Iowa RNs and LPNs must complete 36 contact hours of nursing continuing education during each three-year license-renewal cycle. Courses must relate to nursing practice or professional development, be completed within the renewal period, and be supported by documentation retained for four years.
Nurses who work with children or dependent adults must also complete the applicable Iowa HHS mandatory reporter course. Child-abuse and dependent-adult-abuse reporting are separate courses, and nurses who work with both populations must complete both. These state-specific courses must be completed through an approved Iowa HHS training source.
C-E-U.com offers affordable, self-paced online courses that Iowa nurses can use toward their 36-hour requirement when the subject matter is relevant to nursing practice. We also provide practical education for CNAs, home health aides, and other direct-care professionals on topics such as infection prevention, documentation, patient safety, communication, dementia care, ethics, and professional responsibility.
| RN | LPN | CNA | HHA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total CE / Training Hours | 36 contact hours | 36 contact hours | 12 annual in-service hours | 12 annual in-service hours |
| Renewal Period | Every 3 years | Every 3 years | Each year of employment in a certified long-term-care facility | Each 12-month period |
| Governing Body | Iowa Board of Nursing / DIAL | Iowa Board of Nursing / DIAL | Iowa DIAL / Direct Care Worker Registry / CMS | Employing home health agency / CMS |
| Required Topics | Nursing-related subject matter; applicable Iowa HHS mandatory reporter training | Nursing-related subject matter; applicable Iowa HHS mandatory reporter training | Competency and performance-based topics, including dementia management and abuse prevention | Topics supporting aide competency, assigned duties, patient safety, and care in the home |
| Mandatory Reporter Training | Official Iowa HHS child-abuse and/or dependent-adult-abuse course when applicable | Official Iowa HHS child-abuse and/or dependent-adult-abuse course when applicable | Based on role, employer, and populations served | Based on role, employer, and populations served |
| Important Status Note | CE documentation must be retained for 4 years | CE documentation must be retained for 4 years | Active registry status also requires at least 8 hours of qualifying paid nursing-related work every 24 months | Employing agency remains responsible for competency, supervision, and training records |
Iowa Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses must complete 36 contact hours of nursing continuing education during each three-year license-renewal cycle. Courses must be completed within the applicable renewal period, and nurses must retain their completion documentation for four years in case of an audit.
Iowa no longer requires continuing-education providers or individual courses to receive advance approval from the Iowa Board of Nursing. Nurses are responsible for selecting education that is relevant to nursing practice and meets Iowa’s subject-matter and documentation standards.
Iowa RNs and LPNs must complete 36 contact hours of nursing continuing education during each three-year renewal period. After completing any applicable Iowa HHS mandatory reporter training, nurses may select general or elective nursing courses to complete the remaining hours.
C-E-U.com courses cover nursing-related topics such as patient safety, infection prevention, documentation, communication, ethics, dementia care, legal responsibilities, and professional development. Courses must relate to nursing practice and be completed within the applicable renewal period.
Iowa nurses who work with children or dependent adults must complete the applicable mandatory reporter training using the official Iowa Health and Human Services curriculum. Separate courses are required for child abuse and dependent adult abuse when both populations are served.
C-E-U.com’s Iowa mandatory reporter training option is currently in development and will not be identified as satisfying the state requirement unless authorized by Iowa HHS. Until then, learners must complete the official Iowa HHS course.
Iowa CNAs employed by certified long-term-care facilities generally complete at least 12 hours of in-service training each year. Training must support continued competency and include dementia management and abuse-prevention education, along with topics identified through the aide’s annual performance review.
To remain active on the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry, a CNA must also complete at least eight hours of qualifying paid nursing or nursing-related work during each 24-month period. The employer is responsible for reporting qualifying employment to the registry.
CNA 12-Hour Annual In-Service Training
C-E-U.com offers self-paced courses designed to support annual CNA in-service education. Courses cover practical topics such as infection prevention, resident safety, abuse and neglect prevention, communication, documentation, dementia care, and maintaining caregiving competency.
