CEUfast · $39 / yr unlimited
Unlimited nursing CEUs for one flat yearly price, with audio courses and automatic CE Broker reporting.
CE Marketplace / Iowa CE Requirements
Iowa Nursing CE Requirements
Everything Iowa RNs need for license renewal — required contact hours, renewal cycle, mandatory topics, and the best continuing-education providers, in one place.
Required Hours
36 contact hours every 3 years (Iowa uses a 3-year cycle, not 2)
Renewal Cycle
Every 3 years (triennial)
Tracking / Reporting
Self-tracked; keep documentation 4 years for audit. As of June 4, 2025 the Board no longer pre-approves CE providers or content (CE must still be appropriate nursing subject matter).
Renewal Deadline
Licenses expire on the 15th of your birth month; after the first renewal you renew every 3 years. Renew online before the deadline (you can start ~60 days out).
Required & specialty topics
- Child and Dependent Adult Abuse mandatory-reporter training: required for nurses who regularly examine, attend, counsel, or treat children or dependent adults. This is provided ONLY by Iowa HHS (not a commercial CE provider) and is completed every 3 years.
- ARNPs who prescribed opioids during the cycle: 2 contact hours on the CDC opioid-prescribing guideline for chronic pain.
Good to know
- One contact hour = 60 minutes; after the first hour, 15-minute increments count as quarter-hours.
- Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. If you have not held an active license anywhere in 5 years, a refresher course is required to reactivate.
Official source
Requirements change. Always confirm the current rules directly with the Iowa Board of Nursing (Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) before you renew.
Visit the Iowa Board of Nursing (Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) →Recommended CE providers for Iowa nurses
NurseCE4Less · $59 / yr unlimited
Affordable unlimited plans trusted by 700,000+ nurses since 2008. ANCC-accredited, with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Nurse.com
Large accredited library with structured state renewal packages and built-in CE tracking.
Elite Learning
Unlimited CE passes covering required state topics, with mobile access and reporting.
LearnTastic
ANCC-accredited, state-specific CE bundles you can buy as a package — pay only for the hours you need.
NetCE
One of the largest jointly-accredited CE providers, with a deep catalog of individual courses and special offers.
Verify before you rely on this. This page is a free planning guide, not legal or
licensing advice. Nursing CE rules change and individual situations vary (specialty, license type,
first renewal, endorsement). Confirm your exact requirements with the
Iowa Board of Nursing (Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) before completing any course or renewal.