Nurses · Tennessee · Continuing education
Tennessee Nursing CE Requirements & License Renewal (2026)
01 In short
- RN10 contact hours every 2 years; renewal by the end of your birth month.
- LPN10 contact hours every 2 years; renewal by the end of your birth month.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
Tennessee RN CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 10contact hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birth month
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By the end of your birth month
- Accepted credit
- Continuing education or in-service education applicable to nursing practice
- Renewal fee
- $130
- New licensees
- For initial licensees, meeting the licensure requirements counts as proof of competence.
- Audits & records
- Nurses attest to keeping a competence file; keep documentation 4 years and provide it within 30 days of a Board request.
Alternatives & exemptions. CE is only one item on the Board's continued-competence list; the nurse keeps a personal file with at least two items per renewal period, e.g. employer or peer evaluation, contract renewal, written self-evaluation, national certification, a goal-based learning plan, nursing volunteer work, a published article, a 2-week refresher or orientation program, nursing school enrollment, or retaking NCLEX, or (RN only) teaching nursing students.
Good to know. Renewal due by the last day of the birth month, every two years. 10 contact hours alone does not satisfy the rule (two items needed). A $10 biennial state regulatory fee is added to the renewal fee. tn.gov pages block automated reading; data taken from the official rules chapter.
Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18; 1000-01-.05; 1000-01-.02 · checked Oct 28, 2026
Tennessee LPN CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 10contact hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Birth month
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By the end of your birth month
- Accepted credit
- Continuing education or in-service education applicable to nursing practice
- Renewal fee
- $130
- New licensees
- For initial licensees, meeting the licensure requirements counts as proof of competence.
- Audits & records
- Nurses attest to keeping a competence file; keep documentation 4 years and provide it within 30 days of a Board request.
Alternatives & exemptions. CE is only one item on the Board's continued-competence list; the nurse keeps a personal file with at least two items per renewal period, e.g. employer or peer evaluation, contract renewal, written self-evaluation, national certification, a goal-based learning plan, nursing volunteer work, a published article, a 2-week refresher or orientation program, nursing school enrollment, or retaking NCLEX.
Good to know. Renewal due by the last day of the birth month, every two years. 10 contact hours alone does not satisfy the rule (two items needed). A $10 biennial state regulatory fee is added to the renewal fee. tn.gov pages block automated reading; data taken from the official rules chapter.
Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18; 1000-01-.05; 1000-01-.02 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Tennessee
05 Questions
How do I verify a nurse license in Tennessee?
Use the license lookup of the Tennessee Board of Nursing (tn.gov/health/licensure/nurs.html); 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 Tennessee?
RN: 10 contact hours every 2 years. LPN: 10 contact hours every 2 years.
Which CE courses count for nurses in Tennessee?
RN: Continuing education or in-service education applicable to nursing practice. LPN: Continuing education or in-service education applicable to nursing practice.
How much does a nurse license renewal cost in Tennessee?
RN: $130 per renewal, as listed by the board. LPN: $130 per renewal, as listed by the board.
When is the renewal deadline for nurses in Tennessee?
RN: Licenses renew by the end of your birth month (2 years cycle). LPN: Licenses renew by the end of your birth month (2 years cycle).
How do nurses report CE in Tennessee?
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.