Florida Registered Nurse (RN) Continuing Education Requirements
Requirements Overview
Florida requires registered nurses to complete 24 contact hours of continuing education each biennial renewal period. Of those, 8 hours are allocated to four mandatory topics: prevention of medical errors, Florida laws and rules, recognizing impairment in the workplace, and human trafficking. The remaining 16 hours are general CE.
Every third renewal cycle, an additional 2-hour domestic violence course is required, bringing the total to 26 hours. A one-time 1-hour HIV/AIDS course must be completed before the first renewal. First-time renewals after initial licensure by exam require only 9 hours covering the mandatory topics.
Nurses holding specialty certification from an NCCA or ABSNC-accredited program are exempt from general CE but must still complete the 2-hour human trafficking course each cycle. All CE is tracked electronically through CEBroker, and mandatory topic courses must come from Florida Board of Nursing approved providers.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prevention of Medical Errors | 2 | Every renewal | Must be completed with a Florida Board of Nursing approved provider. |
| Florida Laws and Rules | 2 | Every renewal | Must be completed with a Florida Board of Nursing approved provider. |
| Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace | 2 | Every renewal | Must be completed with a Florida Board of Nursing approved provider. |
| Human Trafficking | 2 | Every renewal | Required even for nurses exempt from CE via specialty certification. Does not need to be from a Board-approved provider. |
| HIV/AIDS | 1 | One-time | One-time requirement to be completed prior to the first renewal. |
| Domestic Violence | 2 | Every 3rd renewal | Required every third renewal period, in addition to the standard 24 hours. |
First Renewal vs. Standard Renewal
Exemptions
- First Renewal Exemption — RNs initially licensed by examination during the current biennium are exempt from general CE requirements for the first renewal.Must still complete mandatory topics: 2 hrs medical errors, 2 hrs Florida laws, 2 hrs impairment, 2 hrs human trafficking, 1 hr HIV/AIDS.
- Specialty Certification Exemption — Nurses certified by a health care specialty program accredited by NCCA or ABSNC are exempt from CE requirements.The CE exemption does not apply to the 2 hr Human Trafficking course requirement.
How You Can Complete Your CE
Provider Requirements
All mandatory courses must be offered by a Florida Board of Nursing approved provider (except Human Trafficking). CE tracking and reporting is through CEBroker (www.cebroker.com). Approved providers include ANCC-accredited organizations, accredited educational institutions, professional nursing organizations, and healthcare facilities.
Tips for Florida RNs
- Register with CEBroker (cebroker.com) early — the Board verifies CE compliance electronically at renewal, and mismatched records can delay your renewal.
- Track which renewal cycle you're in for the every-third-renewal domestic violence requirement. Missing it means 26 hours instead of the usual 24.
- If you hold a national specialty certification (NCCA or ABSNC-accredited), you only need 2 hours of human trafficking training — significant savings over the full 24-hour requirement.
- Keep CE records for at least 4 years. Florida conducts audits, and certificates are your only proof of compliance.
- Starting July 1, 2025, electronic fingerprinting and background screening are required at renewal under House Bill 975 — plan for this added step.