Continuing education isn’t a one-size-fits-all prescription for nurses. Although most states require continuing education units (CEUs) for license renewal, it varies by:
- License type: Registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs), advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs)
- Setting: Acute care, long-term care, specialization, etc.
- Topic-specific: Ethics, pain management, mandatory reporting, and cultural competency
It’s your responsibility to verify with your state nursing board the requirements specific to your license and understand what counts as valid CEUs before starting a course.
Related: Your guide to continuing education hours for nurses by state
Continuing education jargon
It’s worth noting that some states and providers use different terminology. Aside from the CEU term, you may see the following terms:
- Contact hours
- Continuing nursing education (CNE)
- Continuing education (CE)
How to know a course will count towards your license renewal
Most state nursing boards provide a list of approved providers, education platforms, or accreditation organizations that you can look for to signal if a course is appropriate for your CEU requirements.
Approved accreditation organizations may include:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
- International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
4 Common CEU missteps: How to avoid
Whether you’re a bit of a procrastinator and wait until close (but not too close) to renewal time to stock up, or a plan-ahead type, avoid these missteps to keep your license renewal secure.
1. Don’t assume: Do your research
Assumptions regarding your education courses can be as dangerous as they are in clinical practice. So, don’t assume. Read the course information, make a note of the accreditation organization or the education provider, and then go to your board of nursing (BON) to double-check.
Do this before you pay for anything.
2. Don’t forget topic-specific CEUs: Do them early
Topic-specific, mandatory CEUs mean that a portion of the CEU requirement is allocated and cannot be replaced. For example, if your BON requires 3 CEUs for cultural competence, it doesn’t matter if you go over and above on CEUs if you don’t have those specific 3 CEUs as well.
Prioritize these types in case the timing for them is limited. If you wait until the last minute, but the next course you need isn’t offered until after your renewal date, you risk fines that may impact your ability to continue working.
3. Don’t lose track: Do keep certificates and course materials
When a course provides you with a completion certificate, hold onto it. Keep a digital file somewhere that houses all your CEU documentation.
Not all courses offer certificates; in those cases, hold onto all course material (including dates).
4. Don’t wait too long: Do plan ahead
For some, planning ahead comes naturally; for others, it’s a learned skill.
Most license renewal cycles are 2 years long. If you spread out your CEU courses over 24 months, you can do them at a measured pace, without unnecessary stress.
Nurses have enough stress at work; this is one part of nursing that doesn’t have to add to it.
Timing matters, but nursing life happens
Yes, planning ahead is ideal. But sometimes life gets in the way. So, what happens when, despite your best efforts, your renewal date is near, and you’re not ready?
Completing CEUs last-minute
The key is verification.
- Stick with clearly approved providers.
- Verify the course can be completed before your renewal date.
- Give yourself a buffer of time for certificate receipt.
What BONs typically verify during a renewal
Once you’ve submitted the proper form for license renewal, your board of nursing will usually review the following:
- Dates: The completion dates must fall within the renewal period. (You can’t use extra from the previous period.)
- Provider: Verify that the CEUs come from approved/accredited education sources.
- Topic: Confirm that you have the mandatory topics covered.
- License type: Some courses cater to a broad audience of nurse types, while others are license-type specific.
- Documentation: This varies greatly; some BONs do not require documentation to be submitted unless you are selected for an audit.
Keep your CEU materials handy
Plan to hold onto your CEU documentation for a while. Some states require nurses to retain the information for 3-6 years, while others say you can never get rid of it.
Regardless, keeping track of all those documents can turn into a large stack of papers in the corner. Why not turn to technology to help?
Check out how digital tracker software or spreadsheets can help you with this.
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