Ohio nursing license renewal guide
Ohio nursing license renewal: September 15 deadline, October 31 final date, and CE checklist.
Ohio RNs renew in odd-numbered years and LPNs in even-numbered years. The regular application deadline is September 15; late renewal can continue through October 31 before the license lapses November 1.
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Answer first
What to know now.
Ohio uses alternating renewal years for RNs and LPNs. State law makes active RN licenses subject to renewal in odd-numbered years and active LPN licenses subject to renewal in even-numbered years. The regular renewal application is due September 15 of the applicable renewal year; a late application may be submitted after that date and before the license lapses. The Board's current online instructions say October 31 is the final date to submit the renewal and fees, with the license lapsing November 1 if it is not renewed or placed inactive. For the current 2026 cycle, that means LPN renewal is the immediately relevant nursing-license season, while RNs return in the 2027 odd-numbered cycle.
Obligation
- Ohio RN or LPN license renewal
- Ohio Board of Nursing
Verified facts
Use the official source for the final check.
- RN renewal year: Ohio law places active RN license renewal in odd-numbered years.
- LPN renewal year: Ohio law places active LPN license renewal in even-numbered years.
- Regular deadline: The renewal application is due September 15 of the applicable renewal year.
- Late-renewal window: A late renewal can be submitted after September 15 through October 31 with the applicable late processing fee.
- Lapse date: If the license is not renewed or made inactive by the end of October 31, it lapses November 1.
- Continuing education: Current Board instructions generally require 24 contact hours of nursing-related CE per licensure period for nurses beyond the first Ohio-NCLEX renewal, including one hour of Category A Ohio law and rules; separate exceptions and reduced requirements can apply.
Renewal workflow
Turn the requirement into a repeatable checklist.
- Step 1
Confirm whether the nurse is an RN or LPN and whether the current calendar year is that license type's renewal year.
- Step 2
Review the current Ohio Board instructions for CE, Category A, fees, first-renewal exceptions, reciprocity timing, and any status-specific requirements.
- Step 3
Schedule an early reminder well before September 15 so CE documentation and portal issues are resolved before the regular deadline.
- Step 4
If September 15 is missed, treat October 31 as an urgent final renewal date rather than as an ordinary grace period, because the license lapses November 1 if it remains unrenewed.
- Step 5
After renewal, verify the new expiration date in eLicense Ohio and record the next odd- or even-year renewal cycle.
From one credential to a tracking system
One renewal question can reveal a much larger roster problem.
If you are responsible for several employees, contractors, or credentials, the hard part is often no longer finding one renewal rule. It is keeping every holder, authoritative date, reminder, completion, and renewed date visible without repeatedly scanning a spreadsheet.
Sources
Authoritative references used for this guide.
- Ohio Revised Code §4723.24 — License or Certificate Renewal — official source
- Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4723-7-09 — License Renewal and Reinstatement — official source
- eLicense Ohio — Registered Nurse Online Renewal Instructions — official source
- eLicense Ohio — Licensed Practical Nurse Online Renewal Instructions — official source
Stay ahead
Do not rely on memory for the next one.
Use Deadline Hawk to create an independent reminder sequence while the official authority remains the source of truth for the requirement itself.