The employing facility remains responsible for accepting the courses, identifying any additional performance-based training needs, and maintaining the required documentation.
Home Health Aide 12-Hour Annual In-Service Training
Home health aides working for Medicare-certified home health agencies generally complete at least 12 hours of in-service training during each 12-month period.
C-E-U.com courses can support annual HHA education in areas such as safe care in the home, infection prevention, documentation, communication, client rights, emergency preparedness, and recognizing changes in a client’s condition.
The employing home health agency remains responsible for accepting, supervising, and documenting the training.
Iowa CNAs working in certified long-term-care facilities and home health aides working for Medicare-certified home health agencies generally complete at least 12 hours of in-service training each year.
Explore self-paced courses for Iowa nurses, CNAs, home health aides, personal care workers, and other direct-care professionals. Topics include infection prevention, documentation, communication, client safety, dementia care, abuse prevention, ethics, and professional responsibility.
These courses may support employer training, professional development, competency maintenance, and role-specific education. Learners should confirm any applicable requirements with their employer, facility, agency, certification program, or governing authority.
Explore self-paced courses for Iowa healthcare and direct-care professionals seeking practical education beyond required nursing CE or annual aide in-service training. Courses cover topics such as infection prevention, documentation, communication, client safety, dementia care, abuse prevention, ethics, and professional responsibility.
Iowa RNs and LPNs must complete 36 contact hours of nursing continuing education during each three-year license-renewal period. Courses must be completed within the applicable renewal period to count.
No. Effective June 4, 2025, the Iowa Board of Nursing discontinued its approval process for continuing-education providers and individual course content. Nurses are responsible for selecting courses that are relevant to nursing practice and meet Iowa’s documentation requirements.
Yes. C-E-U.com courses may be used toward Iowa’s 36-hour requirement when the course content is appropriate to nursing practice and the nurse retains adequate proof of completion.
Acceptable subjects include patient and family care, professional nursing development, sciences supporting nursing practice, ethical and legal healthcare issues, healthcare management, and education of patients, students, or healthcare personnel.
CPR, basic life support, routine employee orientation, and unsupported self-help or self-care education do not count toward Iowa’s nursing CE requirement.
Nurses who work with children must complete Iowa child-abuse mandatory reporter training. Nurses who work with dependent adults must complete the dependent-adult-abuse course. Nurses who work with both populations must complete both courses.
A nurse who does not work with either population is not required to complete these courses but may need documentation from an employer confirming that the requirement does not apply.
No. Iowa requires the applicable mandatory reporter course from an approved Iowa Health and Human Services training source. A general abuse-reporting course or a course designed for another state does not replace the Iowa-required curriculum.
C-E-U.com’s Iowa mandatory reporter training option is currently in development. Until it is authorized to satisfy the Iowa requirement, learners must complete the approved Iowa HHS course.
Yes. Each completed Iowa mandatory reporter course counts as two contact hours.
A nurse who completes one applicable reporter course needs 34 additional contact hours. A nurse who completes both courses needs 32 additional contact hours to reach the 36-hour total.
Iowa nurses should retain their continuing-education documentation for four years. Records should identify the learner, course title, completion date, and number of contact hours awarded so they can be provided if the nurse is selected for an audit.
Iowa provides a 30-day grace period after the license expiration date. During this period, the nurse may submit a late renewal, complete any missing continuing education, and pay the regular renewal fee plus a late fee. Late renewals are automatically audited, so the nurse must provide documentation of the required 36 contact hours and any applicable mandatory reporter training.
C-E-U.com completion certificates are available immediately after the learner reviews the course materials and successfully completes a simple 10-question quiz, making it easier to document completed hours when time is limited.
Iowa Board of Nursing rules do not prohibit nursing practice during the 30-day grace period, although an employer may prohibit the nurse from working until the license is renewed. If the license is not renewed within the grace period, it becomes inactive and the nurse may not practice until the license has been reactivated.
Complete online continuing education and training at your own pace. Access practical courses, downloadable certificates, and eligible CE Broker reporting for one year.
We will send you a one-time access code.