Nurse's Guide To Continuing Education

Nursing changes constantly, and staying licensed means staying current. Most states require continuing education (CE) to renew your nursing license. Start by checking with your state board of nursing for the number and types of CE credits, also called continuing education units (CEUs), you need. This guide covers the requirements, the formats, and how to find and pay for courses.

What Continuing Education Covers

Nursing CE is ongoing learning that keeps you up to date on current knowledge and best practices. It can take the form of formal courses, peer-reviewed content, workshops, conferences, and online programs. You can find it through professional associations, nursing schools, course directories, and peer-reviewed publications. Choose based on subject matter, your career goals, and how you learn best. Many CE modules require you to pass a test at the end.

Most states require CE, but the number of credits and the specific topics vary, so confirm your state's rules with its board of nursing.

Requirements by License Level

Hours range from none in several states, including Arizona, to 30 or more contact hours elsewhere. Requirements can also vary by license level: licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).

Washington, D.C., is one example. LPNs, RNs, and APRNs renew every two years. LPNs complete 18 CE hours and RNs complete 24, including two hours on LGBTQ topics and three on public health. APRNs complete 24 hours, with 15 in pharmacology and related topics.

If you hold a national certification, you may need more CEUs than your state requires, and some must be in your specialty. Check with the national and state agencies that manage your certification.

Why It Matters

CE keeps your practice aligned with the latest developments in care. Advances in healthcare technology, cultural competence, and a stronger focus on wellness and prevention all raise the knowledge base needed for good patient outcomes. CE also helps protect healthcare institutions from legal liability, and you can use it to build skills for your next career move. Courses cover much of what nursing school does, from health promotion and communication to leadership and the legal and ethical sides of practice.

Types of CE

Annual healthcare employee requirements, state-mandated nurse CE, and professional development activities.

Formats

Conferences, live classes, online classes, live and recorded webinars, and self-study packets.

Who Provides Continuing Education

Nonprofit and for-profit organizations both develop accredited CE courses. A few common providers:

• Abbott Nutrition Health Institute offers free online CE on nutrition topics, including infant nutrition and nutrition after surgery.
• Nurse.com hosts free CE on career topics and nursing practice, most worth one to 1.5 hours of credit.
• The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing offers free and paid courses on specific conditions, such as HIV and multiple sclerosis, and on general practice.
• NurseCEU.com publishes searchable CEU listings, including a free CE section.
• RN.org offers unlimited CEU courses for a low annual fee. Topics range from bioterrorism preparedness and medical errors to smoking cessation and specific conditions.
• Nursing CE Central provides state-board-approved CE. Select your state and you get a renewal package with unlimited library access and the courses your state requires.

Paying for CE

Prices run from free to several hundred dollars. Many employers pay or share the cost, and some large hospitals, especially academic medical centers, are CE providers themselves or subscribe to online CE services. Others reimburse expenses. When employers do not pay, many nursing associations and nonprofits offer scholarships.

Alternative Ways to Earn Credit

Some states accept alternatives. Even when a program claims CE credit, confirm with your board of nursing that it is approved.

• Academic courses may count when they meet state criteria.
• Certification programs: specialty certification exams may carry CE credit.
• In-service training by employers may qualify when the program is accredited.
• Publishing in a professional journal earns CE in some states.
• Volunteering on public health initiatives or public education may qualify, depending on your state.

Accreditation

Like nursing school accreditation, CEU accreditation confirms that a course delivers reliable, evidence-based information in an appropriate format. Qualifying education must be accredited by a recognized body, including the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), state nursing boards, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the National League for Nursing (NLN), or other professional associations such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).

CE Requirements by State

The contact hours below are state-specific and change often. Treat this as a starting point and confirm current rules with your state board of nursing. Many states add requirements or accept alternate forms of education, such as a refresher course.

• Alabama: 24 contact hours every two years
• Alaska: 30 contact hours every two years
• Arizona: no state requirement
• Arkansas: 15 contact hours every two years
• California: 30 contact hours every two years
• Colorado: no state requirement
• Connecticut: no state requirement
• Delaware: 30 contact hours every two years
• Florida: 24 contact hours every two years
• Georgia: 30 contact hours every two years
• Hawaii: 30 contact hours every two years
• Idaho: 15 contact hours every two years
• Illinois: 20 contact hours every two years
• Indiana: no state requirement
• Iowa: 36 contact hours every three years
• Kansas: 30 contact hours every two years
• Kentucky: 14 contact hours every year
• Louisiana: 30 contact hours every two years
• Maine: no state requirement
• Maryland: no state requirement
• Massachusetts: 15 contact hours every two years
• Michigan: 25 contact hours every two years
• Minnesota: 24 contact hours every two years
• Mississippi: 20 contact hours every two years
• Missouri: no state requirement
• Montana: 24 contact hours every two years
• Nebraska: 20 contact hours every two years
• Nevada: 30 contact hours every two years
• New Hampshire: 30 contact hours every two years
• New Jersey: 30 contact hours every two years
• New Mexico: 30 contact hours every two years
• New York: infection control every four years
• North Carolina: 30 contact hours every two years
• North Dakota: 12 contact hours every two years
• Ohio: 24 contact hours every two years
• Oklahoma: 24 contact hours every two years
• Oregon: one-time 7-hour pain management requirement
• Pennsylvania: 30 contact hours every two years
• Rhode Island: 10 contact hours every two years
• South Carolina: 30 contact hours every two years
• South Dakota: no state requirement
• Tennessee: 5 contact hours every two years plus other evidence of additional learning
• Texas: 20 contact hours every two years
• Utah: 30 contact hours every two years
• Vermont: no state requirement
• Virginia: 30 contact hours every two years
• Washington, D.C.: 24 contact hours every two years
• Washington: 45 contact hours every three years
• West Virginia: 12 contact hours every year
• Wisconsin: no state requirement
• Wyoming: no state requirement for nurses working full-time

Source: NetCE

FAQs

What is continuing education for nurses?

Ongoing learning you complete throughout your career to keep your license and stay current with advancing clinical knowledge, technology, techniques, and cultural competence. You can earn it through online courses, workshops, conferences, and reading materials.

Why are CE credits required?

To keep nurses knowledgeable as healthcare changes, so care meets best practices. CE supports professional development and satisfies state licensure requirements in most states, which contributes to patient safety.

What counts as CE?

Webinars and online courses on specialized topics, hands-on workshops, and, in some states, academic programs, specialty certifications, publishing in professional journals, and presenting at professional events.

What makes CE qualify?

It must be accredited by a recognized nursing organization and approved by your state board of nursing. For out-of-state conferences and seminars, confirm with your board that the credits count. Nursing-related academic coursework and self-study programs must also be approved by an accrediting body.