The nursing license renewal period is just around the corner.
So, it’s best to get started on your CE requirements right away.
Don’t have any idea about the specific nursing CE requirements in Louisiana?
You’re at the right place!
This article contains ALL the important information to get you ready for your license renewal.
So, shall we?
Louisiana Nursing CE Requirements
Here is a table for a quick summary of the nursing CE requirements in Louisiana:
| CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) | No CEs required! Must work at least 8 hours for a 24-month period after being certified |
| LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) | No CEs required! At least 1,600 practice hours within the calendar year and complete 5 contact hours of State BON or ANCC annually OR At least 160 and less than 1,600 practice hours within the calendar year and complete 10 contact hours of State BON and ANCC OR Less than 160 hours during the calendar year and complete 15 contact hours of State BON and ANCC LPN license in Louisiana expires every January 31. Renewal begins November 1. |
| RN (Registered Nurse) | 30 contact hours during a 2-year licensure period OR At least 900 practice hours verified by employer during the renewal period RN license in Louisiana expires every January 31. Renewal begins October 1. |
| APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) | If without national certification, the APRN needs to show proof of: -a min of 300 practice hours annually in APRN AND -a min of 2 college credit hours per year of relevance to the advanced practice role OR -a min of 30 CE nursing contact hours For APRNs with prescriptive authority: MUST study 6 contact hours in advanced pharmacotherapeutics every year For APRNs with controlled substance authority: Must study 3 contact hours of substance-related courses. This is a one-time requirement upon initial application. APRN license in Louisiana expires every January 31. Renewal begins October 1. |
Keep on reading for more information!
Louisiana CNA Continuing Education Requirements
Good news!
CNAs in Louisiana are not required to take continuing education.
If you worked at least 8 hours during the renewal period, you are eligible for a license renewal already.
Your work history will be reported using the NAT-7 Form or eNAT-7 in LARS.
Louisiana LPN Continuing Education Requirements
Like CNAs, LPNs in Louisiana are not required to take continuing nursing education!
Instead, they have several options to renew their license. These are:
- Work at least 1,600 practice hours within the calendar year and must complete 5 contact hours of State Board of Nursing or ANCC annually
- At least 160 practice hours but less than 1,600 practice hours and complete at least 10 contact hours of State BON or ANCC annually
- Less than 160 practice hours and complete 15 contact hours of State BON or ANCC annually
Also, note that nurses with 15 or more contact hours of ABCC/BON DO NOT NEED to provide proof of nursing practice hours if audited.
LPN license in Louisiana expires every January 31. Renewal begins November 1.
Louisiana RN Continuing Education Requirements
In Louisiana, RNs have two options to renew their license during a 2-year licensure period:
- Complete 30 contact hours of continuing nursing education
- Obtain at least 900 practice hours that is verified by the employer
RNs are not required to complete CEs or minimum practice hours if the following are met:
- RNs who recently got their license, including those who issued their license by endorsement, are not required to complete CEs or practice hours in the year in which they were licensed in Louisiana
- RNs who have an active certification that is approved by the board
- According to Section 33325.C.2 RNs can be exempted to take for any of the following reasons:
- The licensee wants to deactivate license
- The licensee serviced for a minimum of 6 months in the armed forces during the license renewal period
- The licensee is unable to report to work due to mental or physical disability for at least ⅔ of the recent audit period
- The licensee is currently enrolled in a refresher course as a bona fide student
- The licensee has proof of an emergency circumstances
RN License expires every January 31. Online renewal begins on October 1, around 1:00 pm CST. Online renewal ends at midnight of December 31.
Louisiana APRN Continuing Education Requirements
Nationally board certified APRNs already meet the requirements for their renewal by holding an approved certification.
But those without national certification must show proof of working for a minimum of 300 hours annually in their specific APRN role.
Aside from the 300 practice hours, they can also choose between:
-a minimum of 2 college credit hours per year of relevance to the advanced practice role OR
-a minimum of 30 CE nursing contact hours
For APRNs with prescriptive authority, 6 contact hours in pharmacotherapeutics should be completed annually.
For APRNs with controlled substance authority, the one-time requirement of 3 contact hours in substance-related topics, such as drug diversion training, appropriate treatment for addiction, and other topics about prescribing controlled dangerous substances should be completed.
APRN license in Louisiana expires every January 31. Renewal begins October 1.
FAQs
I have a compact/multistate nursing license. Do I need to complete additional practice hours or CEs?
All RNs licensed in Louisiana are required to complete either CEs or practice hours during the 2-year renewal period.
No additional CE or practice hours are required for RNs with compact/multistate licenses. Multistate license holders must meet the CE and practice requirements where the license was issued.
What are the eligibility criteria for RN licensure by endorsement in Louisiana?
- Applicant must have a valid and unrestricted RN license inside or outside the US
- Current RN license should be issued directly from the jurisdiction of last employment
- Completion of a nursing education that meets or exceeds the standards in Louisiana
- Must have no pending disciplinary actions by any health regulatory board in another US state or country
- Must have no pending criminal or civil charges inside and outside the USA
- If RN graduated in a nursing program offered internationally, he/she must possess evidence of English proficiency
- Applicant must have a valid US Social Security Number
Conclusion
Now that you know the nursing CE requirements in Louisiana, you should get started on it.
To be sure, it’s great that you have a choice. Whatever suits you better, you can do that to renew your license.
We hope that this article has helped you understand what you need to do.
Good luck!