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 →
Iowa Board of Nursing · 3-year renewal cycle
Verified by 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 |
| 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 nurse salary by state |
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 2026-05-13. 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.
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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 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 2 hours on identification and reporting of child and dependent adult abuse (included in the 36-hour total), provided by the Iowa Department of Human Services. |
| ARNP Opioid Prescribing | 2 | Required | APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | ARNPs with prescriptive authority must complete 2 hours on opioid prescribing each renewal cycle (included in the 36-hour total). |
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.
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Approved 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.
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” (May 2026), renewrn.net/states/iowa, verified against the Iowa Board of Nursing.
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