Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Field guide · License renewal
Iowa Board of Nursing · 3-year renewal cycle
Verified against the Iowa Board of Nursing · Last reviewed · How RenewRN verifies its data
Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources
As of 2026, Iowa RNs must complete 36 contact hours of continuing education every 3 years to renew. The RN renewal fee is $99.
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| Renewal cycle | Every 3 years |
| Renewal deadline | 15th of the birth month every 3 years |
| Total CE hours (RN) | 36 contact hours |
| Renewal fee (RN) | $99 |
| Compact state (NLC) | Yes, NLC member · check your eligibility |
| License types | RN, APRN, LPN |
| Typical pay | See Iowa nurse salaries |
Iowa requires all nurses to complete 36 contact hours of continuing education per 3-year renewal cycle, making it one of the few states with a triennial renewal period. Two hours must cover identification and reporting of child and dependent adult abuse, and ARNPs with prescriptive authority must complete an additional 2 hours on opioid prescribing. Iowa is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, and the renewal fee is $99 for RN/LPN and $81 for ARNP. The renewal deadline is the 15th of the nurse's birth month, with a 30-day grace period available.
Verified against the Iowa Board of Nursing, last checked 2026-06-25. Found something off? Let me know.
Iowa CE Audit Response Guide
Response deadline, retention rules, board address, and the rejections that get nurses dinged.
Read the full Iowa RN License Renewal Guide
Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal
Visit the Iowa Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.
Turn these steps into a checklist you can track.
RenewRN Pro turns Iowa's renewal steps into an interactive checklist you check off one by one, with your progress saved so nothing gets missed at the deadline.
Track your renewal steps with ProYou attest to your CE when you renew and keep your certificates; you only submit documents if the board audits you.
An Iowa RN verifies (attests) completion of 36 contact hours of continuing education at online renewal; certificates are not uploaded at renewal. Iowa Administrative Code 655-5.2(2): “To renew a license, the licensee shall verify the completion of 36 contact hours.” The nurse keeps records four years and submits them only if audited: certificates “are usually not uploaded during renewal, [but] you should keep all records for four years in case the Iowa Board of Nursing conducts an audit.” A random number of licensees are audited each month, and a license renewed within 30 days after expiration is automatically audited (submitting the CE documentation completes the renewal).
Where it happens: Iowa DIAL online licensing portal (Iowa Board of Nursing / Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing)
nursing.iowa.gov/licensure/renewalDIAL selects a random number of licensees each month for CE audit; a license renewed within 30 days after expiration is automatically audited and submitting the CE documentation completes the renewal. Records retained four years; failure to submit may result in disciplinary action. IAC 655 Ch. 5 defines “Audit” as “the selection of licensees for verification of satisfactory completion of continuing” education.
Verified 2026-07-03 against legis.iowa.gov · dial.iowa.gov. Always confirm with the board before relying on it.
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| Type | CE hours | Renewal fee |
|---|---|---|
| RN | 36 / 3 yrs | $99 |
| APRN | 36 / 3 yrs | $81 |
| LPN | 36 / 3 yrs | $99 |
APRN renewal in Iowa. The board is only one clock: your national certification and any DEA registration renew on their own cycles. Full Iowa APRN renewal guide
| Category | Hours | Required | Types | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Continuing Education | 36 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 36 contact hours of continuing education per 3-year renewal cycle for all nursing license types. CE offerings must be at least 1 hour, and coursework must be appropriate to nursing practice. |
| Child and Dependent Adult Abuse | 2 | Conditional | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | Conditional, not universal: nurses who provide care to children and/or dependent adults are mandatory reporters and must complete the matching mandatory-reporter training (children, dependent adults, or both). Each course is 2 contact hours, so a nurse who serves both populations needs 4 hours; a nurse who serves neither is not required to take it. Renewed every 3 years. |
| ARNP Opioid Prescribing | 2 | Required | APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | ARNPs who actually prescribe opioids during the three-year renewal cycle must complete at least 2 contact hours on the CDC opioid-prescribing guideline (counts toward the 36 hours). It is triggered by prescribing opioids during the cycle, not by holding prescriptive authority alone. |
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs): Iowa CNA renewal is handled by the state nurse-aide registry, not the Board of Nursing, and follows a work-hours / in-service model rather than the CE above. Check your state nurse-aide registry for CNA requirements.
Find free Iowa CE. Verified, accredited and state-approved courses. No upsells. Browse free Iowa nursing CE courses
Missed your Iowa renewal deadline?
30-day grace period after the deadline; late renewal incurs a $50 late fee in addition to the $99 renewal fee; Board rules do not prohibit practice during the grace period but employers may
What to do if your Iowa license lapsedApproved CE Providers
Late Renewal Fees
Reinstatement Fees
Already lapsed? The Iowa re-entry guide covers refresher rules, costs by lapse length, and the path back.
Applies to new RN licensure by examination. Verified against the Iowa Board of Nursing.
First-Time Licensee Exemption
First-time licensees have a prorated CE requirement based on when the license was issued
CE Audit Information
The Iowa Board of Nursing selects licensees for audit after a licensure period; audited nurses submit verification within 30 days.
Iowa Board of Nursing
https://dial.iowa.gov/about-dial/boards/board-nursingSources
These Iowa renewal figures are free to cite, quote, or republish with attribution and a link (CC BY 4.0). Suggested citation:
RenewRN, “Iowa Nursing License Renewal Requirements” (June 2026), renewrn.net/states/iowa, verified against the Iowa Board of Nursing.
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