Florida Nursing Continuing Education (CE) Requirements 2026: Complete Guide

# Florida Nursing Continuing Education Requirements 2026: Complete Guide for RNs and LPNs Florida nurses face some of the more detailed continuing education (CE) requirements in the country, with several mandatory-topic hours that must come from specific approved providers. This guide cuts through the confusion and gives you exactly what you need to renew on time and without overpaying. ## License Renewal Basics Florida RN and LPN licenses expire **every two years on the last day of the birth month** in odd-numbered years. So if your birthday is in March, your license expires March 31 in the next odd year (2027 for most currently active licenses). The Florida Board of Nursing (FBON) sends renewal notices, but the obligation to renew on time is yours — don't wait for the notice. **Renewal method**: Online through the Florida Department of Health (DOH) MQA portal at flhealthsource.gov. Paper renewal is available but takes longer. **Renewal fee**: $80 for RN; $65 for LPN (as of 2026; fees subject to legislative change). **Late penalty**: $25 late fee if renewed after expiration date; license lapses after 6 months of non-renewal. ## Total CE Hours Required | License Type | Total CE Hours per Renewal Cycle | |-------------|----------------------------------| | RN (initial renewal) | 24 hours | | RN (subsequent renewals) | 24 hours | | LPN | 24 hours | | APRN (additional to RN) | 3 hours of pharmacology (separate requirement) | All 24 hours must be completed **in the 2-year cycle ending at renewal** — hours from prior cycles don't carry forward. ## Mandatory CE Topics Here is where Florida differs from most states. Of the 24 hours, a specific subset must cover these mandated topics: ### 1. Prevention of Medical Errors — 2 Hours (Every Renewal) **Florida Statute §456.013(7)**: All healthcare practitioners must complete 2 hours on prevention of medical errors each renewal cycle. The course must be approved by the DOH or the CE provider must be on the FBON-approved provider list. Topic scope includes: sentinel event reporting, root cause analysis, human factors in error, Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, and error prevention strategies. ### 2. HIV/AIDS — 1 Hour (Initial Renewal Only) Nurses in their **first renewal cycle** after initial licensure must complete 1 hour on HIV/AIDS. This is a one-time requirement — not repeated in subsequent renewals. Topics include: HIV transmission prevention, standard precautions, mandatory testing statutes, partner notification requirements, and Florida HIV reporting law. ### 3. Domestic Violence — 2 Hours (Every Third Renewal) Under Florida Statute §456.031, all healthcare practitioners must complete a 2-hour domestic violence course once every **third license renewal cycle** (i.e., every 6 years). Most tracking systems will flag when yours is due. Topics include: identification, safety planning, mandated reporting requirements, and Florida's Baker Act/Marchman Act interface. ### 4. Laws and Rules — No Mandatory Course, But Know Them Florida doesn't require a specific Laws and Rules CE course for nurses (unlike some other licensed professions), but the NCLEX and license renewal process assume familiarity with Florida Nurse Practice Act (Chapter 464, Florida Statutes) and the BON rules in Chapter 64B9, FAC. ### Summary of Mandatory Hours | Topic | Hours | Frequency | |-------|-------|-----------| | Prevention of Medical Errors | 2 | Every renewal | | HIV/AIDS | 1 | First renewal only | | Domestic Violence | 2 | Every third renewal | | Free-choice CE | Remaining to reach 24 total | Every renewal | ## What Counts as Approved CE? CE providers must be: - **Approved by the Florida Board of Nursing** (search the FBON provider database), OR - **Nationally recognized CE accreditors** whose courses the FBON recognizes: - American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — most nursing CE on major platforms - American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) - Other providers listed in Florida Rule 64B9-5.013 **Does not count**: CE from unapproved providers, general webinars not tied to an approved CE organization, conference attendance without CE documentation, staff training that isn't ANCC/FBON-accredited. **Does count**: - Employer-provided inservice if given by an ANCC-approved nursing education provider - College/university courses in nursing or healthcare (1 semester hour = 15 CE hours) - Passing a national certification exam (various CE equivalent credits per FBON rule) - Published research articles in peer-reviewed journals (contact FBON for credits) ## Where to Get CE in Florida 2026 ### Free or Low-Cost Options **Nurse.com (CE