Top 12 Sites Offering Free Continuing Education Units for Nurses

Meeting your continuing education requirements is a critical part of maintaining your nursing license, but it doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, many high-quality, accredited courses are available at no cost. This guide will help you find the best online learning opportunities, so you can advance your skills and fulfill state board mandates without the financial stress. We’re here to walk you through 12 excellent platforms where you can find free continuing education units for nurses, letting you focus on what truly matters: providing outstanding patient care.

Think of this as your curated directory, designed to save you time and money. Each resource we cover includes a detailed analysis, accreditation info, and simple, step-by-step guidance to make enrollment easy. We'll explore platforms that offer everything from mandatory compliance training to specialized clinical topics. Staying current is about more than just clinical skills—it's also about protecting patient information. For example, with the rise of telehealth, it's vital to ensure your team's communications are secure and HIPAA-compliant. This guide will help you stay compliant on all fronts.

1. What is Medscape Nursing CME/CE?

Medscape is a cornerstone resource for nurses seeking a vast, reliable library of free continuing education units. As one of the most established platforms, it offers a diverse catalog of activities accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This is a critical factor for license renewal in most states. The user interface is straightforward, allowing you to easily browse topics, complete modules, and access your certificates.

What makes Medscape a top choice is the sheer volume and quality of its offerings. You can find CE activities covering niche clinical specialties, pharmacology updates, and evolving healthcare policies—all at no cost. After reading an article or watching a video, you’ll complete a short post-test and evaluation to immediately earn and download your certificate. This seamless process makes it easy to accumulate credits quickly.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Completely free; requires a simple account registration.
• Accreditation: Primarily ANCC-accredited. You can learn more about the importance of proper CME accreditation here.
• Pros: Robust, frequently updated catalog with strong editorial oversight. The built-in credit tracker helps you monitor your progress.
• Cons: Content is often supported by pharmaceutical advertising, which can be distracting. It does not automatically report completions to CE Broker, requiring manual uploads for nurses in states that use the service.

Website: https://www.medscape.com

2. What Are Nurse.com's Free Courses?

Nurse.com provides a focused and well-organized platform for nurses searching for free continuing education units. While it also offers extensive paid content, its dedicated free courses section is a valuable resource for meeting state licensure requirements. The platform is ANCC-approved, ensuring its credits are accepted in all 50 states, and the user experience is designed specifically with you, the busy nurse, in mind.

What makes Nurse.com a strong contender is its straightforward approach and nurse-centric topics. The sign-up process is simple, and once you pass a post-test with a score of 75% or higher, your certificate is immediately available for download. Its built-in transcript hub is excellent for storing and organizing completed certificates, which simplifies the process when it’s time for your license renewal.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: The "Free Courses" section is completely free; requires a simple account registration to access and store transcripts.
• Accreditation: All courses are ANCC-accredited and valid for nursing license renewal nationwide.
• Pros: Very easy to navigate, with a clean interface and useful features like transcript storage and state-requirement guides.
• Cons: The selection of free courses is limited compared to larger platforms and rotates periodically. Many specialized topics are locked behind paid subscriptions or bundles.

Website: https://www.nurse.com/ce/free-courses

3. How Do NetCE's Free Courses Work?

NetCE is a well-regarded provider that simplifies your search for no-cost continuing education by curating a dedicated section of free courses. While their main catalog is extensive and paid, this free selection provides an excellent opportunity to earn valuable credits without a fee. The platform holds joint accreditation, including from the ANCC, ensuring the courses meet high standards and are accepted for licensure renewal.

What sets NetCE apart is the quality and depth of its course materials, even for the free offerings. The entire library is free to read and print, allowing you to review the content before committing to the test. Upon successful completion of the post-test and evaluation for a free course, your certificate is issued instantly. This straightforward process makes it an efficient choice for nurses needing to acquire a few specific credits quickly.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Specific courses are offered for free; requires account registration. The full library is available for a fee.
• Accreditation: Jointly accredited, including by the ANCC.
• Pros: High-quality course content with strong documentation. Easy filtering to browse no-cost options and by state or profession.
• Cons: The free course list is limited and changes frequently. The site heavily promotes upsells to paid bundles and subscriptions, which can be a bit distracting.

