PennsylvaniaState Board of Nursing
Mandatory CE Requirements for Nurses
The below information is intended to provide UPMC nurses with an overview of the recently implemented Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing requirements for continuing education. For more information visit the PennsylvaniaState Board of Nursing website,.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing implemented a policy requiring mandatory continuing education for nurses. Registered Nurses are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education according to the timetable. The first group of RNs required to verify completion of 30 hours of CE are those RNs with an expiration date of October 31, 2010
If the expiration date on yourlicense is/will be: / You will need to obtain 30 hours of RN Board approved CE from:
October 31, 2010 / 11/1/08 through 10/31/10
April 30, 2011 / 5/1/09 through 4/30/11
October 31, 2011 / 11/1/09 through 10/31/11
April 30, 2012 / 5/1/10 through 4/30/12
Nurses will report completion of CE on the license renewal application. Please note, proof of completion is not submitted at that time of application. Nurses are required to keep proof of CE for five years in the event of an audit. The State Board of Nursing will randomly select licensees to be audited, instructions will be provided at that time.
Tips for completing mandatory CE Requirements (Click ► below for Additional Information)
CE content must be relevant to patient care or professional nursing in a general or specialty area.►
Annual mandatory training, self improvement activities and Basic Life Support are not acceptable CE. ►
It is not required that CE is accredited by the ANCC. Programs sponsored by UPMC, University of Pittsburgh and other accredited hospitals and universities are acceptable. ►
Nurses are required to keep proof of CE for five years in the event of an audit. ►
UPMC Nursing Grand Rounds can be accessed by UPMC nurses using uLearn accessed throughMy Hub,
UPMC/University of PittsburghCenter for Continuing Education in the Health sciences offersfree online CE, Currently, over 125 modules are available. Additional modules will be available throughout the year. Choose activities targeted to your professional development.
Free CE is available online from a variety of sources. Choose activities targeted to your professional developments. List of free online CE.
UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Center for Continuing Education in the Health sciences offers live, formal activities throughout the year,
What type of content is acceptable?CE must be relevant to patient care or professional nursing in a general or specialty area and enhance the knowledge and application of the physical, social, biological and behavioral sciences. Advanced life support courses such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) may only be used only ONCE during a 2 year renewal cycle. CE must be sponsored by aBoard-approved provider. Please see below for a list of approved providers.This list is not all-inclusive.
Human sexuality / Pharmacology
Death, dying and grief / Nursing administration
Foreign language relevant to health care / Management
Therapeutic interpersonal relationship skills / Education
Patient rights / Diagnostic and procedural coding
Individual or group research, as the principal or co-principal investigator, if the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the facility in which the research will be conducted has approved the research
What type of content is NOT acceptable?
Unacceptable course content includes non-professional course content. This list is not all-inclusive.
Self-improvement / BLS (Basic Life Support)
Change in attitude / Mandatory education on facility specific policies
Financial gain / Employment orientation programs
Courses designed for lay persons
Who can provide CE credit?
CE must be sponsored by a Board approved provider. Below is a list of providers. Please note, it is not required that the CE is approved by the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC). CE can be awarded by all entities listed below. The certificate of attendance must include specific information. Please see below forCertificate Requirements.
Board-approved professional nursing or CRNP education program / regionally accredited institutions of higher education
Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Midwifery education program / National nursing, medical, osteopathic and other health care professional organizations and their state and regional affiliates
Activities sponsored by accredited hospitals and health care facilities / National trade organizations, associations and their affiliated groups and state and regional affiliates
hospitals and health care facilities licensed by the Department of Health or the Department of Public Welfare / National nursing, risk management, health care quality and patient safety organizations
Federal and state agencies / Activities approved by a Board in another jurisdiction
What is required on a certificate?
Verify that the CE certificate includes the following information:
- Full name and address of provider
- Title of activity
- Date of the activity
- Hours of continuing education
- Name of individual who participated in the education
- Organization that approved activity
List of Free Online CE
Please note, with the exception of UPMC Nursing Grand Rounds, the websites listed below are publicly available. University of PittsburghInternet-Base Studies in Education and Research is managed in partnership with the UPMCCenter for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences. All other sites are not related to the UPMC or University of Pittsburgh. The sites are managed external to the UPMC or Univerity of Pittsburgh.
Name / Web Address
UPMC Nursing Grand Rounds /
University of Pittsburgh,
Internet-Base Studies in Education and Research /
Clinical Care Options /
Johns Hopkins Nursing /
Partners in Healthcare Education /
American Heart Association /
National Kidney Foundation /
MedEd Today /
OR Live /