Independent Florida nursing CEU guide checked against Florida Board of Nursing, MQA and CE Broker information.
Florida nursing license CEU requirements for 2026 renewal without last-minute CE Broker problems
Florida nurses renew biennially, but the CE checklist is not the same for every license type or every renewal cycle. RNs and LPNs usually plan around 24 hours, APRNs have extra controlled-substance requirements, Domestic Violence is due every third biennium in addition to the 24 hours, and CE must be reflected in the Department’s tracking system powered by CE Broker before renewal can move smoothly.
For Florida RNs and LPNs, the standard renewal CE package is 16 general hours plus 2 hours Medical Errors, 2 hours Florida Laws and Rules, 2 hours Human Trafficking, and 2 hours Impairment every other renewal. HIV/AIDS is a one-time first-renewal item. Domestic Violence is every third biennium and is in addition to the 24 hours. APRNs also have a 3-hour Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances requirement every renewal.
Florida nursing CEU hours by license type
Use your official Florida Board renewal page and CE Broker transcript as the final source. This table explains the common 2026 planning rules in plain language.
| License type | Typical renewal CE | Important notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (RN) | 24 hours in a normal biennium. | Includes 16 general hours plus mandatory topics. Domestic Violence, when due, is 2 additional hours beyond the 24. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | 24 hours in a normal biennium. | Same core CE structure as RN, with first-renewal and rotating-topic rules. |
| APRN | 24-hour base plus 3 hours Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances. | APRN renewal also involves profile, practice address, financial responsibility and national certification items when applicable. |
| Autonomous APRN | APRN CE plus 10 graduate-level approved hours for autonomous practice. | The Board page cites 10 additional approved graduate-level Nurse Practitioner or continuing medical education hours. |
Key warning: Florida’s Domestic Violence course is required every third biennium and the Board says those hours are in addition to the 24 hours required for renewal. That cycle can make a renewal 26 hours for RN/LPN instead of the usual 24.
Florida RN and LPN CEU topic checklist
General hours
Florida lists 16 general hours that must be approved by a state or national organization empowered to accredit nursing continuing education.
Prevention of Medical Errors
Required for renewal and must be board approved. Use CE Broker course search or a trusted approved provider.
Florida Laws and Rules
Required for renewal and must be board approved. This is one of the most important Florida-specific courses.
Human Trafficking
Required every renewal or biennium for licensees expiring after January 1, 2019. The Board notes this course does not have to be Florida Board of Nursing approved if it meets statutory criteria.
Recognizing Impairment
Required every other renewal. Check CE Broker and your Board renewal page so you do not complete it in the wrong cycle or miss it when due.
HIV/AIDS
A one-time requirement before the first renewal. The Board lists it as a board-approved course requirement.
All courses can be live or home study according to the Board renewal pages. The practical issue is not whether the class is online; it is whether the right course type posts correctly to CE Broker for your license.
Florida APRN CEU requirements: what changes
Do not treat an APRN renewal like a basic RN renewal. Florida’s APRN page includes extra renewal items and controlled-substance CE language.
3-hour controlled-substance course
Florida lists a 3-hour Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances course. The APRN page says licensees are required to complete this course every renewal or biennium.
Autonomous APRN extra hours
Registered Autonomous APRNs must complete 10 additional approved graduate-level hours at the Nurse Practitioner or continuing medical education level.
First biennium, specialty certification and short license periods
First RN/LPN renewal may be different
Florida’s LPN page says LPNs and RNs initially licensed by examination during the current biennium are exempt from general CEU requirements for the first renewal, but they still need Medical Errors, Florida Laws and Rules, Impairment, Human Trafficking and HIV/AIDS. Similar first-renewal logic applies for certain endorsement licensees who took the exam in another state within the biennium.
Short first licenses use a monthly rule
The Board explains that first licenses are not generally valid for a full two years. If your Florida license was not issued for the full biennium, you may need 1 hour of CE for each month you held the license.
Specialty certification exemption has limits
A nurse certified by a qualifying specialty program may be exempt from continuing education requirements if reported in the CE Broker-powered tracking system. The Board says the exemption does not apply to Human Trafficking; for APRNs it also does not apply to the controlled-substance course.
How CE Broker affects Florida nursing license renewal
The Florida Board says the Department’s electronic CE tracking system is powered by CE Broker. If your CE records are complete, renewal can proceed without interruption. If records are not complete, you may be prompted to enter remaining CE before renewal.
Use the free Basic account if enough
The Board describes CE Broker’s free Basic account as providing tools to comply with reporting requirements, view course history, use course search and self-report missing CE if needed.
