Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by DIAL — Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) · RN

36 hours. Every three years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by DIAL — Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from IBN(BD—DIAL~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 36 hours is the total CME requirement. Iowa also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 36-hour total.

Abuse Reporting[1]
Hrs vary
Triennial
Mandatory Reporters of Child and Dependent Adult Abuse course is a required component of CE for Iowa RN renewal. Required for nurses who regularly examine, attend, counsel, or treat children or dependent adults. The specific contact hour count is not specified in the rule text; it counts toward the 36-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Mandatory Reporters of Child & Adult Abuse — Required Course: Nurses must complete the Mandatory Reporters of Child and Dependent Adult Abuse course as a required component of renewal.”
Iowa Admin. Code 481-619.2See source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Iowa 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 systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
1 contact hour = 60 minutes of didactic instruction, self-study, or clinical/laboratory practicum. Up to 18 contact hours from a prior renewal period may be carried over if the 36-hour minimum was exceeded.SourceIowa Admin. Code 481-619.2(2)[2]
Board-approved credit
nursing practice CE, professional development, sciences underlying nursing, health care ethics/law/social aspects, patient education, academic coursework (1 semester hour = 15 contact hours; 1 quarter hour = 10 contact hours), national certifications (= 36 hours), preceptorships (minimum 60-hour preceptorship = 6 contact hours), and nurse residency programs (= 36 hours). CPR/BLS, orientation in-services, and self-help courses do not count.SourceIowa Admin. Code 481-619.2(3)[1]
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

Active military duty during the renewal period

Current licensure in another mandatory CE state — Iowa accepts proof of CE completed in another state with a mandatory CE requirement as satisfying the Iowa CE obligation

Nursing employment outside the United States during the renewal period

Documented physical or mental disability that prevented completion of CE during the renewal period, with board approval of an extension

Current national certification or recertification related to nursing practice — counts as the full 36 contact hours of CE

Completion of a board-approved nurse residency program — counts as 36 contact hours of CE

Approved make-up credit may be used once per renewal period for CE completed after the renewal deadline

FAQ
Are there mandatory CE topics for Iowa RN renewal?
Iowa requires nurses who regularly examine, attend, counsel, or treat children or dependent adults to complete a Mandatory Reporters of Child and Dependent Adult Abuse course as part of their CE. This course counts toward the 36-hour total. No other mandatory CE topics are specified in the Iowa rule for RNs generally. Iowa does not mandate CE on subjects such as opioids, domestic violence, or cultural competency for all RNs as a universal requirement.
Is Iowa in the NLC nursing compact?
Yes. Iowa is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). Eligible Iowa-licensed RNs hold a multistate license allowing practice in all NLC member states. CE obligations are governed by the nurse's home state. Iowa RNs residing in Iowa must satisfy the triennial 36-hour Iowa requirement. Nurses may also qualify for a CE exemption if they maintain current licensure in another state with a mandatory CE requirement.
How does Iowa's CE carry-over provision work?
Under Iowa Admin. Code 481-619.2(2)(b), RNs who exceed the 36-hour minimum in one renewal period may carry up to 18 of the excess contact hours forward to the next renewal period. Only hours earned within the prior renewal period may be carried — they cannot be carried multiple periods forward. Approved make-up credit (CE completed after a renewal deadline) may be used only once. This provision gives nurses with variable CE schedules more flexibility in managing their triennial total.
Where can I check my Iowa RN license renewal date and report CE?
Iowa nursing licenses and CE information are administered by DIAL at https://dial.iowa.gov/licenses/medical/nursing-midwifery. Nurses can verify license status and renewal deadlines on the DIAL portal. CE documentation must be retained for four years and submitted within 30 days if selected for a Board audit. Iowa's Board conducts monthly random audits, so maintaining organized CE records throughout the renewal period is essential.

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Sources & Citations

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.

  1. Iowa DIAL — Continuing Education for Nursing Licensees
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Mandatory Reporters of Child & Adult Abuse — Required Course: Nurses must complete the Mandatory Reporters of Child and Dependent Adult Abuse course as a required component of renewal.”Iowa Admin. Code 481-619.2
  2. Iowa Admin. Code Rule 655-5.2 (now 481-619.2) — Continuing Education for Nursing
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by DIAL — Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing), or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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