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Renewal requirements by state › Iowa
Iowa license renewal
Iowa nursing CE renewal requirements
Iowa RNs renew every three years and need 36 contact hours of continuing education each renewal, and some of those hours may need to be on the required topics below.
Iowa APRNs renew every three years and need 36 contact hours of continuing education each renewal, including 2 contact hours of pharmacology.
✓ Verified October 8, 2026 against Iowa’s board of nursing, state rules and the Nurse Licensure Compact. Sources are listed below.
At a glance
- Renewal cycle
- Every three years
- RN continuing education
- 36 contact hours
- APRN continuing education
- 36 contact hours
- Nurse Licensure Compact
- Yes, a member state
- Reports to CE Broker
- Not confirmed
Required topics
“Part of the total” hours count toward the overall requirement; “on top of the total” hours are extra.
RNs
| Topic | Hours | How often | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child and/or dependent adult abuse mandatory reporter trainingNurses caring for children and/or dependent adults in Iowa - one 2-hour course per population served (up to 4 hours if both); certificate valid 3 years | 2 | Every renewal | Part of the total |
APRNs (in addition to RN requirements)
| Topic | Hours | How often | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing guidelinesARNPs who prescribe opioids | 2 | Every renewal | Part of the total |
RN renewal in detail
- 36 contact hours per 3-year cycle.
- A current national certification can satisfy the requirement.
- When it expires: 15th day of birth month, every 3 years.
APRN renewal in detail
- Same 36 hours; 2 hours opioid prescribing if prescribing opioids.
- APRNs must hold a current national certification.
- A current national certification can satisfy the requirement.
- When it expires: 15th day of birth month.
Using HIVE Nurse for your hours
HIVE Nurse is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #50-57054). Boards differ on whether they accept CE from a provider approved by another state’s board, so check Iowa’s rules before you count a course.
The renewal checker builds your own list from these rules and can remind you before your license expires.
Sources
Some details for Iowa are being re-confirmed with the board. Check the source before you renew.
Rules change. Your board’s website is the final word.