All Florida-licensed RN's and LPNs are now in a 24-month renewal cycle and must complete 24 hours of appropriate continuing education during each renewal period. One (1) contact hour is required for each calendar month of the licensure cycle, including:

• two (2) hours on Prevention of Medical Errors.

• HIV/AIDS is now a one-time, 1-hour CE requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal.

• Domestic Violence CE is now a 2-hour requirement every third renewal. For example, if you renew your license on January 31, 2007, you are required to complete the Domestic Violence CE before the January 31, 2011 renewal.

A registered nurse who also holds a current Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner certificate may satisfy the continuing education requirements for both licenses by completing appropriate courses for a registered nurse, or may satisfy up to 50% of the requirement by completing continuing medical education coursework.

Appropriate subject matter for continuing education are those which meet the professional education needs of the licensee in order to meet the health care needs of his or her patients and consist of content from one or more of the following:

1. Nursing practice areas and special health care problems.
2. Biological, physical, behavioral, and social sciences.
3. Legal aspects of health care.
4. Management/administration of health care personnel and patient care.
5. Teaching/learning process of health care personnel and patients.
6. Subjects at an accredited education institution that are taken and are advanced beyond that completed for original licensure.
7. Personal development subject matter must include application of content as it relates to improved patient care.

Nurses licensed by examination during the current renewal period, in any state, are exempt from additional continuing education requirements for the first renewal period only. This exemption is lost if the license is not renewed by the renewal deadline.

All licensees are subject to audit. If audited, you must submit copies of certificates of attendance to the Board of Nursing as proof of participation in appropriate continuing education. It is the responsibility of the licensee to retain all copies of certificates of attendance for a period of at least four (4) years. Do NOT send certificates to the Board of Nursing unless requested.