Do You Have to Pay for CE Broker in Florida?
No. Florida nurses are not required to purchase a paid CE Broker account to renew a license.
Two things get conflated here, and separating them answers the question:
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CE reporting through CE Broker is mandatory. Florida reviews your continuing education record electronically at renewal.
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Paying CE Broker is not. A free CE Broker Basic account satisfies the Florida Board of Nursing requirement.
The requirement is that your record be complete. It is not that you hold a subscription.
What the free Basic account does
With a free CE Broker Basic account, a Florida licensee can:
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Indicate completion of credits to the licensing board
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View course history and completed CE activities
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Check compliance status against current renewal requirements
That covers everything the renewal process requires of you. Your provider reports eligible completions on your behalf; the Basic account is where you confirm they landed.
What the paid tiers cost
CE Broker's Pro+ tier runs $199.98 per two-year renewal period. The paid tiers add convenience features — they do not add compliance. A nurse on the Basic account and a nurse on Pro+ satisfy the Board identically.
For comparison, the CE itself is often the smaller line item. A complete Florida RN and LPN renewal package from Renew Now CE is $35 for the renewal period.
Pricing on third-party services changes. Verify current CE Broker tier pricing directly before deciding.
Why so many nurses think it is required
The confusion is structural rather than anyone's fault.
CE Broker is the official tracking system for Florida licensing boards, so nurses correctly understand that it is not optional. The paid upgrade is presented within the same flow as the mandatory account creation, and the distinction between "you must use this system" and "you must pay for this system" is easy to miss under a renewal deadline.
The result is that a substantial number of Florida nurses pay for a tier they do not need in order to satisfy a requirement the free tier already meets.
What actually has to happen before you renew
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Complete the CE your license requires for this cycle
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Confirm the completions appear in your CE Broker record
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Renew through the Florida Board of Nursing
Florida reviews continuing education records in the electronic tracking system at the time of renewal. If the record is incomplete, you will be prompted to enter remaining hours before proceeding. A paid account does not change this; a complete record does.
Keep your certificates regardless of account tier. They are your documentation if a completion does not post correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CE Broker account mandatory for Florida nurses? An account is needed, because Florida reviews your CE record electronically at renewal. A free Basic account is sufficient.
Does the free account report my CE to the board? Your CE provider reports eligible completions. The Basic account is where you view and confirm what has been reported.
What does the paid CE Broker account add? Convenience and tracking features. It does not change what the Board requires or how compliance is determined.
How much is CE Broker Pro+? $199.98 per two-year renewal period at the time of writing. Verify current pricing with CE Broker.
Does this apply to LPNs and APRNs? The account tier question is the same across Florida nursing license types. Your CE requirements differ by license type and cycle; the account requirement does not.
Do I still need to keep certificates if my hours are reported? Yes. Reporting and documentation are separate. Download and keep certificates as your own record.
What if my hours are not showing in CE Broker? Contact the provider that issued the credit. Reporting timing varies by provider; Renew Now CE reports eligible Florida completions within 24 hours of completion.
Related
Which Florida Nursing CE Do You Actually Need This Renewal? | Does My CE Course Have to Be Florida Board Approved?
Meeting your requirement
Renew Now CE reports eligible Florida completions to CE Broker within 24 hours, with certificates available immediately. Florida Board of Nursing Provider 50-18921, ANCC Provider P0557. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources
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Florida Board of Nursing — renewal requirements
Last reviewed: July 30, 2026