Florida RNs & APRNs — Get Your CEUs in Before April 30

Reviewed by Dr. Pam Vollmer, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, NPD-BC, Accredited Provider Program Director for CE Ready

What Nurses Need to Know

Florida RNs and APRNs with a license expiration date of April 30, 2026 need to act now. Continuing education must be complete, and CE Broker records must be accurate before that date. Florida reviews CE records through CE Broker at the time of renewal. Incomplete records can interrupt the renewal process even when coursework itself is complete.

Florida requires 24 total continuing education hours per biennial renewal cycle for most RNs and LPNs. APRNs have additional requirements tied to their role and prescriptive authority. Beyond total hours, Florida mandates completion of specific topic courses. These mandatory courses must be satisfied regardless of how many general hours are on record. Missing even one required topic can result in a noncompliant renewal.

Two complications are most common at this stage. One is missing a required topic course. The other is discovering a CE Broker reporting gap with too little time to resolve it. Both are fixable — but only if addressed now. Waiting until the final days of the renewal window significantly limits options and adds unnecessary stress.

If your CEUs are complete, log into CE Broker now. Confirm that every required topic appears as satisfied before you submit renewal. If your CEUs are not yet complete, the sections below outline what you need and the fastest way to finish.

Who This Deadline Applies To

The April 30 deadline applies to Florida RNs in Group 1 of the state’s biennial renewal schedule. It also applies to Florida APRNs whose license expiration date falls on April 30, 2026. If you are not certain which group you are in, log in to your MQA Online Services account. Check your license expiration date directly from there. That date is the authoritative deadline.

This deadline applies regardless of how long you have held your Florida license. It applies whether you work full-time or part-time, and whether your practice is clinical, administrative, or educational. Florida requires the same continuing education from all active licensees within the renewal group. Practice setting does not reduce CE obligations.

If you hold both an RN and an APRN license in Florida, each credential’s requirements must be met separately. APRN continuing education obligations include additional hours and specific topic requirements tied to prescriptive authority. Meeting RN requirements does not automatically satisfy APRN requirements. Review each credential individually before renewal.

What Florida RNs and APRNs Need to Complete

Florida’s continuing education requirements for RN and APRN renewal are divided into two categories: required topic courses and general continuing education hours. Both must be satisfied before renewal is submitted.

Required Topic Courses

Florida requires all RNs and APRNs to complete specific topic courses during each renewal cycle. These courses are mandatory and enforced by the Florida Board of Nursing as a condition of renewal. Completing general CE hours without these courses does not satisfy renewal requirements.

Required Topic	Hours	Notes
Prevention of Medical Errors	2 hours	Required every biennium
Florida Laws and Rules of Nursing	2 hours	Required every biennium
Human Trafficking	2 hours	Required every biennium (on or after Jan 1, 2019)
Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace	2 hours	Required every other biennium
Domestic Violence Education	2 hours	Required every third biennium
HIV/AIDS Education	1 hour	One-time requirement, first biennium only
Safe Prescribing of Controlled Substances	3 hours	APRNs with prescriptive authority only

Note that some required topics follow a schedule rather than recurring every biennium. Recognizing impairment is due every other biennium. Domestic violence education is due every third biennium. Before assuming a topic is not required in your current cycle, verify your specific obligations through the Florida Board of Nursing’s CE guidance.

General Continuing Education Hours

After satisfying all required topic courses, the remaining hours are completed through general nursing continuing education. For most Florida RNs and LPNs, the total package is 24 hours per cycle. This includes the required topic hours and 16 hours of general nursing CE.

APRNs with prescriptive authority must complete the standard required topics plus the 3-hour safe prescribing course in addition to general CE hours. The exact total depends on the specific required topics due in the current cycle. Reviewing your CE Broker transcript will show you what has already been recorded and what still needs to be completed.

A practical approach that works well close to a deadline is to complete your required topic courses first. Confirm they appear in CE Broker before moving on. Then use the remaining time to finish any general CE hours.

CE Broker and What Happens at Renewal

Florida verifies continuing education through CE Broker at the time of renewal. When a nurse submits a renewal application, the Florida Board of Nursing checks CE Broker records to confirm that required courses are completed. If records are incomplete, you will be prompted to enter remaining hours before the renewal can proceed.

Reviewing your transcript before submitting gives you the opportunity to identify and address any gaps.

Log in to CE Broker and review your transcript carefully. Look for each required topic and confirm it appears as satisfied. Check that total contact hours are reflected accurately. If a provider submitted CE on your behalf and it is not showing in your record, contact the provider promptly. CE Ready, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, reports completed courses to CE Broker automatically. Hours appear in your record without any manual steps on your end.

