An active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Ohio requires compliance with mandatory Continuing Education Units (CEUs). These educational activities ensure nurses remain current with professional practice standards and advancements in healthcare. The Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) establishes and oversees these requirements. Completing the required continuing education is a prerequisite for all RNs seeking to renew their license and maintain their legal authority to practice in the state.
The Core Ohio RN Continuing Education Requirements
Registered Nurses in Ohio must complete twenty-four contact hours of continuing education during each license renewal cycle. This requirement is mandated by the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) governing nursing practice. The twenty-four hours must be obtained within the two-year, or biennial, licensing period immediately preceding the renewal date.
The Ohio RN license operates on a biennial cycle, concluding on October 31 of every odd-numbered year. It is the individual nurse’s responsibility to ensure all requirements are met well in advance of the deadline to avoid any interruption in their ability to practice.
Specific Mandatory Educational Topics
The twenty-four contact hours are not entirely elective, as the OBN mandates a specific focus for a portion of the required education. At least one of the contact hours must be directly related to the laws and rules of the Ohio Board of Nursing, specifically the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and its administrative rules. This specific category of education is often referred to as Category A continuing education.
The purpose of the Category A requirement is to ensure every licensed nurse is familiar with the legal framework and regulatory standards that dictate professional conduct. Once this one-hour mandate is satisfied, the remaining twenty-three contact hours are elective, but must still be relevant to the nurse’s practice and contribute to their professional development.
Qualifying CEU Activities and Approved Providers
The OBN accepts several types of activities toward the fulfillment of the twenty-four contact hours. A contact hour is defined as sixty minutes of instruction. Nurses should confirm the number of contact hours awarded for any activity prior to enrollment.
Qualifying activities must be offered by an organization recognized by the OBN or a national accrediting body, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Qualifying methods include:
- Structured learning opportunities such as workshops, seminars, and approved online courses.
- Academic courses taken for college credit, provided the content is relevant to nursing practice.
- Publishing an article in a peer-reviewed nursing journal.
- Participating in professional nursing organizations.
Reporting and Documentation Requirements
The administrative process for reporting CE completion occurs during the online license renewal through the state’s eLicense system. The nurse is required to officially attest that they have completed the full twenty-four contact hours during the biennial period. This means the nurse confirms compliance at the time of renewal, rather than submitting all documentation upfront.
Although the documentation is not submitted with the renewal application, the nurse is legally required to maintain all records of completion. The OBN advises licensees to retain their CE certificates or transcripts for a minimum of six years following the renewal date. This retention period is necessary because the OBN conducts random audits, and a selected nurse must be prepared to submit proof of completion upon notification.
Penalties for Failing to Meet CEU Requirements
Failure to complete the required twenty-four contact hours of continuing education, or failure to pass a subsequent OBN audit, leads to consequences for the nurse’s license. The license will be placed in an inactive status, which means the nurse is no longer legally permitted to practice in Ohio. Practicing nursing with an inactive license can lead to legal and professional repercussions.
To reactivate a lapsed license, the nurse must complete a formal reinstatement application and pay all applicable fees, which include late processing charges. Furthermore, the nurse is required to complete all outstanding CE requirements, specifically twenty-four contact hours, within the twenty-four months immediately preceding the reinstatement application date.