Speech-language pathology CE requirements in Iowa: what SLPs need to renew

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This page is our summary of Iowa's rules. Text in quotation marks is the exact wording of 481 IAC chapter 742 or chapter 740.

The hours are in rule 742.2(1). Each two-year period, you need "a minimum of 26 hours of continuing education approved by the board." The period runs from Jan 1 of an even-numbered year to Dec 31 of the next odd-numbered year, so the current one ends Dec 31, 2027.

Renew before your license expires. Rule 740.1 sets the expiration date as "December 31 of odd-numbered years," so current licenses expire Dec 31, 2027. Iowa's renewal rule says: "The licensee is responsible for renewing the license prior to its expiration."

There's a 30-day grace period. Rule 740.1 defines it as "the 30-day period following expiration of a license when the license is still considered to be active." Renewing in the grace period means a late fee. After it ends, the license is inactive.

Extra hours can carry over. Rule 742.2(1) lets you apply up to half of the required hours to the next period: "Licensees may apply a maximum of 13 hours from the previous renewal period."

Online courses need a test. Rule 742.3(2) says online programs can count, but they "must include a posttest that the participant must pass in order to receive continuing education credit." The same goes for journal readings and video or phone conferences.

What the rule says about ASHA. Rule 742.3(2)"f" names "continuing education programs offered by AAA and ASHA." It doesn't mention ASHA's Approved CE Provider system, so it doesn't say whether a course counts because an ASHA-approved provider offers it. Other programs have to be "offered by or approved in advance of delivery by" a national, state or local speech pathology and audiology association, a school of speech pathology and audiology, or a college or university.

Iowa counts hours. An hour is "at least 50 minutes" of an approved activity (742.1). A college course counts at 15 hours per semester hour.

Topic limits. You can use a combined 6 hours each period on government regulations, CPR and child or dependent adult abuse, with at most 2 of them on business topics. Personal development, human relations, collective bargaining and tours don't count.

Mandatory reporter training. If you examine, attend, counsel or treat children or dependent adults, the renewal rule also requires the state's Department of Health and Human Services training on identifying and reporting abuse. Iowa Code 232.69(3)"b" and 235B.16(5)"b" set the timing: within 6 months of starting that work, then every 3 years. Neither the code nor the rule says how many hours the training takes. Keep proof for three years.

New licensee? You don't need CE for your first renewal (742.2(2)).

We read 481 IAC chapters 742 and 740 and Iowa Code sections 232.69 and 235B.16 on the Iowa Legislature site on Nov 3, 2026.

Find free CEUs for your 26 hours.

Need ethics hours for ASHA or your license? Start with the 10 free ethics CEUs for SLPs, then check them against the rules above.

Also licensed in Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois or Missouri?

ASHA is separate

Your license and your ASHA CCC have separate rules. ASHA wants 30 hours every 3 years, including 1 hour in ethics and 2 hours in cultural responsiveness, self-reflection or collaboration. Here's how ASHA maintenance works.