Website: https://www.netce.com/free

4. What is Elite Learning?

Elite Learning provides nurses with high-quality, free continuing education units primarily through live and recorded webinars. This platform is a great option if you prefer an interactive or event-based learning style over static articles. Their offerings are ANCC-accredited, ensuring the credits meet the requirements for license renewal in most jurisdictions. The user dashboard is well-organized, allowing you to easily track completed courses and access your certificates anytime.

What sets Elite Learning apart is its focus on professionally produced, engaging webinar content and its direct integration with CE Broker. For nurses in states that use this service, completions can be automatically reported, which saves you significant time and administrative effort. While the catalog of free options is not as vast as some larger databases, the quality and relevance of the topics presented make it a valuable resource for earning a portion of your required CEUs.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: The featured courses and webinars are free; requires a simple account registration to access.
• Accreditation: Primarily ANCC-accredited.
• Pros: Multiple new free events are offered monthly with excellent production values. It offers automatic reporting to CE Broker where applicable, a major convenience.
• Cons: Live webinar schedules may conflict with a nurse's work hours. The availability of free on-demand courses can fluctuate, so timely registration is key.

Website: https://www.elitelearning.com/nursing/free-ce/

5. What is NursingCE.com?

NursingCE.com provides a highly focused and efficient way for you to earn free continuing education units, especially when a license renewal deadline is approaching. The platform offers a dedicated "Free Nursing CEUs" section with a rotating selection of ANCC-approved courses. This straightforward approach eliminates the need to sift through a massive paid library, making it an excellent resource for targeted, last-minute credit acquisition.

The standout feature of this platform is its simplicity and speed. After selecting a free course, you study the material and must pass a post-test with a score of 80% or higher. Your certificate is generated instantly and is available for immediate download, which is ideal if you need proof of completion quickly. While the selection is smaller than larger databases, the quality and relevance of the topics are maintained to meet professional standards.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: The specified courses in their free section are completely free; requires an email registration to access course materials and print certificates.
• Accreditation: All free courses are ANCC-approved, ensuring they meet national standards.
• Pros: Very simple user interface designed for quick completion. Instant certificate generation is perfect for nurses on a tight schedule.
• Cons: The number of free courses available at any given time is limited. Exploring other online options can provide a broader selection if their topics don't meet your needs.

Website: https://www.nursingce.com/free-nursing-ceus/

6. What is Wild Iris Medical Education?

Wild Iris Medical Education is a well-regarded provider that consistently offers a select number of free, ANCC-accredited courses focused on timely and often state-mandated topics. While its main catalog is paid, the platform reliably provides at least one or two high-quality, completely free continuing education units for nurses. This makes it a great resource to check for specific compliance needs, such as training on sexual harassment prevention or infectious disease control.

The primary advantage of Wild Iris is its direct approach and reputation. Unlike larger platforms, the free offerings are clearly marked and easy to access without navigating through extensive course libraries. The process is straightforward: you enroll, complete the material, pass a brief test, and receive your certificate instantly. For nurses in states like Florida, its automatic reporting to CE Broker is a significant time-saver, simplifying the license renewal process.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Offers a small selection of completely free courses; no registration is needed to browse, but an account is required to earn credit.
• Accreditation: ANCC-accredited provider, accepted for license renewal nationwide.
• Pros: High-quality content on relevant compliance topics. Automatic reporting to CE Broker is available for certain states. It’s a longstanding and reputable provider.
• Cons: The free course catalog is very limited, typically featuring only one or two options at a time. The majority of their extensive library requires payment.

Website: https://wildirismedicaleducation.com/nursing-ceu/free-nursing-ceus

7. What is CDC TRAIN?

CDC TRAIN is a powerful and comprehensive learning platform from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Think of it as a gateway to thousands of courses from the CDC and its partners, many of which provide ANCC-accredited contact hours. This makes it an authoritative source for nurses looking for free continuing education units, particularly in public health, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness.

What distinguishes CDC TRAIN is its mission to equip healthcare professionals like you for public health challenges. The platform aggregates high-quality training on topics from vaccine administration to bioterrorism response. After creating a free account, you can search the massive catalog, filter for nursing credits (CNE/ANCC), and complete modules at your own pace. The interface is more functional than modern, but the value of accessing vetted, official guidance for zero cost is unparalleled.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Completely free; requires a simple learner account registration.
• Accreditation: Primarily ANCC and other professional accreditations are available; filters allow you to search specifically for nursing credits.
• Pros: Enormous and diverse catalog of trusted, evidence-based courses. It is an official government source, ensuring content reliability and relevance to public health priorities.
• Cons: The website's interface can feel dated and complex to navigate. Some courses may have specific registration codes or are only available for a limited time.

