1. Contact hours of continuing education are calculated as follows:

1 contact hour (CH) = 60 minutes of instruction = 0.1 CEU
1 contact hour = One Continuing Medical Education (CME)
10 contact hours = One continuing education unit (CEU)
10 contact hours = One academic quarter hour
15 contact hours = One academic semester hour

A. If the licensee must renew in less than or equal to one year after acquiring their license, the licensee shall obtain no less than six (6) contact hours of continuing education or the equivalent of academic credit from a board approved nursing program.
B. If the licensee held an active license to practice nursing for more than one year, the licensee shall obtain no less than twelve (12) contact hours of continuing education or the equivalent of academic credit from a board approved nursing program.

2. A licensee may receive credit equivalent to the contact hour calculations described above for successful completion of a course taken through an accredited college or university to meet the CE requirement.

3. Evidence of publication of one article related to nursing practice in a refereed journal, one book chapter, or research project published in the license renewal time frame may be submitted for verification of the 12 contact hours.

4. Evidence of participation as a presenter or lecturer for content related to nursing practice is allowable, but contact hours may not total more than 6 contact hours. A presentation or lecture of sixty minutes or more may not be used more than once in a renewal cycle.

5. The presentation or lecture must be outside the normal duties of the position and approved for contact hours.

6. The licensee must retain an original certificate of completion of continuing education for a period of not less than two (2) renewal cycles.

7. The licensee should not submit documentation of completion of continuing education unless requested for audit purposes, i.e. certificates, transcripts.

8. Programs offered by approved providers of continuing education will be accepted as long as they meet the other requirements included in this policy.

9. Board recognized providers of continuing education include:

a. The North Dakota Board of Nursing.
b. An accredited college or university.
c. A health care regulatory board
d. A professional organization that is nationally accredited to approve CE.

10. Appropriate subject matter which is acceptable as continuing education includes:

a. Social, legal and ethical aspects of nursing practice.
b. Content related to nursing practice.
c. Quality assurance, accrediting or regulation standards and processes
d. Courses required for progression in a nursing program.

11. Unacceptable subject matter or course contents that DO NOT MEET the CE requirement in ND:

• Basic Life Support classes; 
• CPR classes; 
• Repetition of any educational activity with identical content and objectives within a single reporting period; 
• Agency specific orientation or in-service programs; 
• Self-directed independent study activities that have not been approved for CE; 
• Community service or volunteer practice; 
• Administrative or disciplinary CE; 
• Membership in a professional nursing organization; 
• Professional meetings or conventions except for those portions approved for CE.

12. Audit Process - At least two percent (2%) of the renewal applications will be subject to random audit per renewal cycle. A licensee who submits inaccurate or falsified documentation or fails to meet the CE requirement will be subject to disciplinary action based on Chapter 54-02-07-01.1(7)(13)(18).

13. A licensee who fails to comply with a request for documents within the appropriate time frame will be subject to disciplinary action.

14. It is the responsibility of the licensee to verify appropriate credit designation with the source of the program.

Board Approved: March 04; 11/07;
Revised: 1/ 06; 9/ 06 – effective 01/07

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