Kentucky Registered Nurse (RN) License Renewal Requirements

Kentucky registered nurse licenses are regulated by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). Kentucky is a member of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). Kentucky uses CE Broker for CE tracking and has an annual renewal cycle — more frequent than most states.

At a Glance

Detail	Information
Regulatory Body	Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN)
Renewal Cycle	Every 1 year (annual)
CE Earning Period	November 1 through October 31
Renewal Window	September 15 through October 31
CE Hours Required	14 contact hours per year
Renewal Fee	$65
CE Tracking	CE Broker
Compact State (NLC)	Yes (eNLC member)
Online Renewal	Yes — KBN Nurse Portal

Continuing Education Requirements

RN and LPN — 14 Hours Per Year

Kentucky requires one of the following options (cannot be combined):

1. 14 contact hours of approved CE from a KBN-approved provider
2. 7 contact hours of approved CE PLUS a satisfactory nursing employment evaluation covering at least 6 months of the earning period (signed by supervisor)
3. Current national nursing certification or recertification related to the nurse's practice role (in effect during or initially earned/renewed during the earning period)
4. Completion of a post-licensure academic nursing course with a grade of C or higher during the earning period
5. Publication of a nursing-related article in a peer-reviewed health journal during the earning period
6. Presentation of a nursing CE course through a KBN-approved provider during the earning period

One-Time Mandatory Topics (Within 3 Years of Licensure)

These are one-time requirements that must be completed within 3 years of initial Kentucky licensure. They count toward the 14-hour annual total:

• Suicide prevention: 2 contact hours (if you did not complete a KY nursing program after August 2023)
• Domestic violence: 3 contact hours (if educated outside KY or before May 1998)
• Pediatric abusive head trauma: 1.5 contact hours (if educated outside KY or before December 2011)
• Implicit bias: 1.5 contact hours

APRN Additional Requirements

• APRN board certification satisfies the 14-hour RN CE requirement
• 5 contact hours in pharmacology annually (November 1 – October 31)
• 3 of the 5 pharmacology hours must cover pain management or addiction disorders (if DEA-registered with KASPER/PDMP account)
• Medicinal cannabis certifying practitioners: 3 contact hours in medicinal cannabis annually
• SANE credential holders: 5 hours in sexual assault CE per renewal

Kentucky-Specific Notes

• Annual renewal. Kentucky renews nursing licenses every year, not every 2 years. This is more frequent than most states — plan CE accordingly.
• Earning period vs. renewal window. CE must be earned during November 1 – October 31. The renewal application window is September 15 – October 31. You can submit your renewal application before completing all CE, but CE must be finished by midnight October 31 (EDT).
• CE Broker. Kentucky uses CE Broker for tracking. Many approved providers report automatically. Uploading CE to the KBN Nurse Portal is optional but recommended in case of audit.
• Compact state. If Kentucky is your primary state of residence, you may hold a multistate license. Declare your PSOR during renewal.
• If license lapses (after October 31): You must apply for reinstatement with proof of 14 CE hours and pay reinstatement fees.
• Working on a lapsed license is prohibited by Kentucky nursing law.
• National nursing certifications (e.g., ANCC oncology, wound care) satisfy the 14-hour requirement. ACLS, PALS, and NRP are NOT considered national nursing certifications for this purpose, though the CE hours from those courses can count toward the 14-hour total.
• Retain CE records for at least 5 years.

How to Renew

1. Complete 14 hours of approved CE (or alternative option) during November 1 – October 31
2. Complete any one-time mandatory topics if due
3. Log in to the KBN Nurse Portal (renewal available September 15)
4. Complete the renewal application and PSOR declaration
5. Pay the $65 renewal fee
6. CE must be completed by midnight October 31

Fees

Fee Type	Amount
RN/LPN Renewal	$65
APRN/RN Combined Renewal	Check KBN for current fees
Reinstatement	Contact KBN
Background Check (initial)	$53.25 (IdentoGo, separate fee)

Contact Information

Kentucky Board of Nursing

• Website: kbn.ky.gov
• CE Info: kbn.ky.gov — Continuing Education Requirements
• Renewal Info: kbn.ky.gov — Renewal
• KBN Nurse Portal: kbn.ky.gov portal
• CE Broker: cebroker.com
• Phone: (502) 429-3300 or (800) 305-2042
• Fax: (502) 429-3311
• Address: 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40222

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This page is for informational purposes only. Requirements may change — always verify current requirements with the Kentucky Board of Nursing before renewing. Last reviewed March 2026.

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