Question on Nursing Hours Required

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I have a question that I keep getting different answers on. Please HELP! I graduated from nursing school in May 2005, however didn't pass the NCLEX until January of this year 2007. I was told by one potential employer that I had to get in X amount of hours before September when my license will need to be renewed. So I called the Board of Nursing and was told that I needed a minimum of 960 hours during the previous five years but because I had only graduated two years ago it didn't apply yet. So I am currently still looking for a job, but am getting worried that I do need a certain amount of hours in before I renew my license. Can anyone explain this to me or let me know that YES I do need to get some hours in before September. Thank you so much for your help!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

This is a question for your state BON - they are the only source of information you need.

Generally speaking, many states do exempt nurses from work hours/continuing ed requirements during the initial licensing period.

Somewhere here at allnurses.com is a sticky thread with contact info for each state BON.

Good luck to you.

Edited to add: 960 hours is slightly less than 1/2 of a full time yearly total of 2,080. If you were licensed in January 2007, and your license is good for a typical 2 years, you have until January 2009 (18 months from now) to accumulate 960 hours. Don't sweat it.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

OK, I just reread the OP. If you were licensed in January 2007, why do you need to renew just 8 months later, in September of this year?

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OK, I just reread the OP. If you were licensed in January 2007, why do you need to renew just 8 months later, in September of this year?

If she is a RN, you must renew your license on the odd years. So this is the year. Even if you just got it, you still have to pay the renewal.

That being said, you are exempt your first renewal period from the CEU credits. You do not need to have them your first renewal. But in Ohio, that is only 24 hours. Where is the 960 hours of working coming from? I have not heard of having to work specific amounts of hours to renew. Some nurses leave the profession but keep up their license. If you had to work a specific amt of hours to renew, they would never get to renew theirs. They do however have to complete the required CEU's which vary from state to state. You would want to check with the BON but I do not know of any working hours, just CEU hours.

Leslie

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Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.

Don't know what state the OP is from, but in OH all RNs renew in August every two years (the odd years, LPNs in the even years)-no matter what. So, if you passed your boards in January you still must renew in August.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
If she is a RN, you must renew your license on the odd years. So this is the year. Even if you just got it, you still have to pay the renewal.

That being said, you are exempt your first renewal period from the CEU credits. You do not need to have them your first renewal. But in Ohio, that is only 24 hours. Where is the 960 hours of working coming from? I have not heard of having to work specific amounts of hours to renew. Some nurses leave the profession but keep up their license. If you had to work a specific amt of hours to renew, they would never get to renew theirs. They do however have to complete the required CEU's which vary from state to state. You would want to check with the BON but I do not know of any working hours, just CEU hours.

Leslie

Some states require CEUs for renewal. Some require a minimum number of working hours for renewal. Some require both.

I live in NE, which requires working hours for renewal. I am a SAHM and do not meet that requirement, so I am not eligible for licensure in this state. I still have my original license (from IL), and keep it current since current work hours are not required there.

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Odd years, even years??? I renew every two years from the year I graduated, which is an even year.

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, CCRN-CSC.
Odd years, even years??? I renew every two years from the year I graduated, which is an even year.

Georgia started the odd/even thing last year. I had to renew in 2006, although I had renewed in 10/2005 too. Now I will renew in 2009.

Some have to renew this year. I can't remember how I got "picked" to renew early. Last name maybe??

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Then I hope they decrease the number of CE's needed if they're not giving two years for that first renewal. Not for new grads, I mean for the oldies whose renewal dates get changed.

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I don't remember reading anything about CE hours. I'm from Oregon and was told that 960 hours are required in the past five years for renewal.

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