Nurse Practitioners · Kentucky · Continuing education
Kentucky Nurse Practitioner CE Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- APRN14 contact hours every year, including 3 h opioid prescribing & pain management, 8 h substance use disorders (DEA MATE Act) (once), 3 h domestic violence (once), 1.5 h child abuse recognition & reporting (once); renewal by October 31.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
Kentucky APRN CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 14contact hours
- Renewal cycle
- 1 year
- Deadline
- Oct 31
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By October 31
- Accepted credit
- Providers approved by the board under 201 KAR 20:220; DEA- or SAMHSA-approved groups for the 8-hour substance use disorder training; 1 contact hour = 50 minutes
- New licensees
- APRNs holding an RN privilege and first licensed after July 15, 2024 complete the one-time topics within 3 years of licensure.
- Audits & records
- Random audits; records kept 5 years and uploaded via the nurse portal within 20 days of request.
- Renew online
- kybn.boardsofnursing.org ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing & pain managementAPRNs registered with the DEA and holding a PDMP account (pain management or addiction disorders, within the 5 pharmacology hours) | 3 | every renewal |
| Substance use disorders (DEA MATE Act)APRNs with a DEA registration, before the next scheduled DEA registration | 8 | once |
| Domestic violence | 3 | once |
| Child abuse recognition & reporting | 1.5 | once |
| Suicide prevention | 2 | once |
| Dementia & Alzheimer's care | 1 | once |
| Pharmacology (NP/APRN) | 5 | every renewal |
Alternatives & exemptions. Instead of 14 hours: current national certification/recertification related to the practice role (plus the required pharmacology and one-time topics), or research/publication/preceptorship, or 7 hours plus a satisfactory employment evaluation.
Good to know. Annual earning period Nov 1 - Oct 31. One-time topics: 1.5 h pediatric abusive head trauma, 3 h domestic violence and elder abuse, 1 h dementia (current licensees by Oct 31, 2027), 2 h suicide prevention; those done by July 15, 2024 need not be repeated.
Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · 201 KAR 20:215 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Questions
How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Kentucky?
14 contact hours every year.
Which CE courses count for nurse practitioners in Kentucky?
Providers approved by the board under 201 KAR 20:220; DEA- or SAMHSA-approved groups for the 8-hour substance use disorder training; 1 contact hour = 50 minutes.
Which CE topics are mandatory for nurse practitioners in Kentucky?
Opioid prescribing & pain management — 3 h (every renewal); Substance use disorders (DEA MATE Act) — 8 h (once); Domestic violence — 3 h (once); Child abuse recognition & reporting — 1.5 h (once); Suicide prevention — 2 h (once); Dementia & Alzheimer's care — 1 h (once); Pharmacology (NP/APRN) — 5 h (every renewal).
How do I verify a nurse practitioner license in Kentucky?
Use the license lookup of the Kentucky Board of Nursing (kbn.ky.gov); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
When is the renewal deadline for nurse practitioners in Kentucky?
Licenses renew by October 31 (1 year cycle).