[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most states and employers require nurses to earn [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/resources/nurses-continuing-education-guide/”]continuing education credits[/hen-ui-link] (CEUs) to [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/rn-licensing-requirements-by-state/”]maintain licensure[/hen-ui-link] and employment. Because nurses typically acquire CEUs over several years, keeping up with each course and activity can be challenging.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Fortunately, tracking your credits is worth the effort. Failing to keep up with CEUs can cause problems — in extreme cases, you could even lose your license. Learn the three best ways to document your nursing CEUs and streamline the license renewal process.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]3 Ways to Keep Track of Your Nursing CEUs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CEUs, also known as continuing education credits (CECs), keep nurses current with best nursing practices. Healthcare is an ever-evolving field, with medical knowledge growing rapidly. Therefore, nurses and all other healthcare providers must stay current on the latest evidence and technology.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When renewing your license, you must prove that you earned the required CEUs to avoid delays or other problems. Continuing education for nurses can include multiple types of paid or [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/articles/online-nursing-courses-you-can-take-for-free/”]free CEU courses[/hen-ui-link] and activities. These various sources can make it easy for the details, like certificates of completion, to get lost in the shuffle (or the inbox). Without organizing the process, busy nurses must search email records or contact CEU providers to request documentation.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]By using one of the following methods to document and organize your nursing CEUs, you’ll have a more accessible record when you need it.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]1 | Self-Management of CEUs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Using a spreadsheet to manage your CEU activity can be simple and effective. Each time you earn CEUs, just enter the key details in the document.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Self-management also requires you to store documentation. Make sure you have multiple copies of your proof of course completion, such as paper and electronic versions (ideally, digital versions can be stored on the web or in the cloud). You can mark the location of your documents in the spreadsheet and upload the documents to Google Drive or a similar service for a secure (and free) storage solution.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Pros:[/hen-ui-text] Self-management allows you to develop a system that aligns with your needs and preferences. You can use free software and track activities from different providers in one place.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Cons:[/hen-ui-text] You have to keep up with the data entry and storage procedures. It’s easy to lose track and forget to add CEUs.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]2 | Educational Organizations Website Tracking[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When you take CEUs through an organization like the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.theabfm.org/” target=”_blank”]American Board of Family Medicine[/hen-ui-link] or the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacn.org/education/ce-activities” target=”_blank”]American Association of Critical-Care Nurses[/hen-ui-link], your account contains a record of your completed courses. You can access your data by logging into your account and gathering the information you need. If you have a national certification with a governing body like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), you can track your continuing education in your online account during the certification cycle.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Pros:[/hen-ui-text] You don’t have to do anything extra to keep track — all the information you need is stored for you. The details are accurate, and when you need to submit documentation, it is easy to access.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Cons:[/hen-ui-text] If you take CEU courses from other organizations, you will need to consolidate information from multiple sources, and not all providers have handy portals that easily grant access to the desired information.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]3 | CEU Mobile Tracking Apps[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Mobile apps like [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nursingcenter.com/interiormaster/ce-pages/mobileapp” target=”_blank”]NursingCEConection[/hen-ui-link] and [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.trustedhealth.com/blog/introducing-nurse-ceu-tracker” target=”_blank”]CEU Tracker[/hen-ui-link] streamline the process of recording CEUs. They allow you to use your mobile device to add information. You can track courses from multiple providers and in different states in one simple location.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Pros:[/hen-ui-text] Apps have easy-to-use interfaces. They often include additional features like setting goals and tracking progress, setting alerts when your CEUs are due, and receiving access to CEU courses.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Cons:[/hen-ui-text] CEUs still need to be manually added to the app.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions: Documenting Nursing CEUs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What qualifies as a nursing CEU?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Activities that advance nursing skills and knowledge, such as academic courses, professional development activities, and conferences, may qualify for CEUs. Activities must be accredited by the state board of nursing or the ANCC and should contain content that goes beyond the basic knowledge and skills required for entry-level nursing.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How many hours is one CEU?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]One continuing education unit is equivalent to ten contact hours of education taught by an approved instructor or course.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What is the difference between contact hours and nursing CEUs?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Contact hours determine the number of CEUs offered by an individual course. A contact hour equals 60 minutes of instruction, and ten contact hours equals one CEU. A semester-long college-level course is equivalent to 15 contact hours, while a quarter-long course is worth 10 contact hours.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How many nursing CEUs do I need?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Every state board of nursing and employer has different continuing education requirements for their nurses. State boards of nursing often require a certain amount of contact hours rather than CEUs to renew licensure. Make sure you consult both requirement lists before investing in any continuing education classes. If you have a national certification, it is possible you may need more CEUs than your state requires. Check the website of the national and state agencies that manage your certification.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How do you keep track of nursing CEU hours?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To track CEU hours, you can use a spreadsheet, a mobile application, or online tools CEU providers offer. At a minimum, you need to record the name and date of the course taken, the number of CEUs completed, the organization providing the contact hours, and the provider’s identification number. Maintain both digital and paper copies of certificates of completion. Keep records for as long as your state BON requires.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”my-8″ tag=”em”]Page last reviewed on May 30, 2024[/hen-ui-text]