Kentucky Board of Nursing
Kentucky RNs and LPNs need 14 contact hours of continuing education every year (or another option the board accepts). 4 state-mandated topics may apply, depending on the license and practice.
At a glance
| Licenses covered | Registered nurse (RN), Licensed practical nurse (LPN) [1] |
|---|---|
| CE required for renewal | Yes [1] |
| Hours per renewal | 14 contact hours [1] |
| CE period | Every year [1] |
| Renewal deadline | Licenses are renewed every year between September 15 and 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 31; a license not renewed by then lapses. CE must be earned in the November 1 – October 31 earning period. [4] |
| State-mandated topics | Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia; Suicide prevention; Domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation; Pediatric abusive head trauma [3] |
| What CE counts | CE from a provider approved to offer nursing CE by the Kentucky Board of Nursing, another state board of nursing, or one of the national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220, which include the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). [2] |
All nurses, once. Nurses actively licensed on July 15, 2024 must complete it by October 31, 2027; nurses licensed after July 15, 2024 within 3 years of initial licensure.
Once, within 3 years of initial licensure, for nurses who completed a nursing program outside Kentucky or a Kentucky program before August 2025: 1 hour on suicide prevention generally and 1 hour on nurse-specific topics such as chronic toxic stress and pathways to care.
Once, within 3 years of initial licensure, for nurses who completed a nursing program outside Kentucky or a Kentucky program before May 1988.
Once, within 3 years of initial licensure, for nurses who completed a nursing program outside Kentucky or a Kentucky program before December 2011.
Rules change, and your own license record decides your deadline. Confirm with the Kentucky Board of Nursing ↗ before you renew.
Free courses that count toward the hours
The board accepts continuing education accredited by ANCC [2]. These current free courses state that accreditation. State-mandated topics can require a specific approved course, so check those separately.
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Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Emerging Therapies in Pulmonary Fibrosis. A free accredited ACHL enduring CME/CE activity.
A no-cost enduring CDC module about ALS, the National ALS Registry, diagnosis, treatment, management, and referral strategies.
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Questions
Kentucky RNs and LPNs need 14 contact hours of continuing education every year (or another option the board accepts). 4 state-mandated topics may apply, depending on the license and practice. Licenses are renewed every year between September 15 and 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 31; a license not renewed by then lapses. CE must be earned in the November 1 – October 31 earning period.
Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia (1 hours): All nurses, once. Nurses actively licensed on July 15, 2024 must complete it by October 31, 2027; nurses licensed after July 15, 2024 within 3 years of initial licensure. Suicide prevention (2 hours): Once, within 3 years of initial licensure, for nurses who completed a nursing program outside Kentucky or a Kentucky program before August 2025: 1 hour on suicide prevention generally and 1 hour on nurse-specific topics such as chronic toxic stress and pathways to care. Domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation (3 hours): Once, within 3 years of initial licensure, for nurses who completed a nursing program outside Kentucky or a Kentucky program before May 1988. Pediatric abusive head trauma (1.5 hours): Once, within 3 years of initial licensure, for nurses who completed a nursing program outside Kentucky or a Kentucky program before December 2011.
CE from a provider approved to offer nursing CE by the Kentucky Board of Nursing, another state board of nursing, or one of the national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220, which include the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Free courses accredited by ANCC are listed on this page; a state-mandated topic may need a specific approved course.
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. We fetched each page on the date shown and confirmed the exact wording below appears on it.
“KBN Annual Continuing Education Requirements for Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)”
“All nurses are required to complete Continuing Education Requirements every year between November 1 – October 31.”
“Fourteen (14) contact hours of nursing CE during the earning period November 1st – October 31st”
“All nurses are required to complete Continuing Education Requirements every year between November 1 – October 31.”
“A satisfactory evaluation that covers at least 6 months of the earning period November 1st – October 31st; andContact HoursSeven (7) contact hours of nursing CE during the earning period”
“Current national nursing certification or recertification related to the nurse's practice role either obtained, renewed, or in effect during the earning period”
“Participation as a preceptor for at least 1 student or new employee for at least 120 hours during the earning period from November 1st to October 31st.Requires a one-on-one relationship between preceptor and student or employee”
“All CE documents must be maintained for five years as proof of compliance.”
“CE providers must be approved to offer nursing CE by the KBN, another state board of nursing, or one of the national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220.”
“American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)”
“The following cannot be accepted for nursing continuing education:”
“On-the-job training or orientation;”
“BLS/CPR [basic cardiopulmonary life support] classes or certifications;”
“In-service education; and/or”
“Complete 1 contact hour in Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of Dementia”
“Individuals actively licensed as of July 15, 2024, must complete this requirement by October 31, 2027. Nurses actively licensed after July 15, 2024, must complete this requirement within 3 years of initial licensure as described in 201 KAR 20:215.”
“Once completed it does not need to be repeated.”
“Complete 2 contact hours in Suicide Prevention”
“Nurses who completed a Kentucky program of nursing prior to August of 2025”
“Nurses who completed a nursing program outside of Kentucky”
“1 in general; and 1 in chronic toxic stress; confidential and standardized pathways to care for nurses”
“Within 3 years of initial licensure as described in 201 KAR 20:215.”
“Nurses who completed a Kentucky program of nursing prior to May of 1988”
“Nurses who completed a nursing program outside of Kentucky”
“Within 3 years of initial licensure as described in 201 KAR 20:215.”
“Complete 1.5 contact hours in Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma”
“Nurses who completed a Kentucky program of nursing prior to December of 2011”
“Nurses who completed a nursing program outside of Kentucky”
“Within 3 years of initial licensure as described in 201 KAR 20:215.”
“The Renewal period for LPN, RN, APRN, DT, LCPM, and SANE is September 15 through 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 31.”
“If your license/credential has not been renewed by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 31 (EDT), your license/credential will lapse.”
“Continuing education contact hours must be earned during the period of November 1– October 31.”
“Nurses shall earn, the following one (1) time continuing education requirements”
“A minimum of one (1) contact hour on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia”
“A minimum of three (3) contact hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation”
“Current national certification or recertification and the continuing education required by Section 5 of this administrative regulation.”
“The continuing education required by Section 5 of this administrative regulation and at least one (1) of the following during the earning period:”
“Completion of a research project that is nursing-related:1.As principal investigator, coinvestigator, or project director”
“The continuing education required by Section 5 of this administrative regulation and at least one (1) of the following during the earning period:”
“Publication of an article in a peer-reviewed health-related journal”
“The continuing education required by Section 5 of this administrative regulation and at least one (1) of the following during the earning period:”
“Contact hours of continuing education earned for the methods of continued competency validation as established in subsection (1) or (4) of this section may be earned by:”
“The number of contact hours that may be earned shall be twice the number of contact hours offered to an attendee of the presentation”
“Successful completion of a postlicensure academic course at a college, university, or postsecondary vocational institution if relevant to nursing practice”
“One (1) semester or trimester hour of academic credit shall equal fifteen (15) contact hours; orb.One (1) quarter hour of academic credit shall equal twelve (12) contact hours.”
“A licensee shall provide documentation of the method used to validate continued competency if requested by the board pursuant to a random audit of licensees.”
“An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) shall earn a minimum of five (5) contact hours in pharmacology”
