Iowa Continuing Education Requirements

RNs shall earn thirty-six (36) hours of continuing education every three years for licensure renewal.

Appropriate subject matter for continuing education credit includes:

• Nursing practice related to health care in any setting
• Professional growth and development related to nursing practice
• Patient care and health services
• Sciences supporting nursing practice, education, or research 
  • e.g., nursing theories and biological, physical, behavioral, computer, social, or basic sciences
• Social, economic, ethical and legal aspects of healthcare
• Management or administration of health care, healthcare personnel, or healthcare facilities
• Education of patients, or their significant others, students, or personnel in the healthcare field

Any nurse working with children and/or dependent adults is a mandatory reporter. It is important to note that "working with" does not always mean “hands on nursing care." This may mean observation or treatment of a child or dependent adult. Nurses providing care to dependent adults or children in Iowa must take a mandatory reporter course.

• DS 168 Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training
• DS 169 Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training

Effective July 1, 2019, Iowa HHS is responsible for developing and providing all training for mandatory reporters in Iowa, which can be located thru your "Workday Account". This training counts as two (2) contact hours for continuing education. Certificates earned after July 1, 2019 are valid for three (3) years.

Certificates of completion for both mandatory reporter trainings are required for the following situations:

• Employment in a licensed position
• License renewal

APRNs shall earn thirty-six (36) hours of continuing education every three years for licensure renewal.

Appropriate subject matter for continuing education credit includes:

• Nursing practice related to health care in any setting
• Professional growth and development related to nursing practice
• Patient care and health services
• Sciences supporting nursing practice, education, or research 
  • e.g., nursing theories and biological, physical, behavioral, computer, social, or basic sciences
• Social, economic, ethical and legal aspects of healthcare
• Management or administration of health care, healthcare personnel, or healthcare facilities
• Education of patients, or their significant others, students, or personnel in the healthcare field

• Two (2) contact hours of continuing education (CE) regarding the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, including recommendations on limitations on dosages and the length of prescriptions, risk factors for abuse, and nonopioid and nonpharmacologic therapy options.
• On June 27, 2023, a one-time requirement went into effect for all DEA prescribers. DEA prescribers must complete eight (8) hours of education on the treatment or management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.
• Any nurse working with children and/or dependent adults is a mandatory reporter. It is important to note that "working with" does not always mean “hands on nursing care." This may mean observation or treatment of a child or dependent adult. Nurses providing care to dependent adults or children in Iowa must take a mandatory reporter course.
  • DS 168 Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training
  • DS 169 Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training

Effective July 1, 2019, Iowa HHS is responsible for developing and providing all training for mandatory reporters in Iowa, which can be located thru your "Workday Account". This training counts as two (2) contact hours for continuing education. Certificates earned after July 1, 2019 are valid for three (3) years.

Certificates of completion for both mandatory reporter trainings are required for the following situations:

• Employment in a licensed position
• License renewal

LPNs shall earn thirty-six (36) hours of continuing education every three years for licensure renewal.

Appropriate subject matter for continuing education credit includes:

• Nursing practice related to health care in any setting
• Professional growth and development related to nursing practice
• Patient care and health services
• Sciences supporting nursing practice, education, or research 
  • e.g., nursing theories and biological, physical, behavioral, computer, social, or basic sciences
• Social, economic, ethical and legal aspects of healthcare
• Management or administration of health care, healthcare personnel, or healthcare facilities
• Education of patients, or their significant others, students, or personnel in the healthcare field

Any nurse working with children and/or dependent adults is a mandatory reporter. It is important to note that "working with" does not always mean “hands on nursing care." This may mean observation or treatment of a child or dependent adult. Nurses providing care to dependent adults or children in Iowa must take a mandatory reporter course.

• DS 168 Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training
• DS 169 Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training

Effective July 1, 2019, Iowa HHS is responsible for developing and providing all training for mandatory reporters in Iowa, which can be located thru your "Workday Account". This training counts as two (2) contact hours for continuing education. Certificates earned after July 1, 2019 are valid for three (3) years.

Certificates of completion for both mandatory reporter trainings are required for the following situations:

• Employment in a licensed position
• License renewal

CNAs need to be active on the Iowa Direct Care Work (DCW) Registry to work in an Iowa long-term care facility (nursing home). If employed as a nurse aide in a certified long-term care facility, the facility must provide and the aide must complete 12 hours of in-service training per year. To remain active on the registry, the aide must perform at least eight hours of qualifying employment in a two-year period. A CNA's standing on the registry expires if the CNA stops working as a CNA for 24 months

• Please check with your facility/employer to ensure your continuing education courses are accepted.

Iowa medical assistants do not hold state licensing. Nor are they mandated to hold third-party certification – at least not by state law. Actual requirements vary by employer.