Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a professional med traveler? First, you go to school, learn your nursing specialty, gain some clinical experience, and then set off for the adventure of a lifetime. Sure, that’s the start of your journey. But, in order to maintain your status as a travel nurse, you also need to keep up with your CEUs, or continued education units. What are these CEU things, you ask? Let us explain.

• CEs, CEUs, CNEs - what's the difference?
• State travel nursing CEU requirements
• How do I complete my CEUs?
• FAQs about nursing CE and CEUs

CEU Resources and State Requirements for Travel Nurses 2024

CEs, CEUs, CNEs — what’s the difference?

Wait — nursing CE who? CEU! You may have also heard of nursing continuing education (CE) or continuing nursing education (CNE). They’re all very common, and yet, have their differences.

Continuing education (CE): nursing CE is required lifelong learning beyond a degree or certificate program.

Continuing education unit (CEU): nursing CEUs represent the amount of time you’ve spent in a course or other approved activity. Typically, one CEU is equal to 10 hours of instruction, which is measured as “contact hours.” Depending on the state, a contact hour is 50 to 60 minutes of instruction in nursing continuing education courses.

Continuing nursing education (CNE): courses specifically designed for nursing professionals to expand their knowledge.

CEs, CNEs, and CEUs are all important for travel nurses to keep up with. It’s through continued education and nursing continuing professional development that you learn new and improved procedures, treatments, medications, and technologies. Plus, get all the details on current facts, data, protocols, techniques, and knowledge that will help take your travel nursing career to the next level.

The most important thing when it comes to CEs, CNEs, and CEUs is to ensure you’re getting them through an accredited organization. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) sets rigorous requirements and standards for education providers to follow. That way, the ANCC can ensure organizations are offering evidence-based and unbiased educational materials. It would be a bummer to go through educational training just to find out the organization isn’t accredited so your nursing continuing education doesn’t count. So, do your research ahead of time and set yourself up for success!

State travel nursing CEU requirements

Ready to take your travel nursing career to the next level? As you collect amazing memories working across the country, you may also need to accumulate something else — nursing licenses. While these are the gateway to your adventurous lifestyle and a better payday, it can start to feel a bit overwhelming when renewal time comes around. This next section can serve as a quick reference when it comes to continuing education requirements, breaking down what each state requires for licensure renewals.

If your home state participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), in most cases you're only responsible for the continuing education of your primary license. However, there are a few states that have select continuing education that every nurse is required to complete regardless of compact status.

‼️ Disclaimer ‼️ This information has been researched, however, state RN CEU requirements can change. Please review each state's continuing education requirements on their nursing board website to ensure accurate information. The following information is focused on continuing education hours, not units.

Here’s a quick rundown into what each state requires for license renewal and CEUs for RNs:

Alabama: 24 hours of nursing CE required within a 2-year licensure period 

• 4 hours of the continuing education must be from a board provided education on statutory and administrative frameworks for nursing regulation or the Alabama Nurse Practice Act 
• These 4 hours are only required if it is your first renewal 

Alaska: every 2 years prior to November 30th of even-numbered years, 30 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensing period. Complete two of the following methods:  

• Work 320 hours as a registered nurse in within a renewal period 
• Obtain 30 contact hours of continuing education provided by an approved agency or certifying body
• Alaska does not currently have any topic specific required CEU courses
• No more than 10 hours should be earned though in-service nursing education offered by a licensed health care facility 
• Obtain 30 hours of participation in uncompensated professional activities
• See a complete list of qualifying professional activities
• Track your Alaskan professional activities with this Alaskan Nursing Board

Arizona: No continuing education required for RNs at this time

Arkansas: 15 hours every 2-year licensing period 

• If using contact hours as the method of continuing education compliance, you are no longer required to list all courses individually. Instead, you will be required to affirm that you have completed the required continuing education for the renewal cycle. DO NOT UPLOAD your certificates unless you are notified that you have been selected for audit 

