Every state and jurisdiction requires nurses to earn a certain number of continuing education credits in order to maintain and renew their licenses. The exact number of contact hours required varies. California, for example, requires 30 contact hours per two-year period while Texas only requires 20. However, in 2009 the Texas Board of Nursing created new rules to allow nurses to take advantage of clinical research and projects related to a speciality. To waive the 20-hour requirement, a nurse must "demonstrate competency through achievement of an approved national nursing certification in the nurse's area of practice."
The critical thing about continuing education courses is that they advance a nurse's workplace knowledge and skills. California says that "courses designed for lay people" are not acceptable. States vary on their interpretations of what is relevant continuing education, but there are many subjects on which everyone agrees.
Courses involving physical, social and behavioral sciences, as well as advanced nursing in general or specialty areas, are almost always acceptable. So are courses on human sexuality, death, dying, grief or foreign languages that aid in the workplace, therapeutic interpersonal relationship skills, pharmacology, nursing administration, management, education, research and functional aspects of indirect patient care.
Continuing education comes in many forms. Half-day and day-long courses and seminars are common. They give nurses an opportunity to familiarize and update themselves with a number of different topics as they gather the needed contact hours. Nursing association conventions such as the American Nurses Association's annual conference will provide many days of continuing education courses on various nursing topics. Many nurses complete an entire two years worth of study at such events.
Alternatively, online and home-study courses have become popular and are now recognized by most states. As a general rule, any course -- online or in-person -- recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center will be accepted by your nursing board..
Nurses who return to school to attain a higher level degree such as a bachelors of science in nursing or a masters of nursing science can use their studies to satisfy CE requirements. Nurses wanting to delve into a subject in-depth by taking university seminars, certifications and individual courses can do so. California, for example, counts 10 contact hours for every quarter credit and 15 hours for a semester credit. Thus, if a nurse takes a four credit quarter-long course, she will receive 40 contact hours --- more than she needs for a two-year period.