Continuing Education (''contact hours")
Continuing education is required for renewal of RN and LPN licenses, dialysis technician certification, COAs, and CPTs:
Nurses in Ohio are required to complete 24 'contact hours' during every 2-year period in order to have their licenses renewed. The exception to fulfilling this requirement are those nurses who received their nursing license in Ohio by examination; these nurses are not required to complete continuing education hours for their FIRST renewal. However, nurses who received their license by endorsement must complete the continuing ed requirement for their first renewal. If the license by endorsement was received less than 12 months prior to the renewal date, the number of hours required can be prorated.
Each contact hour indicates 60 minutes of study.
In no case are the terms 'ceus' or 'continuing education units' applicable to continuing education for these professions in Ohio. In fact, the national standard from the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) recently changed the definition of one contact hour from 50 minutes of study to 60 minutes, therefore we emphasize this terminology here.
In addition, the term 'ceus' relates to units of continuing education for professions OTHER than nursing. Realtors, accountants, and many other professions use the term 'ceu' as their measurement of required continuing education. In general, the two terms are sometimes related to one another in the following equation: one 'ceu' is equivalent to 10 contact hours.
In Ohio, one hour of the required 24 must relate to Ohio’s nursing regulations and nurse practice act (Category A requirement).
Additionally, advance practice nurses, like Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) who are COA holders, must also meet any requirements needed to maintain their national certification. At least 24 contact hours to meet the recertification requirement must be completed within the 2-year time frame required by Ohio.
Uncertified CNSs; those who have received a COA based on a master’s degree in the specialty area but who have not received national certification, must complete 36 contact hours in each 2-year period: 24 general contact hours and 12 specialty area specific contact hours (Category B requirement).
Nurses with prescriptive certification (CPT) must meet the requirements for RN and COA renewal and must also complete 12 pharmacology contact hours (Category D requirement).
Dialysis technicians must have 15 contact hours including 10 contact hours directly related to dialysis care (Category C requirement) and one unit related to Ohio nursing regulations (Category A).
The nurse practice law requires that the Board approve continuing education courses that assist nurses to recognize the signs of domestic violence and its relationship to child abuse. However, these courses are currently not required.
Ohio allows a one-time waiver of contact hours for renewal of one licensing period only to accommodate those whose life circumstances have precluded their completing the continuing education requirement. Use of this option is noted on the license to ensure it is not used again. Non-certified CNSs may not use this option to satisfy the requirement for 12 additional contact hours in their area of specialty.
Not all courses or activities are acceptable for contact hours. The following cannot be used although they may be required for employment in a particular agency:
CPR classes required for employment may be used to meet Ohio's continuing education requirements.
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