Website: https://www.train.org/cdctrain/

8. What is the National HIV Curriculum?

The National HIV Curriculum is an unparalleled resource for nurses seeking specialized, in-depth training on HIV prevention and management. This platform, funded by the federal government and developed at the University of Washington, offers comprehensive, evidence-based modules at no cost. It stands out by providing highly detailed clinical content that is particularly valuable for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) needing pharmacology-specific credits.

This platform is more than just a CE provider; it's a complete learning system with six core modules covering everything from screening to antiretroviral therapy. The user experience is academically rigorous, requiring an 80% pass rate on quizzes, but this ensures a meaningful learning outcome. This makes it an exceptional choice if you're aiming to become an expert in HIV care or work in public health, infectious disease, or primary care. These are some of the best free continuing education units for nurses in this specialty.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Completely free after a simple registration process.
• Accreditation: Accredited by the Oregon Nurses Association, an ANCC-accredited approver.
• Pros: High-quality, federally-funded content that is regularly updated. It offers deep pharmacology content ideal for APRNs and includes a progress tracker to monitor learning.
• Cons: The content is highly specialized and focuses exclusively on HIV care. The 80% passing score on post-tests can be challenging, requiring focused study.

Website: https://www.hiv.uw.edu

9. How Does the National STD Curriculum Work?

The National STD Curriculum is an indispensable resource for nurses specializing in public health, infectious diseases, or primary care. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and managed by the University of Washington, this platform offers a highly specialized, evidence-based curriculum focused entirely on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It provides you with a direct line to the most current national treatment guidelines.

What makes this platform exceptional is its singular focus and authority. Instead of general nursing topics, it delivers deep, actionable knowledge on STI prevention, diagnosis, and management. After completing modules and passing post-tests, you can earn free continuing education units, including valuable pharmacology hours for APRNs. The user experience is academic yet practical, with features like quick reference guides for point-of-care decision-making.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Completely free. Registration is required to track progress and receive certificates.
• Accreditation: Provides ANCC, ACCME, and ACPE credits, making it suitable for nurses, physicians, and pharmacists.
• Pros: Content is funded by the CDC, ensuring it reflects the latest and most trusted clinical guidance. The platform is efficient and respected in the field of infection control.
• Cons: The curriculum is highly specialized and limited only to STI-related topics. It does not offer a broad range of general nursing CE.

Website: https://www.std.uw.edu

10. What is Hepatitis C Online?

Hepatitis C Online is a specialized educational resource developed by the University of Washington and the CDC, offering high-quality, free continuing education units for nurses focused on this specific disease. This platform is ideal if you work in primary care, gastroenterology, or infectious disease and want to deepen your expertise in HCV screening, diagnosis, and treatment. It provides a comprehensive, modular curriculum designed to build your clinical confidence in managing patients with hepatitis C.

What distinguishes this resource is its singular focus and academic rigor. The self-study lessons, case studies, and clinical challenges are evidence-based and directly applicable to your practice. For advanced practice nurses, many modules offer valuable pharmacology credits. The structured format allows you to earn a "HCV Test and Cure" training certificate upon completion, showcasing a dedicated level of competency in this critical area of public health.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Completely free. Requires a one-time registration to access courses and track progress.
• Accreditation: ANCC-accredited, with specific modules also offering credits from organizations like the AAFP and ACPE.
• Pros: Exceptional depth in a niche clinical area. Content is perfect for primary care, GI, and infectious disease nurses. It offers a specialized training certificate.
• Cons: The clinical focus is extremely narrow, making it less relevant for nurses outside of related specialties. A score of 80% or higher is required on post-tests to earn credit.

Website: https://www.hepatitisc.uw.edu

11. What is Incredible Health?

Incredible Health offers a modern, mobile-friendly approach for nurses looking to earn continuing education units. The platform is primarily a career marketplace, but its CE section provides a valuable mix of clinical and professional development courses, all of which are ANCC-accredited. It stands out by offering a rotating selection of free courses alongside a timed free trial, giving you a chance to explore its full library before committing.