connection)**: Often runs discounts for Florida-specific bundles; medical errors course included in many packages. **Relias** (if your employer uses it): Many Florida health systems provide Relias CE through your employment — check with your education department before buying. **Florida Nurses Association (FNA)**: Member benefit includes access to CE content; membership fee is partially offset by CE savings. **ANCC Nursing CE Central**: Some free modules available; paid bundles for full packages. **StatPearls (NCBI-linked)**: Free to access; several modules carry ANCC CE credit. ### Employer-Provided CE Most Florida hospital systems (Lee Health, NCH, Advent Health, BayCare, HCA Florida) provide annual CE budgets or direct Relias/HealthStream access to employed nurses. Tap this first before purchasing independently. Ask your nurse educator or HR department: - What CE platform does the hospital provide? - Which mandatory Florida topics are covered in the platform? - Is the medical errors course renewed each year in the platform? ### In-Person and Conference CE FBON accepts in-person CE from conferences by approved nursing organizations. Florida-based options include: - **Florida Nurses Association Annual Conference** (ANCC-approved) - **Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists** for CRNAs - **Florida Nurses Association regional meetings** — often offer 2–4 CE per event - **Disease-specific conferences** (APIC, AORN, ACLS/BLS renewal through AHA carries CE with some providers) ## Common Renewal Mistakes **1. Buying CE from an unapproved provider**: Always verify provider approval in the FBON search tool before purchasing. Many cheap online CE sites are not FBON-approved. **2. Missing the domestic violence cycle**: It's only required once every 3 renewals (6 years), which means it's easy to miss when it falls due. Check your renewal notice carefully. **3. Forgetting HIV/AIDS for first-renewal nurses**: New graduates completing their first renewal cycle must include this 1-hour course. Skipping it creates a compliance gap. **4. Waiting until the last week**: The DOH MQA system has peak traffic during common renewal months. Submit at least 3 weeks early. Keep your CE certificates for 4 years after renewal (audit window). **5. Carrying forward old CE**: Hours from prior cycles do not apply to the current renewal. Every 2-year cycle starts fresh. ## How to Renew Online (Step-by-Step) 1. Log in to **flhealthsource.gov** using your DOH account (same login as when you originally applied) 2. Navigate to **My License** → find your RN/LPN license → **Renew** 3. Attest to completion of all required CE hours (you enter hours by category; the system checks against your declared totals) 4. Upload CE certificates **only if audited** — DOH does not routinely require upload during renewal, but they audit a random sample and can request certificates within 4 years 5. Pay renewal fee ($80 RN / $65 LPN) via credit card 6. Print the renewal confirmation; your digital license will appear in 1–3 business days ## CE for Inactive License Holders If your Florida license is on **inactive status**, CE requirements are waived during inactive periods. When you reactivate, you must complete CE hours proportional to how long you've been inactive — contact FBON directly for the current reactivation CE formula. ## Travel Nurses Working in Florida Travel nurses practicing in Florida under the **Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)** are NOT required to hold a Florida state license (as long as their home state is compact-eligible and they're practicing as a compact licensee, not a Florida resident). Florida CE requirements apply only to Florida-licensed nurses. If you're on a compact license, check your home state's CE requirements instead. However: if you declare Florida as your primary state of residence, you must obtain a Florida license and comply with Florida CE requirements. ## Quick Reference Checklist Before submitting your Florida RN license renewal, confirm: - [ ] 24 CE hours completed in current 2-year cycle - [ ] 2 hours: Prevention of Medical Errors (FBON/ANCC approved) - [ ] 1 hour: HIV/AIDS (first renewal only) - [ ] 2 hours: Domestic Violence (every third renewal — check if due) - [ ] All CE from approved providers (verify FBON database) - [ ] CE certificates saved and stored for 4 years - [ ] Renewal submitted before last day of birth month in renewal year - [ ] Renewal fee paid: $80 (RN) or $65 (LPN) Florida CE compliance is straightforward once you understand the mandatory topic schedule. Build the habit of completing CE throughout the year rather than cramming — employer platforms often make it easy to check off mandatory hours through routine assigned training.