Free guide · Updated Oct 27, 2026
The Free CEU Guide for Travel Nurses & RTs
Holding licenses in three states doesn’t have to mean three times the CE stress. Here’s how CE works on the road, where to get it free, and how to stay ahead of every renewal.
1. CEU requirements by license type
There is no national CE number. Every board sets its own, so we don’t guess here. Use this as the lay of the land, then check your state in the finder.
Respiratory therapist (RT)
Each state license sets its own renewal CE: hours, cycle length and sometimes required topics such as ethics. Many RT boards accept AARC CRCE. Your NBRC credential has its own maintenance program on top of that.
See your state’s exact rule →Registered nurse (RN) and LPN
Nursing boards vary widely. Some require set contact hours, some require specific topics (for example implicit bias, human trafficking or opioids), and a few have no hour requirement at all. ANCC-accredited CE is widely accepted.
See your state’s exact rule →PT, OT and SLP
Rehab boards often set hours per cycle plus topics like ethics or jurisprudence. National bodies (APTA, AOTA, ASHA, NBCOT) have their own CE rules that are separate from your state license.
See your state’s exact rule →
2. How compact and multi-state licenses affect CE
Nurses (NLC)
A multistate license is renewed through your home state, so you follow your home state’s CE rules. Any single-state licenses you hold outside the compact still need their own CE. NLC details
Respiratory therapists
The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact exists, but privileges aren’t available yet. For now, each state license renews on its own rules. RT compact status by state
3. The best free CEU sources right now
We opened every link below on Oct 27, 2026 and confirmed the offer is free (or free with a membership, where noted). Make sure your board accepts the CE type before you count it.
For respiratory therapists
- Bunnell: Free CRCEWatch a video, pass the test. Three courses on jet ventilation and NICU ethics, 1.0 CRCE each. No account.Open site →
- Sentec educationLive and on-demand webinars on transcutaneous monitoring, EIT and airway clearance.Open site →
- Hamilton Medical e-AcademyFree self-paced ventilation courses. Some modules carry CRCE.Open site →
- American Lung AssociationFree Asthma Management Guidelines course for health care professionals.Open site →
- AARC: CRCE Through the JournalRead Respiratory Care, pass a short quiz, earn CRCE each month.Open site →
For nurses
- ANA free coursesThe ANA catalog marks free courses, like hand hygiene and infection control. Some more are free for members.Open site →
- APNA grant-funded coursesFree sessions on psychiatric and substance use topics, free for members and non-members.Open site →
- UW National HIV CurriculumSelf-study modules. Sign in to track progress and earn free CE.Open site →
- HHS Think Cultural HealthFree e-learning on culturally and linguistically appropriate care.Open site →
- ONCC Big List of Free CEA running list of free CE offers, refreshed a few times a year. Great for stocking up.Open site →
PT, OT, SLP, lab or imaging? See the full free CE list, filtered by profession.
4. How to track CEUs across states
- One folder, every certificate. Save each certificate as a PDF the day you finish, named like
2026-10-27_Bunnell_1.0CRCE.pdf. - One sheet, one row per course. Date, title, provider, hours, CE type (CRCE, ANCC), topic, and which licenses it counts for.
- List each license’s rule at the top. Hours, cycle, required topics and expiration date, copied from the board (the finder links each one).
- Use your board’s system if it has one. Some boards have you report CE through CE Broker. Your board’s site will say.
- Keep it after you renew. Boards audit. Keep records for at least as long as your board says.
5. Renewal timing tips
- Put every expiration on one calendar, with reminders 90 and 30 days out.
- Bank a little CE every month instead of cramming the week before. Free monthly offers make this easy.
- Knock out state-required topics early. They’re the ones that catch travelers off guard.
- Renew before you start a new contract, not in the middle of orientation.
- Check the board’s processing time on its site. Some renew instantly, others take weeks.
6. Quick FAQ
Do I need separate CEUs for every state license I hold?
Usually each state license renews on that board’s own rules, so yes, you need to meet each one. Many hours can count toward more than one state at once if every board accepts the provider. Check each board, or use the state finder.
Does a compact nursing license cut my CE?
With a multistate (NLC) license you renew through your home state, so you follow your home state’s CE rules. If you also hold single-state licenses elsewhere, those still have their own rules. See nursecompact.com.
Is there a compact for respiratory therapists?
The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact exists, but compact privileges aren’t available yet, so travel RTs still hold a license in each state. Status by state is on our Licensing page.
Are free CEUs accepted by my board?
Often, if the provider is accredited for your profession (for example AARC CRCE for RTs, ANCC for nurses). Some boards want specific approvers or required topics. Confirm with your board before you count it.
What if my agency offers CE?
Many agencies give travelers free CE libraries. Ask your recruiter, and save every certificate the day you finish it.
Do NBRC credentials need CE too?
Yes. The NBRC runs its own Credential Maintenance Program, separate from your state licenses. Details are on nbrc.org.
Travel Healthcare HQ is a free resource made by a travel RT. CE rules change often; always confirm with your board before you renew. None of the links on this page are paid or affiliate links.