Iowa, the Hawkeye State, is known for many things, like the invention of sliced bread, its remarkable bridges, the Field of Dreams movie set, and being the prominent farming state in America. The average base salary of a registered nurse in Iowa is excellent at $88,703 per year. Combined with the fact that the average cost of living in the state is lower than the national average, it makes for a compelling reason to live and work as a registered nurse in Iowa.
Unfortunately, Iowa is facing a staffing shortage in its healthcare system, particularly among nurses. The shortage is prevalent throughout various healthcare facilities in the state and is made worse by several factors. In 2021, around 100,000 qualified applicants were turned away from nursing schools due to a lack of teachers. With around 37% of Iowa’s nurses being aged between 50 and 69, the next few years will see the problem worsen. While there is a need for more nursing professionals to join the workforce, currently licensed registered nurses in the state will be critical in upholding Iowa’s healthcare system.
Nursing boards issue licenses that expire every two to three years. It is necessary for all license holders to renew their license before it expires. To do so, understanding the nursing board requirements for license renewal is critical. You must follow several steps to renew your registered nurse license in Iowa. Fast CE For Less has created this guide to help you understand the process and prevent your license from lapsing.
How to Renew Your Registered Nurse License in Iowa
To ensure a high standard of care delivery, nursing boards across America issue licenses to nurses that expire every two to three years. Within that timeframe, nurses must prove their continuing competencies by completing a set of requirements set by their state’s nursing boards. In Iowa, the Iowa Board of Nursing under the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing oversees issuing and renewing licenses for registered nurses. To renew your registered nurse license, you must know the application deadline, understand the continuing education requirements, and the process of applying.
This section of the guide will explore the steps you must follow to renew your registered nurse license in Iowa.
Step 1: Identify the Deadline to Renew Your Registered Nurse License
The nursing boards throughout the U.S. create their own nursing continuing education requirements that license holders must fulfill. They also set the length of the renewal periods and process for renewal. In most states, the renewal period lasts two to three years. In Iowa, the renewal period lasts three years. The three-year renewal cycle is connected to every license holder’s birthday.
The renewal period of every license holder begins on the 16th of their birth month and lasts until they renew their credentials. For every license holder, the first renewal period will be two years, and the number of months until the birth month. Beyond that, a nurse must renew their credentials every three years. You can renew your registered nurse license up to 60 days before expiration.
While the Iowa Board of Nursing may send you a notification to remind you about the expiration date, remembering to apply for a renewed license is solely your responsibility. You must remember your license expiration date, ensure that you fulfill your nurse continuing education requirements, and file your application with the Iowa Board of Nursing before your license lapses. Otherwise, you will have to go through a lengthy and more expensive process of reinstating your registered nurse license.
Step 2: Complete the Nursing Continuing Education Requirements for License Renewal
To renew your credentials, understanding the nursing board requirements in Iowa regarding nursing continuing education is essential. Each state’s nursing board defines its own continuing competency requirements. The requirements may involve completing a number of practice hours, academic courses, or a required number of nursing continuing education courses.
The Iowa Board of Nursing has set a three-year renewal period, within which every registered nurse license holder must complete at least 36 contact hours of nursing continuing education courses from a state board-approved provider. Additionally, every license holder must complete at least an hour of nursing continuing education courses on child/dependent abuse directly through the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Step 3: File Your Application with the Iowa Board of Nursing
After completing your nursing CEU requirements, you must verify the status of your license to start the process of renewing your registered nurse license online. You can check the status of your license by visiting the board’s license verification page here.
Next, you must log into the Iowa Board of Nursing Online Services portal here, select “Renew an Existing License,” and upload the requested documents. Once you finish that step, you must pay $99 online to the board to complete the application.
Understand the Nursing Continuing Education Requirements for License Renewal
Nursing boards in different states have their own nursing CEU requirements for registered nurses to be eligible for renewed licenses. In Iowa, the requirements are simpler than in most other states.
While you can complete 36 credit hours of nursing continuing education courses from any provider approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing, you must complete at least one hour of continuing education through the Iowa Department of Public Health. To learn more about the nursing continuing education requirements to renew your license in Iowa, visit www.fastceforless.com/nursing-ce-iowa.
In addition to the contact hour that you must complete on child/dependent abuse through the state’s Department of Health, you can also access convenient, affordable, and flexible course bundles tailored to help you fulfill your nurse continued education requirements through the online nursing CEUs offered by Fast CE For Less. Visit www.fastceforless.com today.
