Understanding CE, CEU, CNE, and CME in Nursing Continuing Competency

Nurses often come across abbreviations like CE, CEU, CNE, and CME when completing education for license renewal. But what do these terms really mean—and how do they apply to nurses practicing in Texas?

Let’s break them down.

CE – Continuing Education

“Continuing Education” (CE) is the umbrella term for all learning activities that enhance a healthcare professional’s knowledge and competence. These can include online courses, conferences, workshops, and seminars. In Texas, the Board of Nursing requires nurses to complete CE activities for license renewal, but not all education programs qualify.

Pedagogy Education offers a wide selection of nursing CE courses approved for Texas licensure renewal, designed to fit your schedule and specialty area.

CEU – Continuing Education Unit

CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit and is a measurement used to quantify continuing education participation. One CEU typically equals 10 contact hours of education. However, CEUs are not always the standard used by nursing boards. Instead, nursing CE is usually measured in contact hours, and what matters most is whether the course is approved by a recognized nursing education provider.

At Pedagogy Education, you can find contact hour-based courses that meet Texas Board of Nursing requirements.

CNE – Continuing Nursing Education

CNE refers to nursing-specific continuing education that has been approved by an accredited organization (such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center or a state board). In Texas, Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) must complete at least 20 contact hours of CNE every two years for license renewal. These courses must relate to nursing practice and come from approved providers.

Pedagogy Education’s courses are specifically designed for nurses and meet CNE requirements. View our full catalog of Continuing Nursing Education courses here.

Looking to save? We offer Memberships that provide access to an entire library of courses—making your CE experience more flexible and economical.

CME – Continuing Medical Education

CME refers to education designed for physicians and other medical professionals. In some cases, these courses are rigorous and relevant to advanced practice.

However, in Texas, Category I CME contact hours are only acceptable for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). They are not accepted for RNs or LVNs. APRNs may use Category I CME hours to fulfill their continuing competency requirements—except for the mandatory nursing jurisprudence and ethics course, which must be CNE.

If you are an RN or LVN, you will need to choose CNE-approved education. Pedagogy Education ensures our nursing courses meet the requirements for Texas licensure renewal.

Key Differences at a Glance

What Texas Nurses Need to Know

• RNs and LVNs: Must complete 20 contact hours of approved CNE every two years. CME credits do not count toward this requirement.
• APRNs: May complete Category I CME to meet their education requirements, except when the content specifically requires a nursing-based CNE (e.g., jurisprudence and ethics).
• Always verify that the course provider is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing or a recognized national accrediting body.

Continuing Education Made Simple with Pedagogy Education

Pedagogy Education makes it easy for nurses to meet their CE requirements with:

• Individual courses available for immediate enrollment
• Affordable Membership options for unlimited access to our entire course library
• Content that is mobile-friendly and accessible anytime, anywhere

References

• Texas Board of Nursing – FAQ on Continuing Education and Competency
• Texas Board of Nursing – Education & CE Overview
• Texas Administrative Code, Rule §216.3
• Texas BON – Continuing Competency Requirements for APRNs