On Jan. 11, 2023, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued Executive Order 10, initiating a comprehensive evaluation of Iowa’s administrative rules to determine their necessity and effectiveness. Since then, the order has required administrative boards to review every rule, chapter by chapter, ensuring they identify and address outdated, redundant or unnecessary regulations.
In compliance with the order, the Iowa Board of Nursing reviewed Iowa Administrative Code 655, including Chapter 5, which addresses continuing education for licensed nurses and outlines the requirements for continuing education providers, such as the Iowa Hospital Association.
As a result of the review, the board is reducing its continuing education regulations. As of June 4, 2025, these changes are in effect:
- The board has eliminated its approval process for continuing education providers and its list of board-approved providers, but providers may continue to offer nursing education.
- Nurses are responsible for managing their continuing education records to meet professional requirements. For courses that support nursing development, the state will require the licensee’s name, proof of attendance, course date, course title and the number of awarded hours.
- Nurses must maintain their continuing education documentation for four years in case of an audit.
Nurses will also determine whether course content meets the board’s criteria for appropriate continuing education subject matter as outlined in the Iowa Administrative Code 655—5.2(3):
- Nursing practice related to the health care of patients, clients and families in any setting
- Professional growth and development related to nursing practice roles with a health care focus
- Sciences on which nursing practice, nursing education or nursing research are based
- Social, economic, ethical and legal aspects of health care
- Management of or administration of health care, health care personnel or health care facilities
- Education of patients, patients’ significant others, students or personnel in the health care field
The Iowa Hospital Association remains committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities for nurses. We are also prepared to support nurses in meeting the state’s new requirements:
- To help nurses comply with proof of attendance, IHA will provide attendance certificates electronically for education courses when nurses complete a program evaluation at the end of a course. Nurses should print and retain certificates.
- IHA’s program brochures include additional information required by the state. Nurses should retain brochures for each educational event they attend. They can print or download brochures at the time of registration.
Additionally, nurses should be aware that IHA will adjust some longstanding education processes following the state’s changes:
- IHA will no longer retain continuing education records for nurses who participate in continuing education courses.
- IHA will no longer provide nursing contact hour forms. Nurses determine their contact hours. One hour of education is equal to one contact hour.
- Because the board no longer requires proctors during webinars, nurses planning to attend online seminars must register individually, as they do for in-person events, to receive certificates of attendance.
IHA appreciates your help in ensuring that nurses are aware of these changes and understand their responsibility for managing their continuing education records.