Iowa Nurses CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

Iowa Nurses

In support of improving patient care, NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The Iowa Board of Nursing accepts courses from any provider who is ANCC accredited.

Continuing Education Requirement

Attention Iowa Nurses: Governor Reynolds continues to temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of the Iowa Code, Iowa Administrative Code, and all other implementing administrative rules which prohibit the practice of nursing by a licensee whose license is inactive or lapsed. Suspension of these provisions is limited to licenses which have lapsed or expired within the 5 years prior to this Proclamation and is further limited to the provision of nursing care and treatment of victims of this public health disaster emergency and solely for the duration of this Proclamation. Iowans should expect that this suspension will be extended beyond July 25, 2021. For more information, please visit: https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/COVID%20Disaster%20Proclamation%20-%206.25.2021.pdf.

The Iowa Board of Nursing accepts NetCE courses.

RNs and LPNs are required 36 contact hours every three years.

ARNPs are required to maintain national certification.

ARNPs who supervise the use of fluoroscopic x-ray equipment must complete a one-time requirement on Safe Clinical Use of Fluoroscopy.

Effective July 1, 2019, all licensees who are mandatory reporters are required 2 contact hours in identifying and reporting abuse in children and 2 contact hours in identifying and reporting abuse in dependent adults, unless exempt. For all subsequent renewals, licensees are required 1 hour of recertification training (for each course) every three years.

The initial 2 hours must be completed within the first six months of employment/self-employment and the 1-hour recertification course will be available in 2022. All mandatory reporter training may only be completed through the Iowa Department of Human Services. See training here: https://dhs.iowa.gov/child-welfare/mandatoryreporter

View RN and LPN Special Offers
View ARNP Special Offers
View Course List

All Accreditations and Approvals
License Renewal Instructions

For More Information

Please contact the Iowa Board of Nursing at (515) 281-3255, or visit their website at https://nursing.iowa.gov/.

Additional information regarding your continuing education requirements may be found at:
https://nursing.iowa.gov/continuing-education/ce-licensees/basic-requirements - All Licensees.
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/rule/04-27-2016.655.5.2.pdf - IAC Rule 655.5.2 for RNs and LPNs.
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/rule/04-27-2016.655.7.2.pdf - IAC Rule 655.7.2 for ARNPs.