California: 30 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period: 

• In accordance with AB 1407 (Burke, Chapter 445, Statutes of 2021), starting January 1, 2023 a licensee still within the first 2 years of holding their license, immediately following their initial licensure, must complete one hour of direct participation in an implicit bias course offered by a continuing education provider that has been approved by the Board of Registered Nursing. Approved CE Providers can be verified using the DCA License Search. This new requirement is codified in California Statute under Business and Profession Code 2811.5

Colorado: 20 hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal period

Connecticut: licensees must either maintain certification through ARRT or earn a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education within the previous 24-month period

District of Columbia: for RNs, 24 hours of continuing education are required every 2-year renewal period:

• These hours must be on the topic of patients or clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in accordance with D.C. Official. For more details on which education qualifies please see the rules and regulations section 5406 

Delaware: 30 total hours of continuing education within a 2-year licensure period with the following caveats:

• For those that have reviewed licensure by examination on or before October 1st of ODD numbered years will not be required to complete continuing education hours while those that were licensed by examination on or after June 1st of ODD numbered years will need to complete all 30 hours 
• For those licensed through an endorsement pathway (if you're a Fusion Medical Staffing traveler — this is probably you!), when licensed on or before October 1st of ODD numbered years, 15 hours of continuing education are required
• For those licensed on or after October 31st of EVEN numbered years but before June 1st of ODD numbered years zero (0), continuing education hours are required, and finally for those licensed via endorsement on or after June 1st of ODD numbered years but before October 1st of ODD numbered years, all 30 hours must be completed

Florida: 24 hours of continuing education required in a 2-year licensure period

• 2 hours must be Board-approved nursing continuing education courses on prevention of medical errors
• 2 hours must be on Florida laws and rules
• 2 hours on impairment in the workplace
• 1 hour must be HIV/AIDS for the first renewal only
• 2 hours on the topic of human trafficking
• 2 hours on domestic violence
  • Domestic violence is required every third biennium and the hours are in addition to the 24 hours required for renewal

Georgia: for RNs, 30 hours of continuing education are required within a 2-year licensure period

Hawaii: 30 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period 

Idaho: 15 hours of continuing education courses required within a 2-year licensing period 

Illinois: 20 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period

• 1 hour must be on the topic of sexual harassment prevention
  • This is in accordance with title 68 section 1130.400 of administrative code
• Up to 5 CE hours may be earned for completion of skills certification courses. A maximum of 2 hours in cardiopulmonary resuscitation certified by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Health and Safety Institute (HSI), or other qualified organization may be accepted, while a maximum of 3 hours may be accepted for certification or recertification in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or their equivalent

Indiana: there are no state-required continuing education for RNs

Iowa: 36 continuing education hours within a 3-year licensure period

• 4 total continuing education hours for the mandatory Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Reporter training
  • This training is in accordance with IA code 232.69
  • 2 hours each
  • Applicants must complete both required training courses
  • Training valid for 3 years
    • Training prior to July 1, 2019, will be valid for five years from date

Kansas: 30 contact hours of approved CNE during the most recent licensing period

• Exception: you are NOT required to complete 30 CNE contact hours if license expires within 30 months following initial licensure examination or for renewal of license that expires within the first 9 months following licensure reinstatement or endorsement. See the Kansas Board website for more information

Kentucky: 14 hours of continuing education required within a 1-year licensure period

• Applicants must retain proof of this education for a period of 5 years in the event of an audit
• Mandatory CEUs for RNs: earn within 3 years of licensure:
  • 1.5 contact hours on pediatric abusive head trauma (one-time only requirement)
    • Required by KRS 314.073(6)
  • 3 contact hours on domestic violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation (one-time only requirement)
    • Required by KRS 194A.540
  • 2 contact hours on suicide prevention (one-time only requirement)
    • 1 contact hour on prevention generally
    • 1 hour that addresses:
      • • Chronic toxic stress and secondary traumatic stress potentially increasing the incidence of suicide amongst nurses
        • A confidential and standardized pathway that addresses screening, assessing, safety planning, referrals, and follow-up for nurses at risk for suicide
        • Ethical considerations of caring for patients and nurses that are suicidal
        • Approved trainings

