Current and Enacted LegislationPreceptor Tax CreditContinuing Competency2022 License Fee Increase

In 2015, the Governor Ige signed Act 127 into Hawai‘i Session Laws, establishing H.R.S. §457-9.2 and §457-9.3 requiring continuing competency activities for nurses starting with the license period that begins in July 2017. This was the culmination of 5 years of work by the statewide Continuing Education Joint Advisory Council determined continuing competency should be a requirement for nursing license renewals.

Hawaii Board of Nursing Resources
Other Resources

Note: The Hawaii State Center for Nursing provides these resources.  Regulation and eligibility for activities are solely determined by the Hawaii Board of Nursing.


HSCN Continuing Competency for Nursing Frequently Asked Questions

HSCN Tooklit Email, Newsletter and Social Media Messages to support awareness of Continuing Competency Requirements

ANCC Continuing Nursing Education Accredited Provider

The Hawai`i State Center for Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Continuing Education Joint Advisory Committee

The Continuing Education Joint Advisory Committee (CEJAC) was established by the Hawai‘i State Legislature (SCR 167) in 2010 and charged to examine whether continuing education should be a requirement for continued licensure. The CEJAC committee was comprised of 27 members representing all stakeholders of the nursing profession and completed a study which included a comprehensive review of reports/studies on CE for health professionals, cost and other resource impact to the state, employers, nurses and educational institutions providing continuing education. Findings include:

  • The 2010 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing Report recommendation #6 is to “ensure that nurses engage in lifelong learning”. The recommendation further suggests that, “ accrediting bodies, schools of nursing, health care organizations and continuing competency educators from multiple health professions should collaborate to ensure that nurses and nursing students and faculty continue their education and engage in lifelong learning to gain competencies needed to provide care for diverse populations across lifespan.” Learning takes place in many forms.
  • Recognition that the individual nurse, like all health professionals, must embrace lifelong learning as key to delivering safe high quality patient care. Continuing education must be reframed to focus on the desired outcome – a nurse competent to deliver quality health care.
  • The Committee agreed the regulatory effort must focus on “Continuing Nursing Competency” rather than the traditional model of continuing education.
  • Continuing competency requirements may be implemented in the state without fiscal burden to nurses, their employers, or academic institutions
  • The plan model promotes personal responsibility and accountability for continuing competency.
  • A number of options are available as a learning activity.

CEJAC Reports to the Legislature
2010 CEJAC Report to Legislature
2011 CEJAC Report to Legislature
2012 CEJAC Report to Legislature