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Renewal requirements by state › Kentucky
Kentucky license renewal
Kentucky nursing CE renewal requirements
Kentucky RNs renew every year and need 14 contact hours of continuing education each renewal.
Kentucky APRNs renew every year and need 14 contact hours of continuing education each renewal, including 5 contact hours of pharmacology, plus 3 more contact hours on required topics.
✓ Verified October 8, 2026 against Kentucky’s board of nursing, state rules and the Nurse Licensure Compact. Sources are listed below.
At a glance
- Renewal cycle
- Every year
- RN continuing education
- 14 contact hours
- APRN continuing education
- 14 contact hours
- Nurse Licensure Compact
- Yes, a member state
- Reports to CE Broker
- Not confirmed
Required topics
“Part of the total” hours count toward the overall requirement; “on top of the total” hours are extra.
RNs
| Topic | Hours | How often | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic violence and elder abuse/neglect/exploitationWithin 3 years of licensure; required of out-of-state graduates and KY graduates before May 1988 | 3 | Once | Part of the total |
| Pediatric abusive head traumaExempt if a KY graduate after Dec 2011 | 1.5 | Once | Part of the total |
| Suicide preventionRequired of out-of-state graduates and KY graduates before Aug 2025, within 3 years of licensure | 2 | Once | Part of the total |
| Alzheimer's disease and other dementiasAll RNs/LPNs/APRNs: licensees active on 15 Jul 2024 by 31 Oct 2027; later licensees within 3 years of initial licensure | 1 | Once | Part of the total |
APRNs (in addition to RN requirements)
| Topic | Hours | How often | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicinal cannabisAPRNs authorised to certify medicinal cannabis | 3 | Every year | On top of the total |
| Pain management or addiction disordersAPRNs with DEA registration and a KASPER account - 3 of the 5 pharmacology hours | 3 | Every year | Part of the total |
| PharmacologyAll APRNs - also satisfies the 14-hour RN requirement | 5 | Every year | Part of the total |
RN renewal in detail
- 14 contact hours per ANNUAL renewal period.
- A current national certification can satisfy the requirement.
- When it expires: ANNUAL - renewal window Sept 15-Oct 31; CE period Nov 1-Oct 31.
APRN renewal in detail
- 5 pharmacology hours required annually; these also satisfy the 14-hour RN requirement.
- APRNs must hold a current national certification.
- When it expires: ANNUAL.
Using HIVE Nurse for your hours
HIVE Nurse is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the Florida Board of Nursing (CE Provider #50-57054). Boards differ on whether they accept CE from a provider approved by another state’s board, so check Kentucky’s rules before you count a course.
The renewal checker builds your own list from these rules and can remind you before your license expires.
Sources
Some details for Kentucky are being re-confirmed with the board. Check the source before you renew.
Rules change. Your board’s website is the final word.