Michigan Board of Nursing (MIBON) · RN

25 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

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

Updated April 2026Sourced from MBN(~5 min read

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 25 hours is the total CME requirement. Michigan also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 25-hour total.

Pain Management[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
At least 2 of the 25 required contact hours must be in pain and pain symptom management each renewal period. Counts toward the 25-hour total. Also confirmed by the LARA Nursing Licensing Guide CE checklist: 'including at least 2 hours in pain and symptom management.'
View sourceVerbatim from source
“complete not less than 2 hours of the 25 required hours, of continuing education in pain and pain symptom management in each renewal period”
Mich. Admin. Code R 338.10601(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Implicit Bias[2]
2 hrs
Biennial
2 hrs implicit bias training within 5 years preceding licensure (eff. 6/1/2022). Ongoing: 1 hr per year of license cycle = 2 hrs/biennium for the 2-year nursing cycle. Applies to all article 15 renewals except part 188 (including RNs). Counts toward the 25-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“shall have completed a minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant's license or registration cycle.”
Mich. Admin. Code R 338.7004(2); LARA Nursing Licensing Guide (rev. 1/26/2026)See source [2] in Primary Sources
Human Trafficking[3]
Hrs vary
One-time
One-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking, required prior to first renewal, meeting the standards in R 338.10105. There is no fixed hour count for this requirement.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Licensees seeking renewal must certify on their renewal application that prior to renewing their license they have completed a one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.10105.”
LARA Nursing Licensing Guide (rev. 1/26/2026), renewal checklist; standards: Mich. Admin. Code R 338.10105See source [3] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Michigan cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalOpioid/Substance Use[1]
Hrs vary
One-time

RNs seeking or holding a Michigan controlled substance license

View sourceVerbatim from source
“An applicant for license renewal, who also applies for a controlled substance license, shall complete a 1-time training in opioids and other controlled substances awareness as required in R 338.3135.”
Mich. Admin. Code R 338.10601(3)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Michigan 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
Approved CE programs related to nursing practice. One contact hour equals 50–60 minutes.SourceMich. Admin. Code R 338.10601 / R 338.10602
Board-approved credit
approved CE programs, academic courses (5 hrs per semester credit), specialty certification (25 hrs credited), nursing exams (10 hrs credited), publications (up to 10 hrs), independent learning (up to 4 hrs), committee work (up to 4 hrs), teaching presentations (up to 6 hrs), preceptorship (up to 5 hrs), and orientation programs (up to 5 hrs). No more than 12 credit hours earned in any 24-hour period.SourceMich. Admin. Code R 338.10602
Documentation & audit

Documentation retention: 4 years from the date of applying for license renewal. RNs are not required to submit CE documentation at renewal — the Board conducts random post-renewal audits.

Waivers & exemptions

Waiver may be granted for hardship circumstances

FAQ
Does Michigan require mandatory CE topics for RN renewal?
Yes. Michigan requires at least 2 contact hours in pain and pain symptom management as part of each biennial renewal under R 338.10601. These 2 hours count toward the 25-hour total — they are not additive. No other mandatory CE topic categories apply to the general RN population. Nurses renewing for the first time after holding a controlled substance license must also complete a one-time opioids and controlled substances awareness training, though this is not a recurring biennial obligation.
What counts as continuing education for Michigan RN renewal?
Michigan accepts a wide variety of CE activities under R 338.10602. Formal CE programs related to nursing practice are the most common source. Academic coursework earns 5 contact hours per semester credit. Specialty certification or recertification may satisfy the entire 25-hour requirement. Additional credit sources include published nursing articles or books (up to 10 hours), teaching presentations (up to 6 hours), committee work (up to 4 hours), preceptorship (up to 5 hours), and independent learning activities (up to 4 hours). No more than 12 credit hours may be earned in any 24-hour period.
Is Michigan part of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?
No. Michigan is not a member of the NLC compact as of 2026. All nurses practicing in Michigan must hold a Michigan-issued license. There is no multistate license option available through Michigan, meaning nurses who relocate from compact states to Michigan must obtain a separate Michigan license and comply with Michigan's CE and renewal requirements.
Where can I check my Michigan RN license renewal date?
Michigan RN licensees can verify their license status and expiration date through the LARA online license lookup tool at https://aca.michigan.gov/ia_licensee_srch/. RNs can also renew their licenses and access renewal information through the Michigan Online Business system. For questions, the LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing can be reached at (517) 241-0199.

Never miss a Michigan CME deadline.

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

Start tracking freeSee how it works

Other roles in Michigan

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. Mich. Admin. Code R 338.10601 — License Renewals; Requirements; Applicability
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “complete not less than 2 hours of the 25 required hours, of continuing education in pain and pain symptom management in each renewal period”Mich. Admin. Code R 338.10601(2)
    “An applicant for license renewal, who also applies for a controlled substance license, shall complete a 1-time training in opioids and other controlled substances awareness as required in R 338.3135.”Mich. Admin. Code R 338.10601(3)
  2. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/michigan/Mich-Admin-Code-R-338-7004
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “shall have completed a minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant's license or registration cycle.”Mich. Admin. Code R 338.7004(2); LARA Nursing Licensing Guide (rev. 1/26/2026) · Effective 2022-06-01
  3. https://www.michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bpl/Nursing/Licensing-Info-and-Forms/Nursing-Licensing-Guide-FAQ-12626.pdf
    Source
    Show verbatim text
    “Licensees seeking renewal must certify on their renewal application that prior to renewing their license they have completed a one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.10105.”LARA Nursing Licensing Guide (rev. 1/26/2026), renewal checklist; standards: Mich. Admin. Code R 338.10105

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 Michigan Board of Nursing (MIBON), 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