Louisiana: complete one of the following options to fulfill continuing education requirements within a 2-year licensure period:

• A minimum of 30 board-approved contact hours of CE during the 2-year licensure period

OR

• A minimum of 900 practice hours during the 2-year licensure period as verified by the employer on a form provided by the board 

OR

• Current certification in a specialty area of nursing by a certifying body whose requirements have been approved by the board as being equivalent to or exceeding the above requirements
  • Not required for those renewing an initial license
  • For those with a compact license, please fulfill the renewal license of the home state in which you hold your primary license

Maine: no state-required nursing continuing education

Maryland: completion of implicit bias training required for licensure and upon renewal1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the renewal application

• Adaxially, renewal applicants will show evidence of:
• Satisfactory completion of all requirements for a diploma or degree from a Board-approved nursing education program within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the renewal application

OR

• Completion of 30 continuing education units (CEUs) within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of the renewal application
  • Qualifying continuing education can be found in section 10.27.01.13 of Rules and Regulations

Massachusetts: 15 hours of continuing education rewired within a 2-year licensure period

• 2 hours of continuing education must be in an approved course on domestic and sexual violence
  • This is in accordance with Session law Chapter 260
• Please see 244 CMR 5.00 of Regulations for qualifying education

Michigan: 25 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period

• 2 hours must be on the topic of pain and symptom management
  • Refer to Part 6 of administrative code for details on qualifying education

Minnesota: for RNs, 24 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period

Mississippi: for both RNs and LPNs, 20 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period

• For LPNs with MS IV certification: 10 hours of continuing education on in-service education on IV therapy required

Missouri: no state-required continuing education for license renewal

Montana: no continuing education required for RNs

Nebraska: 20 hours of continuing education are required within a 2-year licensure period

Nevada: 30 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period

• 4 hours of continuing education upon the topic of cultural competency is state required each license renewal period
  • This is in accordance with NRS 632.343 & NRS 449.103
• 4 hours of training relating to the medical consequences of an act of terrorism that involves the use of a weapon of mass destruction
  • This will be completed within the first 2 years of initial licensure prior to first renewal period
  • This is a one-time requirement
    • This is in accordance with NRS 632.343

New Hampshire: 30 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period

New Jersey: 30 hours within a 2-year license period

• 1 hour should be on the topic of prescription opioid drugs, including alternatives to opioids for managing and treating pain, and the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion

New Mexico: 30 hours of continuing education are required every 2-year licensing period

New York: 2 hours of continuing education on Child Abuse Identification and Reporting is a one-time requirement for licensure

• 4 hours of continuing education on the topic of infection prevention, infection control, barrier precautions Infection Control coursework is required every 4 years in accordance with Section 6505-b of the Education Law

North Carolina: 30 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year license period

North Dakota: 12 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensing period

Ohio: 24 hours of continuing education required within each 2-year licensing period

• Education not required first year of licensure
  • CE that includes at least one contact hour of Category A CE for each renewal
• A nurse who has been licensed in Ohio by reciprocity for less than or equal to one year prior to the first Ohio license renewal must complete at least 12 contact hours, rather than 24

Oklahoma: 24 hours of continuing education within a 2-year licensing period

Oregon: one of the following options

• Attest to the practice of at least 400 hours within a 2-year licensed period accompanied by Mandatory State Education:
  • 1 hour should be The Pain Management Module may be taken for credit once during each certification period for 1 unit
  • 1 hour must be on the topic of cultural competency
• Attest to 600 hours of practice in the last 3 years accompanied by 20 hours of board approved continuing education
• Attest to 800 hours of practice in the last 3 years accompanied by 30 hours of board approved continuing education
  • 1 hour should be The Pain Management Module may be taken for credit once during each certification period for 1 unit.
  • 1 hour must be on the topic of cultural competency

