Below is exactly what Florida Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026
For RNs, 24 hours is the total CME requirement. Florida also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 24-hour total.
“Prevention of Medical Errors: 2 hours. Must be board approved.”
“Florida Laws & Rules: 2 hours. Must be board approved.”
“Human Trafficking: 2 hours. This course does not have to be a Florida Board of Nursing approved course.”
“Recognizing Impairment: 2 hour course completion is required every other renewal.”
“Domestic Violence: 2 hours. Required every third biennium and the hours are in addition to the 24 hours required.”
These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.
RNs completing their first renewal after initial Florida licensure
“HIV/AIDS: 1 hour. A one-time requirement prior to the first renewal.”
RNs who are military spouses absent from Florida due to active duty service
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Florida Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.
| Credit system | Notes |
|---|---|
ANCC Contact Hour | 16 general contact hours must be approved by a state or national organization empowered to accredit nursing continuing education. ANCC-accredited providers qualify.SourceFla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002[1] |
Board-approved credit min 8 hrs | 8 hours of mandatory CE (medical errors 2 hrs, laws/rules 2 hrs, human trafficking 2 hrs, and impairment 2 hrs on alternating cycles) must be from Florida Board of Nursing-approved providers, except Human Trafficking which only needs to meet statutory criteria. All CE reported to CEBroker.com.SourceFla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002[1] |
Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.
RNs certified by a health care specialty program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) are exempt from general continuing education requirements. The exemption does NOT apply to the 2-hour Human Trafficking course.
For RNs licensed for only part of a biennium, the CE requirement is prorated to 1 contact hour per calendar month the license is held during the cycle. For a full 24-month biennium this yields 24 hours.
Military spouses absent from Florida due to active duty service qualify for exemption with satisfactory proof.
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.
Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.
“Prevention of Medical Errors: 2 hours. Must be board approved.”Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002(2)(a)
“Florida Laws & Rules: 2 hours. Must be board approved.”Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002(2)(c)
“Human Trafficking: 2 hours. This course does not have to be a Florida Board of Nursing approved course.”Fla. Stat. § 464.013(c) / Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002(2)(e) · Effective 2019-01-01
“Recognizing Impairment: 2 hour course completion is required every other renewal.”Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002(2)(d)
“Domestic Violence: 2 hours. Required every third biennium and the hours are in addition to the 24 hours required.”Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002(2)(f)
“HIV/AIDS: 1 hour. A one-time requirement prior to the first renewal.”Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B9-5.002(2)(b)