in Section 15-45 of The Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. For persons licensed under this Title, 50 hours of continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle are required. The rules allow licensees the opportunity to participate in programs sponsored by local state or national professional associations, hospitals, or others who provide continuing education ("Nursing and Advanced," 1999, p. 17).
Requirements for NPs who are certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program to become recertified, include a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice in the area of specialization and 75 hours of continuing education relevant to this area (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners [AANP], 2000, p. 1).
The Nurse Practice Act Continuing Education Course and examination for continuing education units can be found online. The California Board of Registered Nursing Continuing Education Program offers a comprehensive look at program qualifications and regulations (National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN], 2000).
Continuing education providers must follow relevant statutes and regulations regarding instructional programs, found in the California Code of Regulations. Courses can be approved by any appropriate state, regional and national health professional association, and other professional health licensing boards found in California or other states, as long as the course meets requirements by the Board and the course is developed for continuing education purposes. Any group or individual with the resources to provide a relevant continuing education for NPs and agrees to adhere to set laws and regulations may apply for approval; this can include any person, partnership, association, educational institution, or governmental agency (NCSBN).
Course content must be relevant to the practice of registered nursing; it must be related to scientific knowledge or technical skills that ...