Kentucky Registered Nurse (RN) Continuing Education Requirements
At a Glance
14
Contact Hours
1 yr
Renewal Cycle
Yes
Online Allowed
No
Carry-Over
Kentucky RNs must complete 14 contact hours annually (November 1 - October 31). The state offers 8 alternative pathways including 7 CE hours plus employer evaluation, national certification, preceptorship, publishing, and academic coursework. Several one-time mandatory topics apply based on when and where you graduated.
Source: Kentucky Board of Nursing
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Disclaimer: This information is for reference purposes only. Requirements are set by the Kentucky Board of Nursing and may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the board.
Requirements Overview
Kentucky is one of the few states with an annual CE renewal cycle. Registered nurses must complete 14 approved contact hours each year between November 1 and October 31. Multiple alternative pathways exist: 7 CE hours plus employer evaluation, national certification, academic coursework, 120+ preceptor hours, peer-reviewed publication, nursing presentation, or a research project.
Several one-time mandatory topics depend on graduation date and program location: domestic violence (3 hours), Alzheimer's disease (1 hour, due by October 2027), pediatric abusive head trauma (1.5 hours), suicide prevention (2 hours), and implicit bias (1.5 hours). Kentucky program graduates after certain dates may be exempt.
BLS/CPR classes do not count. CE records must be kept for 5 years. The Board accepts CE from KBN-approved providers and major national nursing organizations.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Violence | 3 | One-time | Within 3 years of initial licensure. Exempt if graduated from a Kentucky nursing program after May 1998. |
| Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia | 1 | One-time | By October 31, 2027 for those actively licensed as of July 15, 2024. Within 3 years of initial licensure for those licensed after July 15, 2024. |
| Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma | 1.5 | One-time | Within 3 years of initial licensure. Exempt if graduated from a Kentucky nursing program after December 2011. |
| Suicide Prevention | 2 | One-time | 1 hour on suicide prevention generally + 1 hour addressing chronic toxic stress, care pathways, systems of care, and ethical considerations. Within 3 years for those who completed a program outside Kentucky or pre-August 2025. |
| Implicit Bias | 1.5 | One-time | Covers historical racism, discrimination's healthcare impact, and bias reduction measures. |
Renewal Pathways
14 approved contact hours annually
14 hours
Proof of earning fourteen (14) approved contact hours with completion certificates.
7 CE hours plus satisfactory employer evaluation
7 hours
Seven (7) approved hours plus satisfactory nursing employment evaluation signed by supervisor during the renewal period.
Current national nursing certification
0 hours
Current certification related to practice role, maintained or renewed during the period.
Post-licensure academic coursework (grade C+)
See notes
One semester hour = 15 contact hours; one quarter hour = 12 contact hours. Must be post-licensure with grade C or higher.
120+ hours as preceptor
0 hours
Serve as preceptor for at least 120 hours with one-to-one student/employee relationship.
Published peer-reviewed health article
0 hours
Publication of an article in a peer-reviewed, health-related journal. A copy of the article is required.
Self-developed nursing education presentation
See notes
Hours earned = twice the attendee hours for self-developed presentations.
Completed nursing research project
0 hours
Complete qualitative or quantitative research project with abstract and findings summary.
Exemptions
- Kentucky Graduate Exemption (Domestic Violence) — Nurses who graduated from a Kentucky nursing program after May 1998 are exempt from the domestic violence CE requirement.Must have graduated from an in-state program after the specified date.
- Kentucky Graduate Exemption (Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma) — Nurses who graduated from a Kentucky nursing program after December 2011 are exempt from the pediatric abusive head trauma CE requirement.Must have graduated from an in-state program after the specified date.
- Kentucky Graduate Exemption (Suicide Prevention) — Nurses who graduated from a Kentucky nursing program after August 2025 are exempt from the suicide prevention CE requirement.Must have graduated from an in-state program after the specified date.
- National Certification In Lieu Of CE — Current national nursing certification related to practice role can be used in lieu of CE hours.Must be maintained or renewed during the renewal period. One-time topic requirements may still apply.
How You Can Complete Your CE
💻
Online / Self-Study
Allowed, no limit
🏫
In-Person / Live
Allowed
Provider Requirements
KBN accepts CE from KBN-approved providers, other state boards of nursing, and national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220 including: ANCC, AANP, AACN, AANA, ACNM, AWHONN, NPWH, NAPNAP, NAPNES, NALPN, and NLN. BLS/CPR classes do not count.
Tips for Kentucky RNs
- Kentucky renews annually, not biennially. Mark November 1 - October 31 as your CE earning window each year.
- Consider the 7 CE hours plus employer evaluation pathway — it cuts your coursework in half if your supervisor will sign off on a satisfactory evaluation.
- BLS and CPR classes do not count as CE in Kentucky. Make sure your courses come from KBN-approved or nationally recognized nursing providers.
- Check your one-time mandatory topic requirements based on your graduation date and program location. Kentucky graduates after certain dates are exempt from some topics.
- National certification holders can skip CE hours entirely. If you maintain a credential like CCRN or CEN, submit that instead of CE certificates.