Pennsylvania: 30 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensing period

• 2 of the hours must be on the subject of child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with 40.208(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting — mandatory training requirement)

Rhode Island: 10 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year renewal period

• Section 3.5 of the rules and regulations of RI provide more details on what education qualifies per the board
  • Proof of completion certificate and attendance of these contact hours should be saved for a period of 4 years in the event of an audit

South Carolina: must complete one of the following:

• Completion of 30 contact hours within the past 2 years of a renewal period
• Maintenance of certification or re-certification by a national certifying body recognized by the Board
• Completion of an academic program of study in nursing or a related field recognized by the Board
• Verification of competency and the number of hours practiced as evidenced by employer certification on a form approved by the Board

South Dakota: no continuing education nursing requirements

• Provide evidence of a minimum of 140 hours worked for compensation in within a 12-month period

Tennessee: within a biennial renewal cycle, RNs must complete two items from the following list

• Copy of a satisfactory employer evaluation 
• Letter from a peer providing a satisfactory evaluation of your nursing performance 
• Letter from a patient or family member giving evidence of a satisfactory nurse/patient relationship
• Copy of a contract of renewal or re-appointment to a nursing position
• Written self-evaluation based on the standards of competence listed in the rules
• Evidence of current national certification
• A document that identifies two nursing goals and how you met these goals
• A letter from the agency where you volunteered as a nurse
• Documentation from a school of nursing stating that you participated in the education of nursing students (RNs only)
• Certificate/evidence of five contact hours of continuing education (for RNs/LPNs who are not practicing, 10 contact hours will fulfill the competency requirement)
• Copy of a published article relevant to nursing written by the licensee
• Letter of satisfactory completion of a nursing refresher course
• Letter of satisfactory completion of a comprehensive nursing orientation program 
• Official transcript (may be student issued) demonstrating two hours of nursing credit 
• Evidence of successfully retaken NCLEX
• Texas: 20 continuing education hours for every 2-year renewal period
• Nursing jurisprudence examination is required  

Utah: for renewal/continuing education including required courses:

• For renewal, applicants will need to attest to completing 400 hours of practice for compensation OR
• Attest 200 hours of practice for compensation with 15 hours of approved continuing education OR
• Attest to completion of 30 hours of approved continuing education
• All applicants must attest to the completion of the following mandatory education:
  • Completion of at least one of the following online suicide prevention trainings
    • Suicide Prevention (0.5 CEUs)
    • Supporting Patients (0.5 CEUs)
    • Collaborative Safety Planning (0.5 CEUs)
    • CALM-Utah (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) (1 CEU)

Vermont: to qualify for renewal

• Have practiced for a minimum of 50 days (400 hours) in the 2 years preceding application or 120 days (960 hours) in the 5 years preceding application OR
• Have completed 20 hours of qualifying continuing education in the 2 years immediately preceding the application OR
• Hold a current nationally recognized certification
• 20 hours of continuing education required within a renewal period

Virginia: to renew an active nursing license, a licensee shall complete at least one of the following learning activities or courses

• Current specialty certification by a national certifying organization, as defined in 18VAC90-19-10
• Completion of a minimum of 3 credit hours of post-licensure academic education relevant to nursing practice, offered by a regionally accredited college or university
• A Board-approved refresher course in nursing
• Completion of nursing-related, evidence-based practice project or research study
• Completion of publication as the author or co-author during a renewal cycle
• Teaching or developing a nursing-related course resulting in no less than three semester hours of college credit, a 15-week course, or specialty certification
• Teaching or developing nursing-related continuing education courses for up to 30 contact hours
• 15 contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses relevant to the practice of nursing and 640 hours of active practice as a nurse
• 30 contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses relevant to the practice of nursing

