An individual, partnership, association, organization, educational institution, governmental agency, or licensed health care facility, including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, home health agencies, or other organized health care facilities, offering continuing education for nurses that meet Board criteria for approval. [610-X-2-.10 (1)]

Approved providers must evidence capability to adhere to criteria indicative of quality continuing education activities for nurses. The criteria include specific requirements such as having an organized educational unit and a program director, policies and procedures which facilitate efficient operation of planned continuing education activities including maintenance of reports and records, and appropriate educational facilities, resources, and instructors. The complete criteria with guidelines are available through the Board office. [610-X-10-.06]

Board Recognized Continuing Education Provider: A national or regional agency, journal, Alabama regulatory agency or board, or another Board of Nursing, recognized by the Alabama Board of Nursing as providing or approving continuing education in accordance with criteria that are substantially the same as those required of Alabama Board of Nursing approved providers of continuing education. [610-X-2-.10(2)]

The program director may be a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or otherwise qualified individual. When the program director is not a registered nurse licensed in Alabama there shall be evidence of consultation by a registered nurse licensed in Alabama. [610-X-10-.06(2)(b)]

Please share your comments with the contact person for the provider number and the Board. You can contact the continuing education nurse consultant at the Board. Contact information for Board staff is located here.

The Board may deny or withdraw approval of any provider or continuing education activity [610-X-10-.06(5)]. Grounds for withdrawal of approval include:

1. Lack of qualified personnel for planning and conducting continuing education for nurses.
2. Inadequate record maintenance.
3. Fraud, deception, or misrepresentation relating to the educational program.
4. Failure to comply with requests for documents, or submitting false, inaccurate, or incomplete evidence of continuing education programs conducted and certificates issued.
5. Aiding or abetting a licensee who fails to meet the continuing education requirements by altering or falsifying certificates.

A continuing education program director who is a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse and fails to comply with the requirements in the rules shall be subject to disciplinary actions by the Board [610-X-10-.06(7)].

The Board may conduct an audit upon written complaint by any individual for failure of a provider to meet criteria for approval. The Board also conducts random audits of providers to determine compliance with criteria. [610-X-10-.07(5)].