Over the years I've known several nurses who allowed their nursing licensure to temporarily lapse due to not paying the renewal fee on time. This phenomenon has always interested me for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the renewal fee in the state where I live is $67 once every two years. In other words, it is $33.50 annually when broken down. This amount of money would not seem like a steep economic hurdle to climb for most middle-income nurses.
Secondly, these nurses are taken off the schedule by HR or management until the moment that their licensure reflects active status. Therefore, they are not earning any money while their licensure is lapsed or delinquent, sometimes for several weeks.
Finally, the majority of the nurses I've known who have failed to pay their renewal fees on time appear to use very expensive phones, drive late model cars, and eat fast food or carry-out restaurant meals regularly.
Paying my license renewal fee is a priority for me because, without my licensure, I can no longer generate the income to pay for anything else. If I ever found myself in such a bind that I had to choose which bill to pay, I would always pay the renewal fee first or, at the very least, borrow the money to pay the renewal fee. After all, without an active license, payments for the top-of-the-line phone, nice car, or restaurant food would soon cease to occur.
I too do the "credit card on ice" thing. I've done such for a long time because i used to (pre nursing or any real jobs skill for that matter) live paycheck to paycheck, right down to the wire (like calling the power company to beg for an extension or pawning my TV to pay the rent) Hey, i was like 19-22 years old and a college flunk out. As i have zero desire to return to that lifestyle, I make darn sure I ALWAYS have a means of paying for those unexpected bills or whatever.
My renewal fees are 590.00 each year. I budget for it and pay my fees on time. Employers want a copy of our current license and we cannot work without producing the documentation.
My renewal fees are 590.00 each year. I budget for it and pay my fees on time. Employers want a copy of our current license and we cannot work without producing the documentation.
My state has no CEU requirements, but in california we had to do 30. I just did some quickie online thing when I had to do CEUs, but I think that could be one hurdle. For everyone else, maybe it just goes in the 'to do later' pile and they forget - after all, it's usually sent out a few months before actually due.
I put an alert in my phone to go off 60 days before my license expires and it repeats every two years. Also if I don't think I will obtain enough CEs by attending classes etc. I do a 30 CE class online about one year before my license expires so I don't have to worry about that at the last minute.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
No one but me alluded to CEUs, doesn't everyone have to complete them? Or are other states that different?
There are states that don't require CEs for renewal. My state only started requiring them 5 years ago. I pretty much go after the free ones online. Even the mandatory child abuse hours can be found for free.
There are states that don't require CEs for renewal. My state only started requiring them 5 years ago. I pretty much go after the free ones online. Even the mandatory child abuse hours can be found for free.
California requires 30 hrs, I think always but certainly back to the 80's.
A 30 hr home study course runs about $75.
If no CEUs are required, I can't imagine why anyone would be late unless they really didn't want to renew.
catsmeow1972, BSN, RN
1,314 Posts
I too do the "credit card on ice" thing. I've done such for a long time because i used to (pre nursing or any real jobs skill for that matter) live paycheck to paycheck, right down to the wire (like calling the power company to beg for an extension or pawning my TV to pay the rent) Hey, i was like 19-22 years old and a college flunk out. As i have zero desire to return to that lifestyle, I make darn sure I ALWAYS have a means of paying for those unexpected bills or whatever.