Before you renew your Kentucky nursing license, you need to complete certain CE requirements for your nursing type.
Not sure what the requirements are?
We’ve got you covered.
If you’re from Kentucky, we’ll talk about the requirements to renew your license, whether you hold a CNA, LPN, RN, or ARPN license.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Kentucky Nursing CE Requirements
No time to read the entire article?
No problem. Here is a summary of the CE requirements according to your nursing profession:
| CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) SRNA (State Registered Nurse Aide) | CNAs are NOT required to take continuing education. CNAs must provide proof of employment with at least 8 hours as a nurse with pay in the past 24 months. |
| LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) | 14 CE hours every year One-time requirement: 2 contact hours on suicide prevention 1.5 contact hours on implicit bias For LPNs who graduated before December 2011 or from an LPN program outside of Kentucky, there is a one-time CE requirement of: 1.5 hours in pediatric abusive head trauma shaken baby syndrome For LPNs who graduated before May 1998 or from an LPN program outside of Kentucky, there is a one-time CE requirement of: 3 hours in domestic violence For LPNs who graduated before September 2019 or from an LPN program outside of Kentucky, there is a one-time CE requirement of: Infusion Therapy course For LPNs who hold a SANE credential: 5 contact hours in domestic violence or forensic medicine yearly LPN license renewal period in Kentucky is every November 1 to October 31 of each year. |
| RN (Registered Nurse) | 14 CE hours every year One-time requirement: 2 contact hours on suicide prevention 1.5 contact hours on implicit bias For RNs who graduated before December 2011 or from an RN program outside of Kentucky, there is a one-time CE requirement of: 1.5 hours in pediatric abusive head trauma shaken baby syndrome For RNs who graduated before May 1998 or from an RN program outside of Kentucky, there is a one-time CE requirement of: 3 hours in domestic violence For RNs who hold a SANE credential: 5 contact hours in domestic violence or forensic medicine yearly RN license renewal earning period in Kentucky is November 1 to October 31 of each year. |
| APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) | 14 CE hours every year, including: 5 contact hours in pharmacology For APRNs with a CAPA-CS: 1.5 of 5 contact hours on pain management, KASPER, or addiction disorders For APRNS with a DEA-X registration: 4 contact hours in addiction disorders including 1.5 contact hours in addition disorder pharmacology APRN license renewal earning period in Kentucky is November 1 to October 31 of each year. |
Continue reading to find out more information!
Kentucky CNA Continuing Education Requirements
Good news, CNAs! You’re not required to complete continuing nursing education to renew your license.
However, you must provide proof of employment for the past 24 months. Proof of employment can be a W-2 form, pay stub, or a letter from your employer. The name of the nursing facility should also be included in the proof of employment.
License renewal notifications are mailed 2 months before the expiration date.
Kentucky LPN Continuing Education Requirements
LPNs in Kentucky are required to complete 14 contact hours of continuing nursing education annually through an approved education provider.
LPN license renewal period in Kentucky is every November 1 to October 31 of each year.
LPNs who are outside of Kentucky OR nurses who graduated before December 2011 will need to fulfill at least 1.5 contact hours on pediatric abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome) within the first 3 years of obtaining a license.
LPNs who are outside of Kentucky OR nurses who graduated before May 1998 will need to fulfill at least 3 hours of domestic violence CE within the first 3 years of obtaining a license.
LPNs who are outside of Kentucky OR graduated before September 2019 need to fulfill an Infusion Therapy course for LPNs.
Starting 2022, all LPNs are also required to fulfill a one-time requirement of:
2 contact hours on suicide prevention
1.5 contact hours on implicit bias
LPNs who hold a SANE credential are required to complete 5 contact hours of continuing nursing education related to domestic violence or forensic medicine each year.
LPNs can also complete at least one of the following instead of meeting the CE requirements:
- Completion of at least 7 CE hours from an approved provider and a satisfactory nursing employment evaluation for continued employment.
- Latest national certification or recertification related to the nurse’s role during the renewal period. Take note that this does not include clinical certifications such as NRP, ACLS, etc.
- Successfully completing a post-licensure academic course related to nursing practice during the renewal period at an accredited university, college, or postsecondary vocational institution.
- 120-hour participation as a preceptor for one or more new employees or nursing students.
- Publishing an article in a health-related or peer-reviewed journal.
- Completion of a research project related to practice as a principal investigator, project director, or coinvestigator.
- Designing and developing a nursing continuing education course presented to nurses and other healthcare professionals. The presentation should be evidenced by course syllabi, brochure, or a letter from the provider acknowledging the licensee as the presenter.
Kentucky RN Continuing Education Requirements
For RNs, 14 contact hours of continuing nursing education yearly are required OR proof of 7 approved contact hours PLUS a nursing employment evaluation during the renewal period.
Just like LPNs, RNs have a one-time requirement of:
- 2 contact hours on suicide prevention
- 1.5 contact hours on implicit bias
- at least 1.5 contact hours on pediatric abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome) – for those outside Kentucky OR those who graduated before December 2011
- at least 3 hours of domestic violence CE within the first 3 years of obtaining a license – for those outside Kentucky OR those who graduated before May 1998
Nurses with SANE credentials must complete 5 contact hours of continuing education every year about forensic medicine or domestic violence.
For RNs, there are also other options to renew their license. These are the options you can take instead of the CE requirements:
- Have the latest national certification or recertification related to the nurse’s role during the renewal period. This does not include clinical certifications such as NRP, ACLS, etc.
- Successfully complete a post-licensure academic course related to your nursing practice at an accredited university, college, or postsecondary vocational institution.
- Get 120-hour participation as a preceptor for one or more new employees or nursing students.
- Publishing an article in a health-related or peer-reviewed journal
- Complete a research project related to practice as a principal investigator, project director, or coinvestigator.
- Design and develop a nursing continuing education presented to nurses and other healthcare professionals. The presentation should be evidenced by course syllabi, brochure, or a letter from the provider acknowledging the licensee as the presenter.
Kentucky APRN Continuing Education Requirements
Just like LPNs and RNs, APRNs are also required to finish 14 contact hours of continuing education every renewal period.
Note that 5 contact hours should be in pharmacology. Content should include drug-specific information, safe medication administration, safe prescribing practices, new regulations, or other similar topics.
Another thing to note is that the APRN board certification already satisfies the required 14 contact hours needed for RN license renewal as long as the certification was attained during the licensure period.
For APRNs with a CAPA-CS, an additional course is required:
1.5 of 5 contact hours on pain management, KASPER, or addiction disorders
For APRNS with a DEA-X registration, an additional course is required:
4 contact hours in addiction disorders including 1.5 contact hours in addition disorder pharmacology
Nursing CE Requirements in Kentucky FAQs
What is not counted as continuing nursing education in Kentucky?
General pre-licensure courses or activities related to work such as orientation, on-the-job training, or equipment demonstrations cannot be counted as continuing nursing education.
How much to renew my nursing license in Kentucky?
Nursing license renewal fee for RNs and LPNs: $65
Nursing license renewal fee for APRN (for each destination): $55
License fees by endorsement for RN, LPN, and APRN: $165
*prices as of February 2022
Conclusion
There you have it!
As you can see, there are many options that you can take to renew your nursing license in Kentucky.
That said, the easiest way is to complete the 14 CE hours. Just keep note of the specific topics that you need to study. The rest of the hours are electives — just make sure it is offered by an approved provider.
We hope that your questions have been answered through this article!
Last updated: March 29, 2023 (Requirements taken from Kentucky BON website)