Iowa Registered Nurse

Effective June fourth, twenty twenty-five, IAC 481-619 superseded the former Iowa Board of Nursing rules at 655 IAC Ch 5; the board no longer pre-approves continuing education providers or content. Licensees determine whether a program meets the appropriate subject matter criteria of 481-619.2(3). Appropriate subject matter includes nursing practice, professional growth, scientific underpinnings of nursing practice, social and ethical aspects of health care, health care management, and patient education. Self-help, basic CPR, and orientation activities do not qualify. Iowa Code section 232.69(3)(b) requires renewal attestation of recent child abuse identification and reporting training; Iowa Code section 235B.16(5)(b) imposes a parallel requirement for dependent adult abuse identification and reporting. Both courses are administered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and must have been completed within the previous three years per IAC 481-617.7(3); they are separate certifications, not part of the thirty-six contact hour total. Up to eighteen contact hours may be carried over to the next renewal cycle when the prior cycle's hours exceeded the minimum. Unit conversions: one CEU equals ten contact hours; one academic semester hour equals fifteen contact hours; one academic quarter hour equals ten contact hours. A current national nursing certification or recertification is recognized as the full thirty-six contact hours. A board-approved nurse residency program is also recognized as the full requirement. Documentation must be retained for four years for audit. A licensee who has not held an active license in any jurisdiction within the previous five years must complete a board-approved nurse refresher course within twelve months of reactivation.

CE courses from providers approved by these accreditors count toward your Iowa Registered Nurse renewal requirements.