How many CE hours do nurses need in Iowa?

Registered Nurses (RN) in Iowa need 36 continuing education hours every 3 years for license renewal.

What are the mandatory CE topics in Iowa?

Mandatory CE topics in Iowa include: General Continuing Education, Child and Dependent Adult Abuse, ARNP Opioid Prescribing.

What is the renewal cycle for nursing licenses in Iowa?

Nursing licenses in Iowa must be renewed every 3 years. The Iowa Board of Nursing oversees license renewals.

What license types does Iowa regulate?

Iowa regulates the following nursing license types: RN, APRN, LPN, CNA.

Iowa RN License Renewal Requirements

Iowa Board of Nursing · 3-year renewal cycle · Last verified 2026-02-04

Quick Facts

Renewal Cycle	Every 3 years
Total CE Hours (RN)	36 contact hours
Renewal Fee (RN)	$99
Compact State (NLC)	Yes — NLC member
License Types	RN, APRN, LPN, CNA

Iowa requires all nurses to complete 36 contact hours of continuing education per 3-year renewal cycle, making it one of the few states with a triennial renewal period. Two hours must cover identification and reporting of child and dependent adult abuse, and ARNPs with prescriptive authority must complete an additional 2 hours on opioid prescribing. Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, and the renewal fee is $99 for RN/LPN and $81 for ARNP. The renewal deadline is the 15th of the nurse's birth month, with a 30-day grace period available.

This data is verified against the Iowa Board of Nursing — last checked 2026-02-04. If anything looks off, let me know.

Read the full Iowa RN License Renewal Guide

Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal

How to Renew Your Iowa Nursing License

1Log in to the Iowa Board of Nursing online portal at eservices.iowa.gov
2Select your license type (RN, LPN, or ARNP) and begin the renewal application
3Attest to completing 36 CE hours including 2 hours on child and dependent adult abuse
4ARNPs with prescriptive authority must also attest to 2 hours on opioid prescribing
5Pay the renewal fee ($99 for RN/LPN, $81 for ARNP) via the online portal
6Retain CE documentation for at least 4 years in case of audit

Visit the Iowa Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

CE Hours by License Type

hours / 3 years

Renewal fee: $99

APRN

hours / 3 years

Renewal fee: $81

LPN

hours / 3 years

Renewal fee: $99

CNA

hours / 3 years

Renewal fee: $0

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General Continuing Education	36	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	36 contact hours of continuing education per 3-year renewal cycle for all nursing license types. CE offerings must be at least 1 hour, and coursework must be appropriate to nursing practice.
Child and Dependent Adult Abuse	2	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	2 hours on identification and reporting of child and dependent adult abuse (included in the 36-hour total), provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services.
ARNP Opioid Prescribing	2	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	ARNPs with prescriptive authority must complete 2 hours on opioid prescribing each renewal cycle (included in the 36-hour total).

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: 15th of the birth month every 3 years
Grace Period: 30-day grace period after the deadline; late renewal incurs a $50 late fee in addition to the $99 renewal fee; Board rules do not prohibit practice during the grace period but employers may
CE Completion Window: All CE must be completed during the 3-year period immediately preceding the renewal date
Record Retention: Keep CE certificates for at least 5 years in case of audit by the Iowa Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• Iowa has a 3-year renewal cycle, which is longer than most states
• 36 CE contact hours are required per renewal cycle for all license types
• Mandatory topics include 2 hours on child and dependent adult abuse reporting
• ARNPs with prescriptive authority must also complete 2 hours on opioid prescribing
• Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state
• Renewal begins on the 16th of the birth month every 3 years
• CE documentation should be retained for at least 4 years for audit purposes
• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the Iowa Board of Nursing.

CE Providers & Renewal

Approved CE Providers

ANCCState Board of Nursing

Renew Online

Late Fees & Reinstatement

Late Renewal Fees

RN: $50
LPN: $50

Reinstatement Fees

RN: $150
LPN: $150

First-Time Licensee Exemption

First-time licensees have a prorated CE requirement based on when the license was issued

CE Audit Information

State board may conduct random CE audits. Retain all CE certificates for at least 4 years.

Board Resources

Iowa Board of Nursing

https://dial.iowa.gov/about-dial/boards/board-nursing

Sources

Last verified 2026-02-04·View official source →

Always confirm requirements directly with the Iowa Board of Nursing before making decisions about your license renewal.

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How to Renew Your Iowa Nursing License

1Log in to the Iowa Board of Nursing online portal at eservices.iowa.gov

2Select your license type (RN, LPN, or ARNP) and begin the renewal application

3Attest to completing 36 CE hours including 2 hours on child and dependent adult abuse

4ARNPs with prescriptive authority must also attest to 2 hours on opioid prescribing

5Pay the renewal fee ($99 for RN/LPN, $81 for ARNP) via the online portal

6Retain CE documentation for at least 4 years in case of audit

Visit the Iowa Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.

CE Requirements

Category	Hours	Required	License Types	Description
General Continuing Education	36	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	36 contact hours of continuing education per 3-year renewal cycle for all nursing license types. CE offerings must be at least 1 hour, and coursework must be appropriate to nursing practice.
Child and Dependent Adult Abuse	2	Required	RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA	2 hours on identification and reporting of child and dependent adult abuse (included in the 36-hour total), provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services.
ARNP Opioid Prescribing	2	Required	APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP	ARNPs with prescriptive authority must complete 2 hours on opioid prescribing each renewal cycle (included in the 36-hour total).

Important Deadlines

Renewal Due: 15th of the birth month every 3 years
Grace Period: 30-day grace period after the deadline; late renewal incurs a $50 late fee in addition to the $99 renewal fee; Board rules do not prohibit practice during the grace period but employers may
CE Completion Window: All CE must be completed during the 3-year period immediately preceding the renewal date
Record Retention: Keep CE certificates for at least 5 years in case of audit by the Iowa Board of Nursing

Important Notes

• Iowa has a 3-year renewal cycle, which is longer than most states

• 36 CE contact hours are required per renewal cycle for all license types

• Mandatory topics include 2 hours on child and dependent adult abuse reporting

• ARNPs with prescriptive authority must also complete 2 hours on opioid prescribing

• Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state

• Renewal begins on the 16th of the birth month every 3 years

• CE documentation should be retained for at least 4 years for audit purposes

• This information is for guidance only. Always verify requirements with the Iowa Board of Nursing.