610-X-4-.19 Temporary Waiver of Certain Documentation Requirements

The Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) adopted emergency rule 610-X-4-.19, effective October 2, 2026, and expiring January 21, 2027 (111 days), following a cybersecurity event discovered on September 1, 2026. The event required taking ABN online systems offline pending security verification, disrupting access to the electronic documentation infrastructure used for license renewal. With biennial renewal for approximately 85,000 registered nurses due to close on December 31, 2026, the Board invoked Code of Alabama 1975, Section 34-21-2(j)(1) to temporarily waive specific documentation requirements. Under the emergency rule, the requirement in ABN Administrative Code Section 610-X-10-.07(1)(c) that renewal applicants submit documented evidence of meeting continuing education (CE) requirements at the time of renewal is waived. The related requirement to electronically upload CE documentation from Board-recognized providers lacking an assigned ABNP number is also waived. The substantive CE-hour earning obligations under Sections 610-X-10-.07(1)(a) and (b) remain in full force. For first-time license renewal applicants, the four contact-hour Board-provided CE requirement on statutory and administrative frameworks for nursing regulation under Section 610-X-4-.08(3)(c)3.i. is waived for the rule's duration. These applicants remain obligated to obtain one contact hour of CE per calendar month remaining in the earning period, up to a maximum of 24 contact hours. Applicants for licensure by endorsement may satisfy Section 610-X-4-.07(1)(d) by affirming on their application that they obtained the requisite CE hours in the prior 24 months, rather than submitting documentation. Applicants converting a single-state license to a multistate license may similarly satisfy Section 610-X-4-.08(11) by application affirmation. The CE audit process under Section 610-X-10-.07(2) is suspended for the full duration of the emergency rule.