Check every mandatory subject
Do not only count total hours. Make sure Medical Errors, Laws and Rules, Human Trafficking, Impairment, HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence and APRN controlled-substance items show correctly for your cycle.
Keep certificates anyway
Florida says not to submit CE certificates to the Board. Still, keep completion certificates for your records in case reporting is missing or an audit question appears.
Do not wait until the expiration day. A course can be complete but not yet posted, posted under the wrong license, or missing a required category. Check CE Broker early enough to fix errors.
How to renew a Florida nursing license after CE is complete
The Board’s APRN renewal page gives a clear MQA Online Services sequence. Use the same official renewal portal for your license type.
Open the official renewal page
Go to Florida Board of Nursing Renewals, choose RN, LPN, APRN or the correct profession, then open the renewal instructions and CE tab.
Open Florida Board renewalsConfirm CE in CE Broker
Review your transcript before you submit. Florida renewal depends on completed CE requirements being reported into CE Broker or properly self-reported when allowed.
Open CE BrokerSign in to MQA Online Services
The APRN renewal page says to go to FLHealthSource, click “Renew A License,” enter personal identifying information, confirm or update the account email and continue to the dashboard.
Open MQA Online ServicesUse “Renew My License” when it appears
Florida says the renewal option populates no later than 90 days before expiration. If you do not see it, check again later or verify you are in the correct account and profession.
Pay fees and complete any background-screening step
Florida’s 2026 renewal pages reference electronic fingerprinting/background-screening requirements for nursing professions. Follow your current renewal page and fee screen.
Open background screening informationFlorida nursing CEU route finder
This tool does not query CE Broker. It points you to the most likely checklist based on your license and renewal situation.
Florida Board of Nursing office, map and CE contact route
For CE questions, renewal problems, reactivation requirements or official Board communication, use the contact details published by the Florida Board of Nursing.
Board office line listed by the Florida Board of Nursing.
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
Use for Board office communication, not for sending routine CE certificates.
Official mailing address
Department of Health
Board of Nursing
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin C-02
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252
For applications and fees only, the Board lists a separate P.O. Box 6330, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330. Always follow the address shown on your live renewal screen or official notice.
Official sources used for this Florida CEU guide
Florida nursing license CEU requirements FAQ
How many CEU hours do Florida RNs need for renewal?
Florida RNs usually plan for 24 hours in a normal renewal cycle: 16 general hours plus required mandatory topics. Domestic Violence, when due every third biennium, is in addition to the 24 hours.
How many CEU hours do Florida LPNs need?
Florida LPNs generally follow the same 24-hour CE structure as RNs, with 16 general hours and mandatory Florida nursing topics. First-renewal rules and rotating requirements can change the checklist.
What CE topics are required every Florida nursing renewal?
Common every-renewal items include 16 general hours, 2 hours Prevention of Medical Errors, 2 hours Florida Laws and Rules, and 2 hours Human Trafficking. APRNs also complete the controlled-substance requirement every renewal.
Is Florida Domestic Violence CE required every renewal?
No. The Florida Board states Domestic Violence is required every third biennium and the 2 hours are in addition to the 24 hours required for renewal.
Is Recognizing Impairment required every renewal?
No. Florida lists Recognizing Impairment in the Workplace as a 2-hour course required every other renewal. Check CE Broker and your renewal page to confirm whether it is due for your cycle.
Is HIV/AIDS still required for Florida nurses?
Florida lists HIV/AIDS as a 1-hour one-time requirement prior to the first renewal. It should be board approved and reflected properly in CE Broker.
Do Florida APRNs need extra CE?
Yes. Florida lists a 3-hour Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances requirement for APRNs every renewal. Autonomous APRNs also have 10 additional graduate-level approved hours.
Do I send CE certificates to the Florida Board of Nursing?
No. The Board says not to submit CE certificates to the Board and to report CE credits through the Department of Health tracking system powered by CE Broker. Keep certificates for your own records.
Can I use online CE courses for Florida nursing renewal?
Yes. The Florida Board renewal pages state that all courses can be live or home study. The course still must meet the required approval and subject rules for your license.
What happens if CE is missing when I renew?
The Board says the electronic tracking system is reviewed at renewal. If CE records are not complete, you may be prompted to enter remaining CE hours before proceeding. Late or delinquent renewal can create extra fee and reporting issues.
Bottom line for Florida nurses
Finish the right CE, not just “some” CE. Match your license type, confirm rotating topics, check CE Broker before submitting renewal, and use the official Florida Board renewal page whenever a rule or due date is unclear.