Do I need 30 CE hours for my first California RN renewal?

If you obtained your initial RN license by passing the national licensing examination within the past two years and this is your first renewal, California BRN guidance exempts you from the 30-hour CE requirement. The one-hour implicit-bias requirement still applies.

What do first-time renewers enter in BreEZe for the CE exemption?

California BRN guidance instructs eligible first-time renewers to enter EXEMPT as the course name, NCLEX as the provider, the current date, and 30 as the number of CE hours. Confirm your individual renewal record in BreEZe.

California RN First Renewal: What to Enter in BreEZe

First California RN renewal: what to enter in BreEZe.

Eligible first-time renewers can use the BRN's four exemption entries instead of documenting the standard 30-hour total—but the one-hour implicit-bias course still matters.

BRN entry fields for an eligible first renewal

Enter these four values in BreEZe.

Course name: EXEMPT
Provider name: NCLEX
Completion date: Today’s date
Number of CE hours: 30

Use these values only when this is your first renewal after initial licensure by exam within the past two years. Keep the separate one-hour direct-participation implicit-bias certificate.

Two-question check

1
Is this your first California RN renewal?
The exemption is tied to the first renewal after initial licensure.
2
Did you pass the national licensing exam within the past two years?
Both conditions should be true before relying on the exemption.

What to enter in BreEZe

For an eligible first renewal, the BRN instructs nurses to enter EXEMPT as the course name, NCLEX as the provider, today's date, and 30 as the number of CE hours. Separately retain proof of the required one-hour direct-participation implicit-bias course.

Your BreEZe account is authoritative for your license. If it shows a deficiency or your timeline is unusual, resolve it with the California BRN before submitting.

Three things to keep

✓ Your implicit-bias course completion certificate
✓ The provider's active California BRN CEP number
✓ A copy of the course record for four years in case of audit