Navigating Continuing Education Requirements for Michigan Registered Nurses

Maintaining an active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Michigan requires ongoing professional development. The Michigan Public Health Code and board administrative rules mandate that every nurse complete continuing education (CE) to stay updated with current healthcare practices. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the continuing education requirements for Michigan RNs, ensuring they remain compliant and proficient in their field.

General Continuing Education Requirements

Michigan RNs are required to complete 25 hours of continuing education within the 2-year period preceding the date of renewal. These hours ensure that nurses remain current with evolving healthcare standards and practices.

Specific CE Hour Allocations

Pain and Pain Symptom Management: At least 2 of the 25 required hours must be specifically dedicated to pain and pain symptom management.
Human Trafficking Training: A one-time training module on identifying victims of human trafficking is mandatory. This training is separate from the 25-hour CE requirement, but a continuing education course can be used to satisfy this requirement.
Implicit Bias Training: Starting in 2022, all Michigan health professionals must complete implicit bias training to renew and maintain their licenses. Completion of 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration is required. For initial renewals completed after June 1, 2022, completion of one hour of implicit bias training is required for each year of licensure since June 1, 2021. Once the initial renewal is completed, then 1 hour of implicit bias training will be required for each year of the current license cycle going forward. This training must be completed for each renewal cycle before the renewal is completed.
Controlled Substances Training: Beginning with applications and renewals on and after May 28, 2024, licensed prescribers or dispensers of controlled substances must complete training in opioids and controlled substance awareness, every renewal period. Delegatees (other than a physician’s assistant), or those allowed by practice agreement, or order to prescribe or dispense a controlled substance by a licensed prescriber or dispenser must complete a controlled substances training one time during the applicable license cycle. Topics may be obtained from more than one program. (Per MI Board of Pharmacy R 338.3135 eff 5/28/2024)
DEA MATE ACT: Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required to complete 8 hours of one-time training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.

CE for New Nurses

New nurses obtaining their first license are not required to begin earning CEs until after their first renewal.

Approved CE Providers

The Michigan Board of Nursing accepts continuing education programs or activities approved or offered for CE credit by various organizations, including:

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
American College of Nursing Midwives (ACNM)
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, Inc (NAPNES)
National League for Nursing (NLN)
Another state or provincial board of nursing
A continuing nursing education program offered by a nursing education program that is approved by the Board under Administrative Rule R 338.10303a

The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Understanding CEUs and Contact Hours

A contact hour consists of 50-60 minutes. A continued education credit and a contact hour are the same. A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) consists of ten (10) contact hours/credits. Nurses must earn 25 continuing education credits/contact hours or 2.5 CEUs in each 2-year licensure cycle.

Human Trafficking Training Requirements

Beginning with the March 31, 2018 renewal cycle, licensees must complete training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards established in Administrative Rule 338.10105. This is a one-time training and is not part of the continuing education requirement but may be satisfied via a continuing education activity.

Content of Human Trafficking Training

Human Trafficking training content must cover all of the following:

Understanding the types and venues of human trafficking in this state or the United States.
Identifying victims of human trafficking in health care settings.
Identifying the warning signs of human trafficking in health care settings for adults and minors.
Identifying resources for reporting the suspected victims of human trafficking.

Acceptable Providers and Modalities

Acceptable providers of human trafficking content include:

Training offered by a nationally recognized or state-recognized health-related organization.
Training offered by, or in conjunction with, a state or federal agency.
Training obtained in an educational program that has been approved by the board for initial licensure, or by a college or university.
Reading an article related to the identification of victims of human trafficking that meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of this subrule and is published in a peer review journal, health care journal, or professional or scientific journal.

Acceptable modalities of training include:

Teleconference or webinar.
Online presentation.
Live presentation.
Printed or electronic media.

If the training also satisfies the Board’s requirements for CE, then the training may be applied toward your CE requirement.

Implicit Bias Training Requirement

Beginning June 1, 2022, completion of 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration is required. Renewing licensees and registrants are required to complete 1-hour of implicit bias training for each year of their license or registration cycle.

Pain Management CE Requirement

Michigan nurses must complete at least 2 hours of continuing education in pain and pain symptom management, within the 2 years immediately preceding the expiration date of their license.

