Question about CEs for license renewal

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I renewed my license for the first time last month. I first got my license by examination in January 2013. Are any CEs I earn from here on out valid for the 8/2015 renewal or do we have to wait until 9/2013 to start accumulating CEs for the next renewal? I'm just curious because I got numerous law CEs today which I'd love to save and use for the 8/2015 renewal but I'm not sure if I can. Thanks!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

You don't need any CE hours for your first renewal after licensure by examination in Ohio. The nice letter you got along with the frame-able certificate of licensure you got in the mail from the OBON spells this out. And no, any hours you earn between now and 08/31/2015 won't count towards the 08/31/2017 renewal.

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Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.

It sounds like ScottE misunderstood the question. If everyone in your state renews in August, anything you do before Sept. 1 will not count for 2015 renewal. Anything after 9/1/2013 will count for 2015.

For example, I live in Illinois. Our renewal date is 5/31 so we have to wait until 6/1 to start taking CEs that will count for the next renewal.

Hope this helps clarify.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
It sounds like ScottE misunderstood the question. If everyone in your state renews in August, anything you do before Sept. 1 will not count for 2015 renewal. Anything after 9/1/2013 will count for 2015.

For example, I live in Illinois. Our renewal date is 5/31 so we have to wait until 6/1 to start taking CEs that will count for the next renewal.

Hope this helps clarify.

Yeah I missed the first part about having recently renewed the license. Must have gotten hosed for getting licensed in January and having to renew in this cycle. I passed the NCLEX-RN in March and my license doesn't expire until 8/31/2015.

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And I doubt very much if "law CEs" will count towards your RN license CEU requirement. They'll want them to be in, well, nursing-related topics. Imagine that. Would your state bar association accept a class in, say, ABGs, for law CE? No, I thought not.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
And I doubt very much if "law CEs" will count towards your RN license CEU requirement. They'll want them to be in, well, nursing-related topics. Imagine that. Would your state bar association accept a class in, say, ABGs, for law CE? No, I thought not.

Lawriter - OAC - 4723-14-03 Continuing education requirement for licensed nurses.

(A) A nurse applying to renew an active license to practice nursing in Ohio must complete twenty-four contact hours of continuing education during the renewal period, unless an exception applies, and at least one of the required hours needs to be in category A continuing education.

http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/education/CAT_A_April_2013.pdf

Category "A" is about the laws as they relate to nursing practice ie Nurse Practice Act.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

check your nurse practice act on requirements. Most follow the ANCC guidelines, which state that CE's are only current for 2 years. Otherwise it is considered too old and therefore not going to carry you through for the next two years. The information needs to be continually updated, which is where the "continuing education" phrase comes in.

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Lawriter - OAC - 4723-14-03 Continuing education requirement for licensed nurses.

(A) A nurse applying to renew an active license to practice nursing in Ohio must complete twenty-four contact hours of continuing education during the renewal period, unless an exception applies, and at least one of the required hours needs to be in category A continuing education.

http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/education/CAT_A_April_2013.pdf

Category "A" is about the laws as they relate to nursing practice ie Nurse Practice Act.

Glad to hear that, but I didn't get the impression that the OP's CEs were all related to nursing. Perhaps I'm wrong. OP? Clarify?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Yes, all my CEs are nursing; they were earned as part of my RN job. I get the within the 2 year thing. But I renewed my license in late May 2013 and it is due to expire 8/2015 but I'll likely renew in May 2015 so any CEs earned now would be within 2 years.... But not sure how it formally works. No response from the Board of Nursing.

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