Are CME and CEU the same?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Critical care, Hospice.

Hey quick question and I hope this is posted in correct place....

I need some CEU credits. Can someone tell me if CE, CEU, and CME are the same?

i just didnt want to take a bunch of CME and they not be considered CEU--like I need--

Thanks so much!!

Have a great night!

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No they are not. I read the differences somewhere but forgot where. It may have been on this site in the past. Pretty much interchangeable for nurses. Just look for the provider number for your state in the info listing and you know the course will be accepted for your renewal.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.

CE is continuing education, with CME being specific to medicine and CNE being specific to nursing. CE time can be measured in CEUs or in contact hours.

Depending on the accrediting organization, CEs can be measured as 60-minute or 50-minute contact hours. My state uses the 60-minute clock hour, so 60 minutes of a CE activity equals 1.0 contact hour.

A CEU is a continuing education unit, which is not the same as a contact hour. One CEU is equal to 10 contact hours.

Before you start spending money on CE, read your state's nurse practice act to figure out what type of programs will count toward your license renewal. (If you're completing CE for a professional certification, know what is accepted by the certification association.) For example...my state only accepts CNE hours for license renewal...we can't use CME hours.

Hope this helps..

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