When reviewing your CE Broker transcript, pay particular attention to the required topic section. It is possible to have more than enough total contact hours while still missing a required topic. CE Broker organizes records by both hour count and topic designation. A course that provides general CE hours does not automatically satisfy a required topic unless it is specifically coded for that requirement. This distinction matters especially for topics like safe prescribing, impaired professionals, and Florida laws and rules.

If your CE Broker transcript shows that a required topic is incomplete and you need to act quickly, completing a course through CE Ready ensures the topic is covered by a Florida Board of Nursing approved provider. Automatic reporting means your CE Broker record will reflect the completed course within 24 to 48 hours, giving you time to verify and submit renewal before April 30.

The Fastest Way to Finish Your CEUs

If you still need to complete CE before April 30, online self-paced courses are the most efficient format available. They are accessible immediately, available around the clock, and can be completed on your own schedule without travel or advance registration.

When choosing courses this close to a deadline, confirm two things before enrolling. First, that the course covers a topic you actually still need. Second, that the provider is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing for the specific topic you are completing. For most required Florida topics, courses must come from a Florida Board of Nursing approved provider. The exception is the human trafficking course, which does not require Board-approved provider status but must meet Florida statutory criteria.

CE Ready, based in Florida, is an ANCC-accredited and Florida Board of Nursing approved provider of nursing continuing education (provider number P0986). CE Ready’s2026 Florida RN and LPN CE Renewal bundle includes all required topics and general hours in a single package. Courses are self-paced and start immediately. CE Broker reporting is automatic upon completion, so your transcript updates without any additional steps.

You can also browse individual Florida CE courses if you only need to finish specific topics. And if you are ready to get started now, you canenroll at CE Ready and begin today.

What to Do in the Next Few Days

With April 30 approaching, a short action plan helps keep things on track.

1. First, log in to your MQA Online Services account and confirm your license expiration date. If it is April 30, 2026, your renewal window is open now.
2. Second, log in to CE Broker and review your transcript. Identify any required topics that are not yet satisfied and confirm your total recorded hours.
3. Third, complete any remaining CE through a Florida-approved provider. Choose courses that match the specific topics or hour types you still need. Enroll in a comprehensive bundle if you have several requirements remaining — it is faster and reduces the risk of missing a topic.
4. Fourth, check CE Broker again after completing your courses to confirm that all credits have been reported. Allow 24 to 48 hours for automatic reporting to process, then verify the transcript reflects your completed work.
5. Fifth, submit your renewal application through the Florida Department of Health licensing portal with accurate attestation of CE completion.

If you encounter a CE Broker discrepancy, contact your CE provider directly before your renewal date. Most reporting issues can be resolved quickly when identified early.

A few things to avoid in the final days before renewal. Do not wait until April 30 itself to complete CE. Even with self-paced online courses, you need time for CE Broker reporting to process and for you to confirm the record is accurate before submitting renewal. Completing CE on the day of the deadline leaves no margin for anything to go wrong.

Also avoid assuming that courses from previous cycles carry forward. CE completed in a prior renewal period does not count toward your current cycle requirements. All required courses and general hours for the current biennium must be earned within the current renewal period to satisfy Florida’s requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss the April 30 Florida renewal deadline?

A license that is not renewed by the expiration date becomes delinquent. A delinquent license cannot be used to practice nursing in Florida. Reinstatement typically requires additional fees and documentation. The process can take time and creates a gap in your ability to practice. Completing your CEUs and submitting renewal before April 30 is the simplest way to avoid that situation.

Can I still complete my Florida nursing CEUs online before April 30?

Yes. Online, self-paced CE courses are available immediately and can be completed at any time of day. CE Ready offers Florida-approved courses that begin as soon as you enroll and report to CE Broker automatically upon completion.

Do I need all 24 hours before I can renew?

Yes, for most Florida RNs. Both your total hours and all required topic courses must be reflected in CE Broker before renewal can proceed without interruption. Florida reviews CE Broker records at the time of renewal and may prompt you to complete additional hours if your record is incomplete.

How quickly does CE Broker update after I finish a course?

When you complete a course through CE Ready, hours are reported to CE Broker automatically. Reporting typically processes within 24 to 48 hours. Check your CE Broker transcript after that window to confirm everything appears correctly before submitting renewal.

Can APRNs use the same CE bundle as RNs?

APRNs have additional CE requirements beyond those for RNs, including a 3-hour safe prescribing course for those with prescriptive authority. CE Ready offers APRN-specific CE options on the Florida state page to ensure all APRN requirements are fully addressed.

References

Florida Board of Nursing. Registered Nurse (RN) Renewal. Renewal group expiration dates, required CE subject areas, and renewal process. https://floridasnursing.gov/registered-nurse-renewal/

Florida Board of Nursing. Continuing Education (CE/CEU). Overview of CE review process and CE Broker tracking. https://floridasnursing.gov/continuing-education-ce/

Florida Administrative Code. Rule 64B9-5.002: Continuing Education Requirement. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=64B9-5.002