Iowa LPN CE Courses (2026)

To renew your LPN license in Iowa you need to satisfy the Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing)'s continuing education (CE) requirement — about 36 hours per 3-year cycle. Below is what the board requires and a comparison of course providers that offer qualifying CE. This is an unofficial guide — confirm any course is board-approved before you buy.

What Iowa requires for LPN renewal

CE hours required36 hours per cycle
Renewal cycle36 months
Governing bodyIowa Board of Nursing (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing)

License renewal requires verifiable completion of 36 contact hours (or 3.6 CEUs) of continuing education within the renewal period, or qualification for an exemption (Iowa Admin. Code 655-5.2). The same 36-hour standard applies to both LPNs and RNs. One contact hour = 60 minutes of instruction; up to 18 contact hours may be carried over to a future renewal period. Subject matter must relate to nursing practice. Effective June 4, 2025 the board removed provider/content pre-approval, letting licensees choose CE that meets the standard of care. Separately, licensees must complete mandatory reporter (child and/or dependent adult abuse) training as required by Iowa HHS, and proof can be requested at audit. Exemptions exist for honorable active military duty, holding an active license and residing in another state with CE requirements, working abroad in government/missionary nursing, or documented disability/illness. Records must be kept four years.

Full LPN renewal guide for Iowa (deadlines, fees & CE) →

Iowa LPN CE course providers

Heads-up: These are independent, third-party CE providers — we are not affiliated with them and don't guarantee approval. Always confirm a course is accepted by the Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) before purchasing.

Iowa LPN CE courses: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do I need to renew my LPN license in Iowa?

Iowa requires about 36 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. License renewal requires verifiable completion of 36 contact hours (or 3.6 CEUs) of continuing education within the renewal period, or qualification for an exemption (Iowa Admin. Code 655-5.2). The same 36-hour standard applies to both LPNs and RNs. One contact hour = 60 minutes of instruction; up to 18 contact hours may be carried over to a future renewal period. Subject matter must relate to nursing practice. Effective June 4, 2025 the board removed provider/content pre-approval, letting licensees choose CE that meets the standard of care. Separately, licensees must complete mandatory reporter (child and/or dependent adult abuse) training as required by Iowa HHS, and proof can be requested at audit. Exemptions exist for honorable active military duty, holding an active license and residing in another state with CE requirements, working abroad in government/missionary nursing, or documented disability/illness. Records must be kept four years.

Do online LPN CE courses count in Iowa?

Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing). Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.

Where do I report my Iowa LPN CE?

Iowa generally has you attest to CE at renewal and keep your own documentation in case of an audit. Confirm the current process with the Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing).

Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing). Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.

Official Iowa Board of Nursing (administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing) site →

LPN CE courses in another state

Other CE course guides in Iowa