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4. Continuing Education Renewal Requirements Policy

Continuing Education
Renewal Requirements Policy 

In order to renew a license a licensee must demonstrate successful completion of 12 contact hours of continuing education (CE) within the preceding two years. A licensee who earns more than 12 contact hours of CE required during a reporting period cannot apply the excess hours to satisfy future CE requirements.

An APRN with Prescriptive Authority must complete 15 contact hours of education during the previous two (2) years in pharmacotherapy related to scope of practice. 

• Certificates must itemize pharmacology CE.
• UpToDate activity certificates do not meet the requirement for pharmacology specific CE. 
• APRN contact hours may fulfill the registered nurse renewal CE requirement.

1. Contact hours of CE are calculated as follows:
   1. 1 contact hour (CH) = 60 minutes of instruction = 0.1 CEU
   2. 1 contact hour = One Continuing Medical Education (CME)  
   3. 10 contact hours  = One continuing education unit (CEU)
   4. 10 contact hours  = One academic quarter hour
   5. 15 contact hours  = One academic semester hour

• An applicant that obtained initial licensure through examination will not need to complete any contact hours of approved CE before that first renewal of a nursing license.  The requirements have been met through the academic coursework.
• An applicant for reactivation of a license can use refresher course contact hours for the first renewal cycle after reactivation of a license.

2. Successful completion of a course taken through an accredited college or university may be used to meet the CE requirement. Contact hour equivalency calculations are described above.
3. Evidence of publication during the renewal time frame may be submitted for verification of the 12 contact hours:
   1. One article related to nursing practice in a refereed journal,
   2. One book chapter, or
   3. Research project published 
4. Evidence of participation as a presenter or lecturer for content related to nursing practice is allowable:
   1. Contact hours may not total more than six (6) contact hours.
   2. A presentation or lecture of 60 minutes or more may not be used more than once in a renewal cycle.
   3. The presentation or lecture must be outside the normal duties of the position and approved for contact hours.
5. The licensee must retain original certificates of completion of CE for a period of not less than two (2) renewal cycles.
6. The licensee should not submit documentation of completion of CE unless requested for audit purposes, i.e. certificates, transcripts.
7. Programs offered by approved providers of CE will be accepted if they meet the other requirements included in this policy. 
   1. It is the responsibility of the licensee to verify appropriate credit designation with the source of the program.
8. Board recognized providers of CE include:
   1. The North Dakota Board of Nursing.
   2. An accredited college or university.
   3. A health care regulatory board
   4. A professional organization that is nationally accredited to approve CE.
9. Appropriate subject matter which is acceptable as CE includes:
   1. Social, legal and ethical aspects of nursing practice.
   2. Content related to nursing practice.
   3. Quality assurance, accrediting or regulation standards and processes
   4. Courses required for progression in a nursing program.
10. Unacceptable subject matter or course contents that DO NOT MEET the CE requirement in ND:
    • Basic Life Support classes;
    • CPR classes;
    • Recertification Courses (Shortened Version) for Advanced Life Support Skills (ACLS, PALS, and NRP).  Please note, the comprehensive Advanced Life Support Skills courses completed in their entirety may be used to meet CE requirements once each two-year licensure renewal cycle.
    • Repetition of any educational activity with identical content and objectives within a single reporting period;
    • Agency specific orientation or in-service programs;
    • Self-directed independent study activities that have not been approved for CE; 
    • Community service or volunteer practice;
    • Administrative or disciplinary CE;
    • Membership in a professional nursing organization; 
    • Professional meetings or conventions except for those portions approved for CE;
    • UpToDate activity certificates do not meet the requirement for Pharmacology specific CE for Prescriptive Authority.
11. Audit Process
    1. At least two percent (2%) of the renewal applications will be subject to random audit per renewal cycle. 
    2. A licensee who submits inaccurate or falsified documentation or fails to meet the CE requirement will be subject to disciplinary action based on Chapter 54-02-07-01.1(7)(13)(18).
12. A licensee who fails to comply with a request for documents within the appropriate time frame will be subject to disciplinary action.
    1. Non-disciplinary requirements:
       1. Complete the mandatory 12 contact hours of CE
       2. Pay the fee of $50/contact hour completed after December 31 of year of renewal.
    2. Disciplinary possibilities:
       1. Cease and Desist
       2. Reprimand

 
Board Approved: 03/04
Reviewed/Revised: 04/19