Featured | Apr 9, 2025
A detailed guide covering 30+ free nursing CEU courses from top providers like ANA and Nurse.com – guaranteeing at least 30 free contact hours to jumpstart your continuing education journey.
We at CE App understand how challenging it can be to find quality free CEUs that support your professional growth as a nurse.
That’s why our team has put together a list of courses, complete with contact hour details, making it easier for you to navigate your continuing education journey.
Free Nursing CEUs (April 2025 Update): 60+ Contact Hours
Please Note:
This ultimate guide covers free nursing CEU courses from top providers like the American Nurses Association (ANA), Nurse.com, Wild Iris Medical Education, Nursing CE, and CDC Train to help you advance your career.
Let's dive in!
Completing a free nursing CEU course has many advantages. It benefits nurses, patients, and their family members.
Healthcare providers who complete CEUs are better equipped to care for and adapt to changing professional environments.
What's better is that all the tools required to complete new courses, earn free CEUs, and even track your CEUs are available online.
Let's review some of the advantages you can expect to see at your workplace after completing a course:
Yes, absolutely!
Many reputable organizations offer free continuing education courses, making it easier than ever for nurses to access high-quality continuing education.
We will now discuss some reputable sources that any nurse can access to complete a course that suits their special considerations.
The ANA offers a selection of free CE courses for members and non-members alike.
These courses cover various topics and are accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Though ANA members get exclusive perks and access to a broader catalog of free courses, many free programs and specialized CE modules cover various nursing themes and professional development areas that do not require a membership.
Not a member? Here's the best way to go about finding a course that will assist you:
Visit their website using this filtered link. If you follow this link, the courses have already been filtered by low to high prices, so the free ones will be directly at the top of the list.
Here are some of their most valuable courses, arranged from highest to lowest contact hours:
Total Free Contact Hours from ANA: 45.2 Hours
Nurse.com is a leading provider of continuing education for nurses, offering a wide range of accredited courses.
Though most of their course catalog is paywalled, you can still occasionally access a free course on nurse.com, depending on availability.
Their complete course library features over 750 courses, and they regularly add new content to keep up with the evolving industry landscape.
Free courses can be accessed without a credit card or purchase, and quick certificates are given upon course completion. All fifty states recognize these ANCC-accredited courses.
In addition to its free courses, Nurse.com offers a vast library of paid courses covering topics such as clinical skills, leadership, and speciality areas of nursing.
Here are some of the free nursing course options that we found in their catalog, arranged from highest to lowest contact hours:
Total Free Contact Hours from Nurse.com: 4.25 Hours.
As part of its services, Wild Iris Medical Education offers a few free continuing education courses for nurses.
All American nursing boards accept their courses, which are recognized nationally by the ANCC.
Their website offers online course access, and upon course completion, instantaneous certifications are issued.
In addition, Wild Iris provides CE and state-mandated courses for other healthcare professionals.
Though again, most of their courses are paywalled, we were able to find the following free CE courses for nurses:
Total Free Contact Hours from Wild Iris Medical Education: 2 Hours
Nursing CE offers a variety of paid and free continuing education courses for nurses.
The platform instantly certifies users after they complete a course successfully and earn a post-test score of 80% or better.
For nurses looking to meet their continuing education requirements, Nursing CE is a convenient choice because it offers a combination of free and paid alternatives, instant certification, and frequent updates.
Although only one free course was available at the time of writing this article, the website consistently updates its list of free CE offers:
Total Free Contact Hours from Nursing CE: 1 Hour
The CDC offers free continuing education as part of its mission to improve public health.
While not exclusively focused on nursing, their courses are highly relevant to nursing practice and are accepted for CE credit.
Through its Training and Continuing Education Online (TCEO) system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided nurses with a valuable tool for earning free continuing education units (CEUs).
Note: As of January 1, 2024, the CDC has switched to a new system, 'CDC TRAIN,' for all new CE activities.
This makes it an excellent choice for nursing professionals who want to complete their CE needs for free. The CDC, a joint accreditation provider alongside the ANCC, releases numerous new educational activities annually.
These courses are interdisciplinary, so nurses can obtain ANCC-accredited contact hours while also learning from a more comprehensive healthcare viewpoint.
Here's a quick guide for nurses using the CDC's TCEO system to obtain free CEUs:
There you go - 30+ free course options for you to consider. With so many options, navigating the nursing CEUs landscape might get tricky.
So, let's now discuss some course topics and industry trends that will help inform your decision about which courses to choose.
Here are some popular course topics for registered nurses:
Patient safety is a critical aspect of nursing care. A course for free CEUs in this area may cover:
Proper wound care is key to patient recovery. A course on wound care CEUs should help you grasp a better handle on the following:
A healthy mind is crucial for patients, healthcare providers, and their families. CEUs covering this topic will deepen your knowledge base on the following:
Now that you have a general idea of the available course options let's explore key factors when choosing the right free nursing CEUs.