Restrictions on Completing CE Hours

No more than 12 credit hours of the 25 required hours may be earned during a 24-hour period for online or electronic media.

Waivers for Continuing Education Requirements

MCL 333.16205 of the Michigan Public Health Code allows health licensees to request a waiver of continuing education from their profession’s board. Requests must be received before the expiration date of the license. Approval of a waiver is not guaranteed and rests with the board. Licensees should provide documentation to support their written request.

Examples of waivers can be for military service, disability, absence from the United States, or other circumstances beyond the licensee’s control. The number of hours waived shall be proportional to the length of time the licensee was temporarily disabled, in active military service, outside the continental United States, or involved in circumstances beyond the licensee’s control.

Documentation and Audits

Nurses are required to maintain their own records and keep documentation on hand for a minimum of 4 years. Continuing education information is not required when renewing the license, but the Board conducts a random audit after each renewal period. If selected for the audit, nurses must submit copies of the CE certificates they earned, retaining the originals.

Specialty Certifications and Continuing Education

Nurses must maintain certification by each national certifying body for which they are certified. The Board conducts a random audit after each renewal period, and those selected must submit copies of their certificate(s).

Earning CE Credit Through Academic Courses and Other Activities

College Classes: A licensee may earn 5 hours of continuing education for each semester credit hour earned for the completion of academic courses related to nursing practice offered in a nursing education program approved by the board. Three hours of continuing education may be earned for each quarter credit hour earned. An official transcript reflecting completion of the academic course and number of semester or quarter credit hours earned must be submitted if audited.
Specialty Certifications: A licensee may earn 25 hours of continuing education for obtaining specialty certification or maintaining certification as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, or nurse practitioner. Proof of certification or recertification must be submitted if audited. A licensee may earn 10 hours of continuing education for successful completion of a national nursing specialty examination in the year which the licensee achieves a passing score. A maximum of 20 hours may be earned in the renewal period. Credit will not be given for repeating the same examination in a renewal period.
Publishing Articles or Presenting at Conferences: A licensee may earn 10 hours of continuing education for initial publication of a chapter or an article related to the practice of nursing or allied health in either of the following: A nursing or health care textbook; a peer- reviewed textbook; a nursing or health care peer-reviewed journal. A maximum of 10 hours may be earned in each renewal period. A licensee may earn 3 hours of continuing education for each 60 minutes of presentation of an academic or continuing education program that is not a part of the applicant’s regular job description. A maximum of 6 hours may be earned in each renewal period.
Preceptorship: A licensee may earn continuing education for participation as a preceptor for at least 1 nursing student or new employee undergoing orientation. A preceptorship shall be for a minimum of 120 hours and have a 1 student/employee to 1 preceptor ratio. A maximum of 5 hours may be earned in each renewal period.

Renewal Process

In Michigan, RN licenses must be renewed every two years. The renewal process ensures that nurses maintain their competence and stay up to date with current practices in the nursing field.

To renew your RN license in Michigan, you must:

Complete twenty-five (25) contact hours of continuing education every two years.
Complete at least 2 hours in pain and pain symptom management.
Complete the one-time training requirement on identifying victims of human trafficking and is not included in the continuing education requirement, although a continuing education course can be used to satisfy this requirement.
Beginning June 1, 2022, complete 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration is required. For initial renewals completed after June 1, 2022, completion of one hour of implicit bias training is required for each year of licensure since June 1, 2021. Once the initial renewal is completed, then 1 hour of implicit bias training will be required for each year of the current license cycle going forward.
Pay the renewal fee, which is $131.

Additional Information for Nurses

Nurses Educated in Canada

If you are a Canadian nurse who did not become licensed via passing the NCLEX, then you may apply for a temporary license until you have taken the NCLEX. A temporary license is good for up to one year, allowing enough time to take the NCLEX one time and have your results submitted to this office as part of your application.

Nurses Educated in Foreign Nursing Schools

Graduates of foreign nursing schools must register with the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and check if CGFNS certifies their foreign degree. They must also apply for and pass the CGFNS Qualifying Exam.

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