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Alabama Nursing CE Requirements

Alabama Board of Nursing: Licensing Renewal Requirements for AL

The city of Alabama currently has over 103,000 licensed nurses at its helm. And they are all dedicated to serving your needs and ensuring the best medical care. With that number of certified nurses, they can guarantee the safety of the highest standards.

The priority of certified nurses is to practice safe and professional methods. And this goes a long way in keeping their nursing license in check. If they live up to the standards, they can maintain that license and renew it without hassles.

If you are working as a nurse in Alabama and looking to renew your nursing license, we will help you with that. Today, we will look at the requirements and process for renewing your nursing license in Alabama. Let us dive into it.

The Alabama Board of Nursing

Are you looking to obtain a nursing license in Alabama? If so, you can contact the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Like any other state, everyone has a governing body responsible for overseeing the rules and regulations of the nursing body. The Alabama Board of Nursing looks after such laws concerning nursing licenses and other related procedures in Alabama.

How can you get a nursing license from the Alabama Board of Nursing?

To obtain a nursing license from the Alabama Board of Nursing, you must appear for an exam. The state of Alabama has its own set of exam requirements. And you will appear for this exam before the Professional Examination Committee.

The NCLEX is one of the two main examinations every candidate should pass to qualify as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN).

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) oversees these tests. It is an American non-profit organization recognized by all nursing bodies in all the states in the USA.

read more: Nurse Salary in Alabama

What are the requirements to renew your nursing license in Alabama?

To renew your nursing license, you must complete your Continuing Education (CE) every two years. The Alabama Board of Nursing oversees this procedure and provides you with a renewed license once you complete your CE.

Continuing Education refers to planned and organized learning which equips nurses with the knowledge and skills to master their trade. This, in turn, helps them provide better healthcare services for the public.

There are different renewal requirements for registered nurses (RN), advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), and licensed practical nurses (LPN). And it includes various courses and contact hours for all three types of nurses.

Below are the CE requirements for RNs, APRNs, and LPNs.

  • For a registered nurse, you require 24 contact hours for license renewal.
  • For advanced practice registered nurses, you need 24 contact hours (6 hours for Pharmacology CE).
  • And for licensed practical nurses, you require 24 contact hours.

Once you complete your CE and meet the requirements, you can submit your license renewal application. After that, pay the required fees. Keep in mind that the fees are RN, APRN, and LPN are different.

And if you are renewing your license for the first time in Alabama, you need to cover at least one hour of CE on HIV/AIDS.

Furthermore, the expiry date for RNs and APRNs in Alabama are the same. You can renew your license in even-numbered years between September 1 and November 30. For LPNs, you can extend the license in odd-numbered years from September 1 to November 30.

Plus, if you plan to transfer your license to Alabama, the board will require a background check on your nursing record. You need to be a certified nurse for at least two years in your current state. And as long as there are no issues or pending complaints against you, the Alabama Board of Nursing will accept your license transfer.

Also, you should not apply for a license in Alabama if you live in another state. Unless you declare Alabama as your resident state, you cannot renew your license there.

What are the Continuing Education (CE) requirements for different nurses in Alabama?

For different nurse categories, the state of Alabama issues separate CE requirements. And you must meet these requirements for license registration and renewal. Let us look at some of them in brief.

Registered Nurse (RN)

For registered nurses, the CE requirements are as follows:

  • You must complete 24 contact hours over a two-year renewal period.
  • For the first renewal, you should complete four contact hours of CE covering various disciplines. They include the Nurse Practice Act, Board functions, accountability, regulations, and professional conduct.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

CE requirements for all APRNs are:

  • You must complete 24 contact hours over two years.
  • Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) can earn six hours of pharmacology content related to prescriptive practice.

Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN)

THE CE requirements for LPN include:

  • You should complete 24 contact hours over a two-year renewal period.
  • You should earn four hours of continuing education related to various disciplines provided by the board. They include the Nurse Practice Act, Board functions, accountability, regulations, and professional conduct.

Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

You don’t need any CE requirements to qualify as a CNA. And the license will renew every two years after the initial passing. To restore your license, you need to achieve the following:

  • You must work eight hours over two years. Workplaces include mental health facilities, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospitals, and hospice agencies.
  • This does not include voluntary and private work or office assistant duties.

These are some of the requirements in brief for four main categories of nursing.

read more: Alabama Board of Medicine – License Lookup and Renewal for AL

Conclusion

Working as a nurse can be a rewarding experience. And there are several job opportunities in nursing professions in Alabama. So, the chances of you landing a nursing job in Alabama are pretty high.

And remember to live by the ethical and moral standards of the nursing board. You want your trade to benefit yourself, the staff, and, most importantly, your patients. And while you’re at it, keep your licenses in check and renew them in time.

We hope this article will guide you in renewing your nursing license in Alabama.

About Rachel

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