The nursing profession, like the rest of the healthcare sector, is constantly evolving, and nurses must stay current with trends in nursing education.
Here are some important points to keep in mind when selecting free CEUs.
Technology is revolutionizing how registered nurses learn and practice. Here's how:
When selecting CE courses, it's essential to ensure they are accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation. Here's why:
Here's how CE courses provide invaluable support and many benefits for any nurse:
Whenever a nurse takes CE courses and any related assessment, their patients also benefit. Here's how:
Completing a CE course approved by ANCC can benefit any nurse, and we have developed a few strategies to help you get the most out of it. Let's review these strategies:
Every nurse can learn to implement the knowledge in their daily practice.
You can always undertake a free nursing course if you need to complete an assessment or review with the State requirements.
These requirements differ from state to state. For example, Florida nurses may have different requirements than Michigan nurses.
Hence, you are responsible for ensuring the nursing courses you choose meet the specific CEU requirements for your state.
Choose a course from different specialities to expand your nursing knowledge.
Create a plan to complete CEUs throughout the year so you don't need to rush when it's time for license renewal.
Ask around at your workplace and seek a review from other nurses in a similar patient care setting who want to earn free CEUs by doing a course.
You can also discuss management strategies, nursing topics, healthcare provider services, and course options with them.
Use CEUs to achieve your career goals and improve your nursing. With every course you undertake, remember that you are progressing towards becoming a better nurse!
Do you know another nurse who needs to complete a free course for their license renewal? Please share this blog post and the courses you are doing with them!
Discuss what you've learned with your team to spread knowledge, reduce risk factors, and improve overall care quality.
Finally, perhaps the most important consideration is tracking your CEUs.
As a nurse, license renewal requires completing CE courses and accurately reporting your contact hours.
If you don't track your CEUs, you risk missing out on the advantages of free continuing education courses for nurses despite completing them.
With the CE App, you can effortlessly track your CEUs and keep all your certificates organized in one place. Download the CE App today and simplify your CEU tracking.
If you want to improve your practices and patient safety, you can take a professional nursing development course on various nursing topics.
Free nursing CEUs are a great opportunity for ensuring professional development, better patient safety, and career advancement.
Nurses can stay current using these free, high-quality resources, meeting requirements, and continually improving patient care.
Looking for Free Social Work CEUs instead?
Frequently
Asked
Questions
How do I get my free nursing CEUs?
To get a free course, create an account on a reputable provider's website, select a course, complete the required material, pass any assessments, and download your certificate.
How many CEUs for nurses?
The number of CEUs required for nurses varies by state and licensure requirements. Typically, nurses are required to complete a specific number of CEUs within a renewal period to maintain their license. For example, a nurse in Florida may have different requirements than a nurse in Michigan.
How to get continuing education credits for nursing?
Continuing education credits for nursing can be earned by completing accredited courses, attending conferences, or participating in approved professional development activities.
How to get nursing CEUs?
CEUs can be obtained through online courses, workshops, conferences, or in-person seminars accredited by recognized organizations. Simply select an accredited course, complete the required content, and pass any assessments.
How to get free nursing CEUs?
To get free CEUs, search for accredited online providers, check with your employer for sponsored courses, and explore offerings from professional nursing organizations.
Is a free Nursing CEU course as important as a paid one?
Yes, free nursing CEUs are just as important as paid ones. Treat them as an investment in yourself, your career, and your patients, regardless of the cost. They hold considerable importance, and like a paid course, they often have an assessment component.
Is Nurse.com legit?
Yes, Nurse.com is a legitimate and widely recognized provider of accredited continuing education for nurses.
What are CEUs for nurses?
CEUs (Continuing Education Units) are educational credits nurses earn to maintain licensure and stay current in their practice.
What counts as CEUs for nurses?
CEUs for nurses typically include accredited continuing education activities such as online courses, workshops, conferences, and seminars. They must meet specific criteria set by state boards or accrediting bodies.
What counts as continuing education for nurses?
Continuing education for nurses can include accredited courses, certifications, workshops, conferences, or any approved professional development activity to enhance nursing knowledge and skills.
What is CEUs for nurses?
CEUs (Continuing Education Units) refer to credits nurses earn by continuing education activities to maintain licensure and stay current with current practices.
Where can I get free nursing CEUs?
Free CEUs are widely available online through various platforms and professional nursing associations, as we've covered throughout this article. A quick search online will reveal many new courses that provide free nursing CEU credits for registered nurses.
Why is accreditation by the ANCC important for nursing CEUs?
ANCC accreditation ensures high-quality, recognized CEUs that meet industry standards; state boards widely accept it for license renewal and demonstrate the course's credibility and relevance to nursing practice.
