Nurses · Kentucky · Continuing education
Kentucky Nursing CE Requirements & License Renewal (2026)
01 In short
- RN14 contact hours every year, including 3 h domestic violence (once), 1.5 h child abuse recognition & reporting (once), 2 h suicide prevention (once), 1 h dementia & Alzheimer's care (once); renewal by October 31.
- LPN14 contact hours every year, including 3 h domestic violence (once), 1.5 h child abuse recognition & reporting (once), 2 h suicide prevention (once), 1 h dementia & Alzheimer's care (once); renewal by October 31.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
Kentucky RN 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
- CE from providers approved by KBN, another state board of nursing, or a national nursing organization listed in 201 KAR 20:220 (e.g. ANCC, AANP, AACN, NAPNES, NALPN); BLS/CPR not accepted
- New licensees
- One-time topic courses are due within 3 years of initial licensure.
- Audits & records
- Annual random CE audit announced in November via the KBN Nurse Portal; keep CE records 5 years.
- Renew online
- kybn.boardsofnursing.org ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic violenceout-of-state graduates or Kentucky program graduates before May 1988; within 3 years of licensure | 3 | once |
| Child abuse recognition & reportingpediatric abusive head trauma; out-of-state graduates or Kentucky program graduates before Dec 2011; within 3 years of licensure | 1.5 | once |
| Suicide preventionout-of-state graduates or Kentucky program graduates before Aug 2025; within 3 years of licensure | 2 | once |
| Dementia & Alzheimer's carenurses licensed by July 15, 2024 must finish by Oct 31, 2027; later licensees within 3 years of initial licensure | 1 | once |
Alternatives & exemptions. Instead of 14 hours: 7 hours plus a satisfactory employment evaluation covering 6+ months; a current national nursing certification; a post-licensure academic nursing course (grade C or Pass); 120+ hours as a preceptor; a peer-reviewed nursing article; or presenting an approved nursing CE course.
Good to know. Annual earning and renewal period Nov 1 - Oct 31; renewal window Sept 15 - Oct 31. Uploading CE to the portal is optional unless audited.
Source: kbn.ky.gov · 201 KAR 20:215 · checked Oct 28, 2026
Kentucky LPN 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
- CE from providers approved by KBN, another state board of nursing, or a national nursing organization listed in 201 KAR 20:220 (e.g. ANCC, AANP, AACN, NAPNES, NALPN); BLS/CPR not accepted
- New licensees
- One-time topic courses are due within 3 years of initial licensure.
- Audits & records
- Annual random CE audit announced in November via the KBN Nurse Portal; keep CE records 5 years.
- Renew online
- kybn.boardsofnursing.org ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic violenceout-of-state graduates or Kentucky program graduates before May 1988; within 3 years of licensure | 3 | once |
| Child abuse recognition & reportingpediatric abusive head trauma; out-of-state graduates or Kentucky program graduates before Dec 2011; within 3 years of licensure | 1.5 | once |
| Suicide preventionout-of-state graduates or Kentucky program graduates before Aug 2025; within 3 years of licensure | 2 | once |
| Dementia & Alzheimer's carenurses licensed by July 15, 2024 must finish by Oct 31, 2027; later licensees within 3 years of initial licensure | 1 | once |
| IV / infusion therapyLPNs who will perform infusion therapy and finished an out-of-state program or a Kentucky program before Sept 2019; before performing it; course meeting 201 KAR 20:490 | — | once |
Alternatives & exemptions. Instead of 14 hours: 7 hours plus a satisfactory employment evaluation covering 6+ months; a current national nursing certification; a post-licensure academic nursing course (grade C or Pass); 120+ hours as a preceptor; a peer-reviewed nursing article; or presenting an approved nursing CE course.
Good to know. Annual earning and renewal period Nov 1 - Oct 31; renewal window Sept 15 - Oct 31. Uploading CE to the portal is optional unless audited.
Source: kbn.ky.gov · 201 KAR 20:215 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Kentucky
05 Questions
How do I verify a nurse 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.
How many CE hours do nurses need in Kentucky?
RN: 14 contact hours every year. LPN: 14 contact hours every year.
Which CE courses count for nurses in Kentucky?
RN: CE from providers approved by KBN, another state board of nursing, or a national nursing organization listed in 201 KAR 20:220 (e.g. ANCC, AANP, AACN, NAPNES, NALPN); BLS/CPR not accepted. LPN: CE from providers approved by KBN, another state board of nursing, or a national nursing organization listed in 201 KAR 20:220 (e.g. ANCC, AANP, AACN, NAPNES, NALPN); BLS/CPR not accepted.
When is the renewal deadline for nurses in Kentucky?
RN: Licenses renew by October 31 (1 year cycle). LPN: Licenses renew by October 31 (1 year cycle).
How do nurses report CE in Kentucky?
RN: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit. LPN: By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit.