Known for its wide spaces and beautiful blue skies, Montana has plenty of reasons for being a wonderful state to live and work. Besides the endless possibilities for outdoor activities, Montana also has a lower cost of living and taxes than many other states. If you are a registered nurse (RN) or plan to become one, it also offers great benefits. With the average registered nurse salary at around $88,600 per year, Montana is a fantastic place to live and work as a nurse.
Like most states across the country, Montana is facing a staffing shortage among nurses across all specializations. While several initiatives are underway to train more professionals and encourage them to join the ranks, existing registered nurses must also work to uphold Montana’s healthcare system. If you are a registered nurse in Montana, you must remember to renew your credentials before it expires.
You may practice as a registered nurse if your license is active and current. However, the license issued to you by the Montana Board of Nursing will not last forever. Licenses issued to nurses across all specializations throughout America expire every two to three years. To continue to practice as a nurse, you must keep your license current, and you must understand the nursing board’s requirements for license renewal in Montana. Understanding the renewal application requirements, its deadline, and the steps to renew your registered nurse license in Montana is crucial.
Fast CE For Less has created this guide for registered nurses in Montana who need to renew their license. By explaining how renewals work, this guide will streamline your experience of renewing your credentials.
How to Renew Your Registered Nurse License in Montana
Each state requires its nursing professionals to maintain a high standard of care delivery. To achieve this, states require registered nurses to complete nursing continuing education to meet license renewal requirements. The renewal period lasts two to three years, based on the requirements set by each state’s nursing board. The Montana Board of Nursing requires registered nurses to renew their license every two years.
Within the two-year renewal period, you must fulfill the continuing education requirements set by the board, complete your application for license renewal, and file it with the Montana Board of Nursing. This section of the guide will explore the steps to renew your registered nurse license in Montana to explain the process to you.
Step 1: Determine the Application Deadline for Registered Nurse License Renewal
In Montana, nursing licenses must be renewed every two years. The licensing period starts on January 1 of the initial year and ends on December 31 in the second year. Since renewal periods begin every year, license holders who receive their licenses in an even-numbered year must renew their credentials before December 31 of the next even-numbered year. Similarly, nurses receiving their licenses in an odd-numbered year will see their renewal periods end on December 31 of the next odd-numbered year.
The Montana Board of Nursing sends license renewal notices in the first week of November. You must ensure that you keep an eye out for the reminder email once November begins. Failing to submit your application before the deadline can result in your license lapsing, preventing you from working as a registered nurse in Montana until you reinstate your credentials.
Step 2: Fulfill Your Continuing Competency Requirements
Depending on the state they hold the license in, registered nurses may have several ways to fulfill their continuing competency requirements to qualify for license renewal. Each state defines its own set of eligibility requirements, ranging from a minimum number of practice hours, to completing a required number of contact hours through nursing continuing education courses, and more.
The Montana Board of Nursing is currently proposing to remove continuing education requirements for license renewal eligibility. That said, the state’s largest nursing license issuing body presently maintains the current requirement. Every license holder must complete at least 24 contact hours through nursing continuing education courses to become eligible for license renewal in Montana.
While you do not need to provide proof of completing your nurse continuing education hours, you should keep the records for at least two years. The Montana Board of Nursing may conduct a random audit and request the documentation. If the board does, you must proof of completed continuing education readily available.
Step 3: Complete Your License Renewal Application
To renew your registered nurse license in Montana, you must complete an application with the Montana Board of Nursing through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. The regulatory body’s Citizen Portal is the easiest way to renew your license. For online license renewals, you can visit the Citizen Portal through the link here and pay online.
If you want to complete the traditional paper application, you can print the application, fill it out, and pay using a cashier’s check, money order, or a standard check. You must mail your completed application to the Montana Board of Nursing at:
Montana Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59601
Understanding Montana’s License Renewal Requirements
Currently, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the overarching regulatory body that the Montana Board of Nursing is under, is in a state of flux with the state’s nursing board. The Montana Board of Nursing sent notice of a proposed rule that will eliminate the need for nurses across all specializations to include nursing continuing education courses as part of their license renewal requirements. A final decision on the proposed rule remains to be announced by the state’s government. Until further notice, the board will maintain its requirement for completing at least 24 contact hours of nursing continuing education courses to fulfill continuing competency requirements.
If you want to know about the most current continuing education requirements for your registered nurse license renewal in Montana, visit www.fastceforless.com/nursing-ce-montana.
If you’re looking for convenient and affordable course bundles to fulfill your requirements, online nursing CEUs like those offered by Fast CE For Less are available at www.fastceforless.com to provide you with a tailor-made solution.
