With a vibrant culture, lovely climate, low cost of living, and some of the most amazing regional food the country offers, Louisiana is a wonderful place for anyone to live and work in. If you are passionate about healthcare and want to pursue a career as a registered nurse in Louisiana, the fact that the state’s average base salary for a registered nurse is around the national average at approximately $83,550 per year, and the possibility of earning more as you progress, makes being a registered nurse in Louisiana is a great career choice.
Registered nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. Unfortunately, the country has been in the grip of a staffing shortage among nurses across almost every state. According to a study conducted by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the state may have a shortage of 7,200 nurses by the year 2025. While the board is making efforts to encourage more professionals to join the nursing workforce, currently practicing nurses are essential in upholding Louisiana’s healthcare system.
Nursing boards issue licenses to registered nurses that expire every two to three years. Depending on the state’s nursing board rules, license holders may be required to fulfill nurse continuing education requirements to qualify for renewed credentials. Failing to renew your license on time can result in additional fees for late application submission. Your license will also lapse, and you will be required to complete the reinstatement process.
Without a valid license, you cannot continue practicing as a registered nurse in Louisiana. To ensure you renew your license on time, you must stay updated with the nursing board requirements in Louisiana for license renewal.
Fast CE For Less has created this guide to explain the process of renewing your registered nurse license in Louisiana and streamline the process for you when the time comes.
How to Renew Your Registered Nurse License
Nursing boards issue licenses to nurses that last two to three years. Within the renewal period, license holders must fulfill a set of requirements set by their nursing board to become eligible to apply for license renewal, and then license holders must complete an application with the board within the deadline.
This section of the guide will explore the steps to renew a registered nurse license in Louisiana.
Step 1: Determine the Last Date to Submit Your Registered Nurse License Renewal Application
Nursing boards typically issue licenses that are valid for two to three years. The time a license is active is also called the renewal period. Each state’s nursing board determines the renewal period within its jurisdiction and sets the application deadline dates. The Louisiana State Board of Nursing issues licenses that expire every two years.
The renewal application period is between the start of October and the end of December every two years. If you fail to fill and submit your application to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing by December 31, you will be charged an additional fee for filing late. If you do not renew your license before January 31 of the following year, your license will lapse.
Once you determine the application deadline, you can create an effective timeline to complete your nursing continuing education courses and practice hours.
Step 2: Fulfill Nurse Continuing Education Requirements
Renewing your registered nurse license in Louisiana is not as simple as filling out a form and filing it with the board. To qualify for a renewed license, you must show the board you are current with continuing competency requirements. Every state’s nursing board sets its own requirements for license holders to qualify for renewals.
According to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, license holders can fulfill their continuing competency requirements through one of three methods:
- Completing 30 contact hours through nurse continuing education courses approved by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
- Accumulate at least 900 practice hours verified by their employer on a board-provided form.
- Getting a current certification in a nursing specialty by a certifying body recognized by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
Step 3: Complete the Application with the Louisiana State Board of Nursing
In Louisiana, renewing your registered nurse license is a simple process. Simply visit the Louisiana State Board of Nursing website and access your account on the Nurse Portal. Once you log into your account, follow the prompts, answer all the necessary questions, and complete a $100 payment online for your license renewal. Once you submit the application, you can check the portal after some time to verify whether the board has issued new credentials.
Understand the Continuing Competency Requirements to Renew Your Registered Nurse License in Louisiana
Nursing boards require registered nurses to fulfill a set of requirements that prove their continuing competency. Through nurses continuing education, nursing boards can ensure that their nursing workforce is equipped with the latest patient-centered information.in addition to qualifying nurses for license renewals, fulfilling continuing education requirements helps registered nurses expand their knowledge and skills to pursue advanced career paths. You can learn more about the nursing continuing education requirements in Louisiana for license renewal by visiting www.fastceforless.com/nursing-ce-louisiana.
If you are a practicing registered nurse in Louisiana and are in need of nurse continuing education courses, online nursing CEUs like those offered by Fast CE For Less offer a convenient, flexible, and affordable way to fulfill your continuing competency requirements. To access course bundles tailored to help you complete your nurse continuing education requirements in Louisiana, visit www.fastceforless.com.