Washington: must complete the following

• 8 hours of continuing education are required within every 1-year licensure period
• 96 hours of practice are required to maintain licensure
• 6 hours of one-time suicide prevention training
  • The state of Washington requires 6 hours of education on the topic of suicide prevention training for RNs
    • This is a one-time requirement that must be completed prior to the end of initial continuing education reporting period
    • In accordance with WAC 246-915-086
      
      and RCW 43.70.442 and WAC 246-840-220
      of state code and laws

West Virginia: 12 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period

• 3 mandatory hours of continuing education hours must be on the topic of drug diversion training, best practice prescribing of controlled substances training, and training on prescribing and administration of an opioid antagonist if they prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances
  • This education must be completed within 1 year of receiving one's initial license from the Board
    • This is in accordance with West Virginia Code 30-1-7a

Wisconsin: no continuing education or state-mandated education for RNs

Wyoming: if employed for at least 400 hours in the past 2 years, you do not need to complete any additional CEUs (continuing education hours)

• If employed 200 hours in the past 2 years, you will need to complete 15 CEUs (continuing education hours)
• If employed less than 200 hours in the past 2 years, you will need to complete 30 CEUs (continuing education hours)
  • Must be able to provide completion proof of any continuing education hours needed upon audit

How do I complete my CEUs?

So now you know what’s expected of you as a travel nurse. How do you take these nursing CEUs? Thankfully, you have options!

The most popular (and convenient) option is to get your nursing CEUs online. Luckily, with rapidly advancing technology, you can attend online conferences, webinars, and workshops to earn CEUs. The Internet is cool.

Here are some nursing CEU resources for you to look into. You should know, there’s a lot more out there, so it would benefit you to do your own research to see what you can find, too!

Nurse.com

• Features a myriad of free continuing education courses for nurses
• Has a specialized “Focused CE Series”
• Easy to navigate, user-friendly site

Learn more at Nurse.com.

CEU Fast

• More than 100 continuing education courses available for nurses
• Nationally accredited
• High-quality customer service
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Free trial period

Learn more at CEU Fast.

Click Play CEU

• Fun, entertaining videos that help you earn CEUs
• Convenient, on-the-go courses for travel nurses
• Certified in all 50 states
• 90-day money back guarantee

Learn more at Click Play CEU.

RN.org

• Convenient list of nursing resources
• Features a full course catalog, state-specific courses, free continuing education courses, and more
• Comprehensive list of state-by-state hours required, and online hours accepted

Learn more at RN.org

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

• Check out extensive course lists for accreditation, certification, and other programs
• Has additional field-specific nursing resources
• Easy to navigate, user-friendly site

Learn more at American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

FAQs about nursing CE and CEUs

How do nurses earn CEUs?

Nurses earn continuing education units by taking classes, attending seminars, reading articles, and participating in in-services all of which all have a varied number of professional credit units attached to them. To maintain any particular license, a nurse may have to complete several different requirements — one of which is usually a particular number of continuing education units that will vary from state to state and license to license.

What's the difference between continuing education hours and continuing education Units?

Typically a unit is made up of about 10 hours so when we say 30 hours, that is very different than 30 units (which could mean 300 hours!). Each state defines how many physical clocked education hours correlate to an education unit within their state administration codes. In most states it is a 1-10 ratio, meaning 1 unit = 10 hours.

Getting your continuing education units can be a fun learning experience! And now that you have more online options, you can complete your education units when it’s convenient for you.

Keeping up on your CEUs is vital as a travel nurse. Things change quickly in the medical world and you have to be in the know when it comes to the quality, safety, and effectiveness of patient care. Plus, more education can mean more opportunities to grow your nursing expertise.

Not only do CEUs help you stay licensed and certified so you can continue to practice and do what you love, but they also open new avenues for your professional development.