N
The Global Insight

When should CEU be completed?

Author

Christopher Ramos

Updated on March 18, 2026

Continuing education courses must have been completed during the preceding renewal period (when renewing), or during the preceding two years (when renewing a delinquent or lapsed license, or going from an inactive to active license).

Where can I get free nursing CEUS?

Nurse.com offers a vast array of free courses to help you meet your nursing CE contact hour requirements. Our free continuing education for nurses is offered across a wide variety of clinical and professional development topics and is designed to help nurses meet state CE contact hour requirements.

What is the fastest way to become a nurse CEU?

Once you’re comfortable selecting approved courses, use these tips to earn a nursing CEU fast!

  1. Choose free courses whenever possible or have your employer help with the cost.
  2. Take online courses for ease and flexibility.
  3. Attend nursing CEU conferences, seminars and vacations.

What counts as CEUS for nurses?

The term “contact hour” is defined as 50 or 60 minutes of instruction in a board-approved nursing continuing education class or activity. One CEU equals ten contact hours.

What happens if you don’t do your CEUs?

If you do not complete the CE by your license expiration date, you may renew inactive or wait to renew until you have completed the CE hours. Waiting to renew your license until you have completed the CE hours may result in your license expiring and becoming delinquent.

What is the difference between contact hours and CEUs?

One contact hour is equal to 50-60 minutes of actual clock time spent in a board-approved course or activity in the classroom with an instructor. One continuing education unit (ceu) or credit is equal to 10 contact hours; meaning it requires 10 clock hours to complete.

How can I get a free CEU?

Where To Find Free CEUs

  1. Audio Educator: Earn free CEUs when you pass their online quiz with a score of 70% or higher.
  2. The Coding Institute: TCI offers some select free CEUs to their subscribers.
  3. Navicure: This organization has an abundance of resources for healthcare professionals.

How do I get free CEUs for AAPC?

Watch free quarterly webinars and earn 1 CEU per presentation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) MLN Learning Management System gives you FREE 24/7 access to web-based training (WBT) courses, many of which are AAPC-approved for CEUs. CMS calls and webcasts are also approved for AAPC CEUs.

Does BLS count as CEU for RN?

Basic CPR for healthcare professionals does not count for continuing education credit even if the provider issues certificates.

How many hours is 2 CEUs?

In most states, a CEU is a tenth of an hour. Thus, a one hour course is equivalent to 0.1 CEU. In a two day course, which is typically 12-14 hours long, the CEUs translate to 1.2 or 1.4 CEUs.

Do you need continuing education for nursing license renewal?

Many states in the U.S. require a certain number of contact hours for license renewal and some have specific continuing education requirements related to particular clinical topics. Explore the state requirements below, as well as our nursing CE offerings that will assist you in meeting your state’s nursing continuing education requirements.

Do you have to meet CEU requirements after license renewal?

In many states, newly licensed nurses are exempt from CE requirements for the first renewal period. Following initial license renewal, the nurse must meet CE requirements according to state requirements. 2. Nursing CEU Requirements by State

What are the CE requirements for a nursing license?

The first step to learning about nursing CE requirements for your particular license is to visit your state Board of Nursing’s (BON) website and view the RN renewal requirements. If you are an RN, requirements vary greatly by state to renew licensure.

Where can I get a free nursing CEU?

This free nursing education initiative, is dedicated to providing free Nursing CME, CEUs & free nursing education required by many state boards for Nursing license renewal. We hope that you find it to be a valuable free nursing CEU resource.