How Many CEUs Does a Nurse
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) sets standards for nursing board certification and is recognized by state boards of nursing. Taking ANCC-approved courses will improve your earning potential and keep you current in your profession, improving your patient care. Although you may be busy or have limited time, CE requirements are achievable and can be completed with little effort. Here are some tips for completing your CE requirements:
Continuing education is available in a variety of formats. Although not all classes count as nursing CEUs, many healthcare professionals take basic and advanced life-saving courses. Some states also accept courses taken for initial certification or licensing; renewals of these types of courses are not typically eligible for CEU credit. RNs should carefully consider the type of CE courses they wish to take. If possible, choose programs offered by institutions with national accreditation.
CEUs must be related to the nursing field and not self-improvement or financial gain courses. Continuing education should be based on specialized practice areas or technical courses directly related to the profession. Some of these courses are free, while others are subscription-based or pay-per-course platforms. CEUs must be accredited by a state nursing board and be delivered by an accredited provider. Online courses are a convenient and inexpensive way to acquire Nursing CEUs.
Nursing continuing education is essential for advancement in the nursing field. If a nurse does not have the necessary CEs, she may not be able to work as an APRN. The Board also requires APRNs to maintain certification and submit proof of completion. The Board has random audits to ensure compliance. If you are unsure if your current education and continuing education requirements are met, contact the Board for details.
How Many CEUs Does a Nurse Need?
To renew your license, Massachusetts requires that RNs earn 15 hours of approved continuing education. If you have a new license, you can complete the required CEs within two years of your renewal. However, if you’re an APRN with prescribing authority, you’ll need to complete five hours of additional continuing education. If you are not an APRN, you can complete the remaining hours by taking a course on HIV/AIDS.
A newly licensed nurse is exempt from CE requirements for the first renewal period. After that, the nurse must meet the CE requirements according to state rules. The amount of CEs required varies from zero in many states to 45 in Washington. The requirement for renewal is often annual or bi-annual. Margaret, who is originally from Colorado, moved to California where there are no CE requirements. But California requires her to complete thirty contact hours every two years.
After the initial renewal period, you may need to complete a course within the same licensing period. You can’t do this immediately, because your license will expire on August 31st. Depending on where you practice, you may also be required to renew your license every two years. You must renew your license on or before the end of the month in which you were born. You can’t use your previous licensing period’s CE credits towards the renewal, so it’s important to get started early.
