maryland RN license renewal date?
Maryland RNs can verify their license status and renewal date through MBON's online licensure information portal at https://health.maryland.gov/mbon/Pages/licensure-lic-info.aspx. Online renewal opens 90 days before the license expiration date and remains available for up to 30 days after expiration. MBON also mails or emails renewal notices at least three months before expiration. Licensees should ensure their current mailing address and email address are up to date in the MBON system to receive timely renewal reminders.

Never miss a Maryland 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

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. MBON Breaking News — Implicit Bias and Structural Racism Training Notice
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-24
    Show verbatim text
    “Effective April 1, 2026, all applicants renewing a health occupation license or certificate must complete approved training in implicit bias and structural racism. These courses are required only once and should be completed at your first renewal after April 1, 2026.”Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 1-225 / Health-Gen. § 20-1306 · Effective 2026-04-01

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 Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON), 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's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

Privacy policyTerms of serviceContact