The user experience is clean and intuitive, designed for busy professionals like you. After completing a course and its brief post-test, your certificate is generated instantly and is easily accessible from your dashboard. This hybrid model provides a great opportunity to quickly find and complete specific free continuing education units for nurses or to evaluate whether the full paid subscription is right for your needs.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: Offers a selection of completely free courses and a limited-time free trial to access the entire catalog. Full access requires a paid membership.
• Accreditation: All courses are ANCC-accredited.
• Pros: Very easy to use with an excellent mobile interface and instant certificate generation. The platform consistently adds new topics to keep content fresh.
• Cons: The most significant limitation is that complete, long-term access is not free; the free offerings are often tied to a trial period, after which the full catalog is locked behind a paywall.

Website: https://www.incrediblehealth.com/ceu/

12. What is NurseCE4Less?

NurseCE4Less stands out by offering a genuinely straightforward path to earning a free CEU credit. The platform provides a full, ANCC-accredited nursing CE course at no cost, which in most states, remarkably does not require a post-test for completion. This "no test" feature makes it one of the quickest and most hassle-free options for nurses needing to pick up a credit without the stress of an exam.

The primary appeal is simplicity and speed. You register, read the material, and claim your certificate. While it primarily operates as a paid subscription service for unlimited courses, this free offering is an excellent gateway to experience the platform. Think of it as an ideal choice if you are just one or two credits shy of your renewal requirement and need a fast, guaranteed completion.

Platform Breakdown

• Cost & Access: One featured course is always free with simple registration. Paid plans offer unlimited access, and you can learn more about the value of different certification options.
• Accreditation: ANCC-accredited, with automatic reporting to CE Broker for users in applicable states.
• Pros: The no-test policy (in most states) makes it arguably the easiest single free credit to obtain. Immediate certificate access and CE Broker reporting are significant benefits.
• Cons: The free selection is limited to one rotating course at a time. The no-test policy is state-dependent, so nurses in certain states may still be required to pass an exam.

Website: https://nursece4less.com/free-nursing-ceu/

Top 12 Free Nursing CEU Resources Comparison

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Your Next Step: Simplify Your CE and Certification Needs

Navigating the landscape of continuing education doesn't have to be stressful or expensive. This guide has laid the framework for you to strategically approach your professional development by highlighting 12 exceptional platforms offering free continuing education units for nurses. From the comprehensive libraries of Medscape to the specialized curricula from the University of Washington and the CDC, you now have a toolkit to meet state requirements and enhance your clinical expertise without opening your wallet.

The key is to build a personalized CE strategy. Think of these resources as complementary tools in your growth journey. You can use platforms like Wild Iris Medical Education to quickly fulfill a specific state-mandated topic, then turn to a resource like CDC TRAIN for broader public health knowledge that impacts your daily practice. This approach ensures you’re not just checking boxes but are genuinely expanding your skillset in areas that matter most to you and your patients.

How to Choose the Right Free CE Resource for You

To make the best choice, consider your immediate needs and long-term goals. Ask yourself a few key questions:

• What is my primary goal? Are you trying to meet a fast-approaching license renewal deadline, or are you looking to gain expertise in a new specialty? For urgent needs, resources like NurseCE4Less's free course offer quick, straightforward options. For deeper learning, the National HIV or STD Curricula are unparalleled.
• What topics are most relevant to my practice? Align your course selection with your patient population and clinical environment to maximize the impact on your practice.
• How much time can I commit? Some courses are short, one-hour modules, while others represent comprehensive, multi-hour training. Plan your learning around your schedule to avoid burnout and ensure you fully absorb the material.

Making the most of these opportunities also involves how you approach the material. To truly retain and apply what you learn, exploring science-backed tips for effective learning can transform how you study, helping you master new clinical concepts and integrate them into your practice more efficiently.

Ultimately, by leveraging these free tools, you take control of your professional development. You empower yourself to stay current with evidence-based practices, improve patient outcomes, and advance your nursing career—all while being a savvy steward of your finances. This strategic investment of your time is one of the most powerful moves you can make for your future.

While these free resources are perfect for your CE requirements, what about your core life-support certifications? ProMed Certifications offers a seamless, all-in-one solution that bundles your essential certifications (ACLS, PALS, BLS) with a comprehensive library of accredited CE courses, simplifying your compliance and saving you time. Stay prepared and credentialed without the hassle by exploring our full suite of courses at ProMed Certifications today.