Free Nusing CEUs: How to Find the Best Courses

• Nursing CE Central has created a guide on how to find a qualified continuing education provider that you can rely on when selecting free nursing CEUs.  
• There are many online CEU providers for nurses to choose from, which can make the selection process time-consuming and difficult.  
• With that many companies available comes the question of which is the right choice for free nursing CEUs.  

The Best Way to Evaluate a Continuing Education Provider Offering Free Nursing CEUs

With so many companies advertising free nursing CEUs, making a choice can be challenging. Navigating through a sea of websites without the ability to distinguish what makes one better than the next can feel frustrating and isn’t a productive use of a nurse’s time.  

To simplify the selection process, we’ve outlined what qualities to look for in a continuing education provider offering free nursing CEUs. In this article, you’ll learn how to tell if a governing board will accept the courses, who should be writing them, what services to look for, plus more. Find out what differentiates legitimate continuing education companies and how to use that information when searching for free nursing courses.  

Accreditations Are Key for Free Nursing CEUs

Finding an accredited CE provider should be the top priority of any LPN, RN, or APRN needs free nursing CEUs. Without this important distinction, a governing board won’t accept any continuing education completed with that company. Renewing a nursing license is stressful enough. Finding, whether free or not, board-approved courses is the best way to ensure that the maintenance of your license is unproblematic.   

 The American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) accreditation is accepted in all 50 states. If a website advertises free nursing CEUs approved by the ANCC, know that all state boards of nursing allow these courses to be used for license renewal, so long as all CE requirements are satisfied. 

  Each board of nursing (BON) can also accredit a continuing education company. Look on the CE provider’s website to see what accreditations are listed. Both the ANCC and state nursing boards can accredit a CE provider. Be sure to do your due diligence and check that these accreditations are current.

Written by Nurses

While ensuring that the free nursing CEUs are from an accredited provider is essential, verifying that an author has an advanced college degree or education experience and will provide evidence-based material is even better. The criteria for writing the course is a key indicator of its quality. These courses will enhance your nursing professional development, so seek out the best.  

Meeting Your State Requirement   

After checking that you’re taking courses from an accredited provider and verifying that they’re written by a qualified nursing author, it’s time to see if the company offers what’s needed for license renewal. Each state has different continuing education requirements for this.  

 For example, one state may require the completion of 30 general hours of CEUs, and another may need five specific courses to be fulfilled. Preview the CE provider’s course catalog to ensure it includes what’s needed. Also, remember that some states require completing a test as part of the renewal process. If this is the case for you, be sure that’s part of the free nursing ceu course. 

View our state requirements page for more CE information on a nursing license renewal.

Large Course Library  

If some or all of the continuing education requirements for license renewal include the completion of general nursing CE, then having a variety of courses to choose from is preferable. Having the option to pick topics that appeal to you will make the CE process more enjoyable. When browsing a course library, look for interesting subjects and see if any courses in your specialty are included. One way to pick a course is to think, “Will I be able to use this knowledge during my workday?” or “Can I help a patient with this information?”.  

Nursing CE Central offers access to three free nursing CEUs in the 14-day free trial. Instant certificates are provided for these ANCC-accredited nursing CEUs.

Ease of Use   

Now that you have a clear idea of what to look for in a continuing education provider, the next thing to find out is if completing free nursing CEUs with them is a straightforward process. After all, if you can’t figure out how to complete a course, it doesn’t matter if it’s free. Time is precious, especially with a looming renewal deadline. Review the nursing CE company’s website to determine if the course completion process is outlined. Make sure it aligns with your educational needs and is easy to navigate. If that information isn’t available, ask their customer support team.  

  (Nursing CE Central’s website is easy to use. Just choose free nursing CEUs, read the material, and click the complete button at the end of it to get your certificate.)

Flexible Time Frame 

If the website is user-friendly, the next thing to find out is when the courses are available. Everyone’s schedules are different. That’s why finding a CE provider that offers self-paced courses is a helpful option. Some providers work on a strict schedule, and others make courses accessible at any time of the day. The best choice for most nurses is to find free nursing CEUs that’s available around the clock.

Proof of Completion  

Once you find a course meeting these standards, make sure the continuing education company provides certificates. Governing boards may require documentation of CE completion for license renewal or request it for an audit.  

Ideally, the CE provider will make all completed certificates accessible online 24/7. These documents should indicate your name, license number, completion date, course name, provider number, and the name of the CEU company. Nursing CE Central reports all completed certificates to CE Broker in states where that is applicable. This reporting is also available for free nursing CEUs.

