CE Courses

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 5, 2016

Whether you need Continuing Education credit to renew your license varies from state to state. Each state has its own requirements. I believe there are still some states that don't require any CE's at all. You'll need to check with the State Board of Nursing in your state to know what they require.

What are CE's? They represent hours of education provided by organizations and companies authorized to provide them. Any idiot can offer an education, but how do you know it is a reasonably good program? That's where the CE system comes in. In order to provide CE (continuing education credit hours), an educational provider must be certified to do so. They have to agree to abide by certain rules and meet certain standards of quality. Probably the biggest provider of CNE (Continuing Nursing Education ) is the American Nurses Association Certification Corporation (ANCC) ... who in turn has authorized the various state nursing associations and major specialty organizations to offer programs that provide CE's. Some "for profit" companies are also authorized to offer CE's with their programs.

So ... find out how many hours of credit your state requires for renewing your license (if any). Then it is simply a matter of taking some courses and keeping your records so that you can document that you have taken the courses. Then, when it comes time to renew your license, you'll have what you need. Being a member of your specialty's organization usually gets you a discounted price on programs offered by that organization. So does being a member of your state's nursing association. You can also find advertisements for CE programs in most of the major nursing journals. My hospital provides a few CE activities every month for the staff. If you look around, you should have no trouble finding CE programs offered by reputable organizations and companies. The key is to not wait until the last minute to start looking. Use these educational programs to keep yourself up-to-date on a routine basis and it is usually not big deal.

I hope that helps.

northmississippi · Sep 5, 2016

I get my ce thru nurse.com. its accredited and all you have to do to get an hour of credit is read a 2 or 3 page article and then answer a few questions after you read it. It's legit.

westieluv · Sep 6, 2016

As the PP said, each state has their own set of required CEs that need to be completed during each renewal cycle. So for example, if you got your license in August, 2015 and it is due for renewal in August, 2017, you have that two year period to obtain the required number of CEs for your state board of nursing.

The nursing boards generally don't have the time or manpower to check on each and every nurse to make sure that he/she has obtained the required CEs, so they use an honor system where it is assumed that you are abiding by the rules and completing your CEs but what they do to keep people on their toes is run audits on random people when they renew their license. I am licensed in Ohio and I was audited once back in the early 2000s. The Ohio BON basically asked me to submit to them copies of all CE certificates that I earned to prove that I did what they required of me to keep my license. In 26 years of nursing, that is the only time that I've been audited.

There are a lot of places to get CEs, just google "nursing CEs" or "nursing CEUs" and you will find plenty of resources. Some of them cost money, some are free, it just depends on where you find them. The companies that generally provide them will also allow you to print a certificate of completion when you complete them which you keep in case you get audited and need proof that you completed them. The certificates are dated so that the BON can tell if you completed the course during the correct license renewal period, as opposed to collecting old certificates and submitting them over and over to avoid getting fresh CEs.

Susie2310 · Sep 9, 2016

Whether you need Continuing Education credit to renew your license varies from state to state. Each state has its own requirements. I believe there are still some states that don't require any CE's at all.

I checked recently and found that sixteen states don't require any CE's at all for license renewal. This was a shock to me.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 15, 2016

I will say this: IF you are practicing in a state that requires CEUs to maintain licensure, you can be audited. The very first year we had to affirm we had the required number of CEUs when renewing licensure, I WAS audited. Had 2 weeks to provide proof of CEU completion, in the way of actual documentation in the dictated timeframe. No, I could not just get these required units and submit, it had to be proven I already had them done in the specified timeframe.

Fortunately, I took it seriously from the get-go and had them done, and proof in my file cabinet, ready to submit.

Failing this, a nurse risks charges of unprofessional conduct, a stiff monetary penalty and having his/her credential suspended until such proof is provided.

These folks don't play around. So find out what is required of you and DO it BY the deadline provided or risk penalties that are anything but pleasant.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Sep 15, 2016

[h=2]Continuing Education/Training[/h]Nurses seeking to renew a nursing license must complete 10 continuing education hours during every two-year licensing cycle. (Starting 2017 two of those hours must be about substance abuse.)

Continuing education courses must be approved by the Rhode Island Board of Registration and Nursing Education. Approved training includes: courses approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or its local chapter, other recognized professional nursing organizations, any department or school of nursing approved by a board of nursing; or such other professional, labor organization, or accrediting agency approved by the Board. At renewal, nurses must sign a statement attesting to completion of the continuing education requirements.

A six-month extension for the continuing education requirement may be granted by the Board if the nurse has suffered a hardship. Documentation of course completions should be retained for four years

Nursing Licensing: Department of Health

RainMom · Sep 17, 2016

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/free-nursing-continuing-710416.html

I got all mine with medscape this last renewal. They keep a record of everything for you.

campingRN · Nov 1, 2016

has anyone out there used ce-express by western schools for their ce requirements. I paid $23 and did a 20 contact hour self study with exam. they had sent me a book in mail i decided to read it to make sure it was worth it, it was over death dying and bereavement. actually very interesting. I then went online paid for the course took the exam and did the evaluation and printed my certificate, it was that easy. They are ANCC approved and all courses are peer reviewed. I am required to have 20 hours 10 of which must be peer reviewed. Does this sound to good to be true or do any others do this? I read articles and attend in services at work but this is a much easier way to provide proof.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 15, 2016

To maintain my ANCC Certification, I have to take 150 CEUs every 5 years (this makes renewing my nursing license super easy because I always have a ton of CEUs completed every year). So I use:

nurse.com (I signed up for their unlimited CEs)

nursingcenter.com (again, signed up for their CE Saver)

nursece4less.com (yes, signed up there too)

medscape.com

And I take advantage of any free CEU course that I come across online, in journals, through professional organizations, etc.

Hope this helps.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 15, 2016

I will say this: IF you are practicing in a state that requires CEUs to maintain licensure, you can be audited. The very first year we had to affirm we had the required number of CEUs when renewing licensure, I WAS audited. Had 2 weeks to provide proof of CEU completion, in the way of actual documentation in the dictated timeframe. No, I could not just get these required units and submit, it had to be proven I already had them done in the specified timeframe.
Fortunately, I took it seriously from the get-go and had them done, and proof in my file cabinet, ready to submit.

I submitted all of my CEU certificates with my license renewal. It was a hassle to do, but at least I'm (hopefully) off the audit hook.

legalmind111 · Jun 22, 2018

How do you print completed CE's on allnurses?