How to Renew Your Florida Nursing License: 2025 CEU Requirements Explained
Florida Nursing CEU Requirements: Complete Guide for RNs, LPNs, and APRNs
Florida Nurses: 2025 Continuing Education (CEU) Requirements You Must Know
🏥 Florida Nursing CEU Requirements: A Professional Overview
Florida mandates that licensed nurses complete Continuing Education (CE) as a condition of license renewal. These requirements help ensure that nurses remain current with medical advancements, regulatory standards, and clinical best practices.
🔹 License Renewal Cycle
- Biennial renewal: All nursing licenses in Florida must be renewed every 2 years.
- Renewal is due by the licensee’s birthday in even- or odd-numbered years depending on the license issuance date.
đź“š Total CE Hours Required
The Florida Board of Nursing (via the Florida Department of Health) mandates the following CEU hours for each renewal cycle:
| License Type | Required CE Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RN & LPN | 24 hours | Applies to all actively practicing nurses |
| APRNs | 24 hours + national certification CE | APRNs must also complete training on safe opioid prescribing if holding DEA registration |
âś… Mandatory Topics Within the 24 Hours
The required 24 CE hours must include the following mandatory topics each cycle:
- 2 hours – Prevention of Medical Errors
- 2 hours – Florida Laws and Rules
- 2 hours – Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace
- 2 hours – Human Trafficking
- 2 hours – Domestic Violence (every third renewal period only)
- 1 hour – HIV/AIDS (required once prior to first renewal only)
These subjects are not optional—they must be completed through a Florida Board-approved provider.
🧠CE Delivery Options
CE can be completed:
- Online (asynchronously or live webinar)
- In person through Florida Board of Nursing-approved programs
- Through accredited hospitals, colleges, or nursing organizations
- Through employer-sponsored CE that is board-approved
CE Broker is Florida’s official tracking system. Most providers report completions directly to CE Broker, but nurses are responsible for ensuring compliance and accuracy of records.
⚠️ CE Compliance Audits
The Florida Board of Nursing conducts random audits after each renewal cycle. Nurses must ensure that all CE documentation is:
- Completed before license expiration
- Reported to CE Broker
- Retained personally for at least four years
đź’ˇ Best Practices for Florida Nurses
- Enroll with a CE Broker account (free basic accounts available).
- Choose board-approved providers—only these count toward CEU requirements.
- Track your CE progress well before your renewal deadline.
- Watch for topic changes: Florida occasionally revises mandated topics or hour allocations.
- APRNs with prescribing authority should complete controlled substance CE to remain compliant.
Does a BLS CPR class qualify for CEU or CME credits?
It depends on your profession and the accrediting organization. In general, Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR classes can qualify for CEU or CME credits, especially if they’re taken through an American Heart Association (AHA)–approved provider.
For example:
- EMS professionals (like EMTs or paramedics) can often receive CE credits through CAPCE (Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education) if the course is properly documented.
- Dental professionals in some states may also be eligible, as BLS is often a required component of continuing education.
- However, some boards, like the California Board of Nursing, do not issue CE credits for BLS courses.
To be sure, it’s best to check with your licensing board or accrediting body. And if you took the course online, you may be able to claim your credits through the AHA’s eLearning portal once you’ve completed all course components.