Reliable Customer Service   

Before you sign up for any free nursing CEUs, find out if the company offers dependable customer service. Some companies make this available over the phone, and some provide it via email. Whichever it may be, confirm that this service will be there when needed.  

 Remember, these are the people who will answer questions and provide solutions to any challenges that arise. Without it, you may find yourself in a boat without a paddle. 

Nursing CE Central’s customer support team can answer any questions about getting free nursing CEUs.

Trustworthy Reputation  

After you evaluate the CEU provider’s customer service, read their online reviews. A quick internet search can be very enlightening. This information is easily found on websites like Trust Pilot, Google, and the Better Business Bureau. Take some time to listen to what past customers shared about the experiences they had with a company. Reading these reviews is a fantastic way to ascertain if the CE provider can meet your educational needs and learn what kind of free nursing CEUs they provide. 

Price

If you have found a course that meets all the criteria above, its price is the last thing to research. Some continuing education providers offer a certain number of free nursing CEUs, and some do not. That information can be found by exploring each company’s website.  

(Nursing CE Central offers three free nursing CEUs  in the 14-day trial and provides Unlimited Nursing Continuing Education bundles, including access to ALL courses for just $49.99 a year.) 

Here’s information on the free nursing CEUs offered in the 14-day trial:

Pain and Symptom Management

Everyone feels pain at some point in life, and managing it can be challenging in healthcare settings. Nurses must take treatment goals, patient-centered preferences, and laws into consideration. The first line of defense for acute and chronic pain conditions has been painkillers, but with the current opioid crisis, that way of thinking needs to change.

With these free nursing CEUs, you’ll learn about the physiology and epidemiology of pain and pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain treatments.

Visit our pain and symptom management CE page to learn more.

Alzheimer’s Nursing Care

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible brain disorder that slowly destroys thinking and memory and is the most common cause of dementia for senior citizens. More than 5.5 million Americans may have dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, and symptoms first appear in the mid-60-year-old age range for most people. In the United States, this disease is currently listed as the sixth leading cause of death.

With these free nursing CEUs, you’ll learn about the signs, symptoms, and stages of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the current ways to treat it.

Visit our Alzheimer’s Nursing Care CE page to learn more.

Coronavirus: Nursing Considerations

According to the World Health Organization, over 772 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and nearly seven million deaths were reported globally as of December 17th, 2023. Despite increased knowledge, effective vaccines, and improved testing, this virus is still a public health concern. This course offers an up-to-date and thorough overview of COVID-19 nursing considerations.

With these free nursing CEUs, you will learn about the signs and symptoms of the coronavirus, as well as its prevention, testing, and treatment methods.

Visit our Coronavirus: Nursing Considerations CE page to learn more.

Free Nursing CEUs FAQ

Do you have more questions on free nursing CEUs? Read our FAQ section to learn more information.

What should I look for in the best free nursing CEUs?

Ensure the continuing education provider is accredited, provides evidence-based courses written by nurses, and offers various user-friendly courses. They should also offer excellent customer service and easy access to completed certificates.

How do I get free nursing CEUs?

Review continuing education websites and see if they offer a free trial or free nursing CEUs with membership.

Which healthcare professionals can get free nursing CEUs?

LPNs, RNs, and APRNs can complete nursing continuing education courses. Other healthcare professionals who want to complete free nursing CEUs should check with their governing board to see if they accept ANCC-accredited courses.

How do I access nursing continuing education?

Course access varies from one CEU provider to another. Reach out to their customer support team for specific instructions on this. You can access free nursing CEUs with Nursing CE Central by signing up for a 14-day trial.

Do free nursing CE courses get reported to CE Broker?

Please review the continuing education provider’s website for more information on this. Nursing CE Central reports CEU completion to CE Broker when applicable.

Can free nursing CEs be used for license renewal?

Yes, as long as the courses meet state CE requirements for renewing a license.

What do I do to get my certificate?

Most providers make certificates instantly available to you.

How do I check my nursing CEU credits are complete?

In most cases, if you have obtained a certificate of completion from the provider, you have completed some CEU credits. Check the certificate to verify credit completion.

The Bottom Line on Selecting Free Nursing CEUs

As you can see, choosing the right CEU provider is a well-thought-out process. Don’t pick the first company you find on Google. Take the time to verify that they’re accredited, offer material written by licensed nurses, and provide a wide range of courses that are easy to complete and can be taken around your schedule. They should also make access to your professionally created certificates effortless and offer customer service that you can count on. If the continuing education company meets these standards, then browse their free nursing CEUS, not before. 

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