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Continuing Education Programs
Continuing education is mandated by Iowa law as a prerequisite to renewal of an Iowa nursing license. The requirement is as follows:
• For renewal of a three-year license, the requirement is 36 contact hours or 3.6 CEUs.
• For renewal of a license that has been issued for less than three years, the requirement is 24 contact hours or 2.4 CEUs. This applies to the first renewal after any one of the following:
- Initial Iowa licensure by examination
- Initial Iowa licensure by endorsement from another state
- Reactivation from an inactive status
A license issued for less than three years is granted for two years, plus the number of months to the birth month. Thereafter, the license must be renewed every three years.
• For reactivation from an inactive status, the requirement is 12 contact hours that are not ore than 12 months old at the time the credit is submitted for reactivation.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR IOWA NURSES
Do all continuing education offerings count toward the 36 contact hours I need to renew my license?
No. For programs offered within the state only programs offered by Iowa Board of Nursing approved providers can be counted. Each approved provider has a number which must be included in written advertisements for programs.
Can I get CEUs for out-of-state programs?
Yes. When you want to attend an out-of-state program, you need to obtain a special approval form from the Iowa Board of Nursing, if the program is not offered by any of the following:
- American Nurses Association (ANCC)
- National League for Nursing
- National Federation of LPNs
- National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Service
- Boards of nursing in states with mandatory continuing education
What about college courses?
College courses must meet the criteria for “appropriate subject matter” or be required as a part of an academic nursing program which is beyond the education for original licensure. You also must have a passing grade in these courses.
How are college courses calculated into CEUs or contact hours?
1 academic semester hour = 1.5 CEUs or 15 contact hours
1 academic quarter hour = 1.0 CEUs or 10 contact hours
What is considered “appropriate subject matter?”
The following six areas are considered appropriate for continuing education:
- Nursing practice related to health care of patients/clients/families in any setting.
- Professional growth and development related to nursing practice roles and designed to enhance the delivery of patient care and health service.
- Sciences upon which nursing practice, nursing education or nursing research is based, i.e., nursing theories and biological, physical, behavioral, computer, social or basic sciences.
- Social, economic, legal and ethical aspects of health care
- Management or administration of health care, health care personnel, or health care facilities
- Education of patients or their significant others, students, or personnel in the health care field.
