Return to nursing or reactivate your license with NC AHEC’s RN refresher program.

NC AHEC’s RN Refresher Program consists of the UNC-Chapel Hill theory course and the regional AHEC clinical practicum. This  program is for registered nurses (RNs) with a lapsed license of greater than five years or those who want to refresh their nursing knowledge. After successful completion of the program, RNs with a lapsed license are eligible to reapply for licensure through the NC Board of Nursing.  

The UNC-Chapel Hill theory course is online and self-paced so you can balance work, life, and your career. The theory course consists of 24-modules that review a full range of common adult health problems. The clinical practicum is managed by your regional AHEC and provides 140 hours of clinical learning experiences. For RNs with an active license, the clinical practicum is optional. If you want to enroll, the first step is to contact your regional RN Refresher Coordinator below.

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RN Refresher Program Contacts

Contact the RN refresher coordinator at the regional AHEC for your county to obtain more information and to determine program eligibility in your region.

Orange, Durham, Chatman, and Person counties

Porshia Mizzelle
Program Assistant/Senior Support Specialist
Email: rnrefresher@unc.edu

Area L AHEC

Counties Served: Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, Wilson
Patty Collins, MAEd, BSN, RN
Email: Patty.Collins@arealahec.org
Phone: 252-972-6958

Charlotte AHEC

Counties Served: Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Stanly, Union
Kathryn Fitzpatrick, DNP, RN
Email: kathryn.fitzpatrick@atriumhealth.org
Phone: 704-512-6579

Eastern AHEC

Counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Greene, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne
Pam Bowman, MSN, RN
Email: bowmanp23@ecu.edu
Phone: 252-744-5216

Piedmont AHEC

Formerly known as Greensboro AHEC

Counties Served: Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham
Shawn Houck, MSN, RN
Email: shawn.houck@conehealth.com
Phone: 336-832-3947

Mountain AHEC 

Counties Served: Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey
Katie Neligan, MSN, RN, CNL, PCCN
Email: katie.neligan@mahec.net
Phone: 828-257-4458

Northwest AHEC

Counties Served: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Iredell, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin
Ellen M. Hohf, MSN, RN, CHSE
Email: ehohf@wakehealth.edu
Phone: 336-713-7720

South East AHEC 

Counties Served: Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender
Betty Merritt, MSN, RN
Email: betty.merritt@seahec.net
Phone: 910-667-9298

Southern Regional AHEC

Counties Served: Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Moore, Robeson, Richmond, Sampson, Scotland
Tonja Teter BSN, RN
Email: Tonja.Teter@sr-ahec.org
Phone: 910-678-7246

Wake AHEC

Counties Served: Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Lee, Vance, Wake, Warren
Kathy Clark MS, BSN, RN
Email: kgclark@wakeahec.org
Phone: 919-350-0481

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Program Options

Option 1: Theory Course and Clinical Practicum

• Administrative fee (paid to the regional AHEC): $125
• Theory Course (paid to UNC-CH Digital and Lifelong Learning): $1000
• Clinical Practicum placement fee (paid to the AHEC where your Clinical Practicum is administered): $250

Please note for Option 1, you will incur additional charges that include, but are not limited to, malpractice insurance and fees for a health screening, criminal background check, and drug screening. Please feel free to discuss these charges with your AHEC regional coordinator.

Option 2: Theory Course Only (For RN’s with an active license and/or RN’s living outside of North Carolina)

• Administrative fee (paid to the regional AHEC): $125
• Theory Course (paid to UNC-CH Digital and Lifelong Learning): $1000

This program is a collaborative effort between NC AHEC and the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing and Digital and Lifelong Learning.