Last Updated: Friday, August 4, 2023 Multiple options to renew for this profession and state.
Renewal requires ONE of the following for annual renewal:
- Proof of earning fourteen (14) approved contact hours; OR
- Proof of earning seven (7) approved contact hours, PLUS a nursing employment evaluation that is satisfactory for continued employment. Evaluation must be signed by the nurse's supervisor and include the employer's name, address, and phone number. The evaluation must cover at least six (6) months of the earning period (November 1 - October 31); OR
- Current national certification or recertification related to the nurse’s practice role in effect during the entire period, or initially earned or renewed during the period (does not include clinical certifications such as ACLS, PALS, NRP, etc...); OR
- Successful completion of a post-licensure academic course at a college, university, or post-secondary vocational institution. Must be relevant to nursing practice (e.g. nursing course designated by a nursing course number and beyond the prelicensure curriculum) OR an academic course applicable to the nurse's role and beyond the prelicensure curriculum. The course must have been completed during the earning period with an awarded grade of "C" or better, or a grade of "pass" on a pass-fail grading system. Calculation of contact hours: One (1) semester or trimester hour of academic credit = 15 contact hours; One (1) quarter hour of academic credit = 12 contact hours. May request course review for approval of applicable nursing content pursuant to 201 KAR 20:215 Section 7; OR
- Participation as a preceptor for at least one nursing student or new employee. Must be for at least 120 hours, have a one-to-one relationship with student or employee, may precept more than one student during the 120 hours. Preceptorship shall be evidenced by written documentation from the educational institution or preceptor’s supervisor; OR
- Publication of an article in a peer-reviewed, health-related journal; OR
- A nursing continuing education presentation that is designed and developed by the presenter, presented to nurses or other health professionals, is evidenced by a program brochure, course syllabi, or a letter from the offering provider identifying the licensee as the presenter of the offering; and offered by a provider approved pursuant to 201 KAR 20:220. The number of contact hours earned shall be twice the number of contact hours offered to presentation attendees; OR
- Completion of a nursing research project as principal investigator, co-investigator, or project director. Must be qualitative or quantitative in nature, utilize research methodology, and increases knowledge resulting in improved outcomes or changes in behavior. Submission must include a project abstract and a summary of the findings.
Special Requirements
An APRN's board certification satisfies the fourteen (14) contact hour requirement needed for RN licensure renewal (national certification), as long as the APRN certification was initially attained during the licensure period, has been in effect during the entire licensure period, or has been renewed during the licensure period. If these requirements are met, APRNs do not need to earn 14 contact hours of CE to renew their RN licenses.
- Pharmacology CE: Five (5) contact hours of approved pharmacology CE must be earned by all APRNs each licensure period. CE Certificates should reflect specific pharmacology contact hours awarded. To qualify as pharmacology, content shall include drug-specific information, safe prescribing practices, safe medication administration, prescribing methodologies, new regulations, or similar topics.
- APRNs with a CAPA-CS: Pursuant to 201 KAR 20:215(5)(b), of the five (5) approved pharmacology contact hours required for APRN licensure renewal, one and one-half (1.5) of these approved contact hours must be in the dual subject of pharmacology and either pain management, or addiction disorders each licensure period. Effective January 13, 2022, CE in the use of KASPER will no longer satisfy an APRNs CAPA-CS pharmacology requirement. It may be used to satisfy other CE requirements. Courses must include pharmacology to meet the APRNs annual requirement for completion of five (5) contact hours in pharmacology. This will be in effect beginning with the November 1, 2021 – October 31, 2022 earning period. (Amendments to regulations 201 KAR 20:215 and 201 KAR 20:065 are being reviewed and pending.)
- APRNs with a DEA-X Registration: On December 29, 2022, the President signed the omnibus appropriations bill and the requirement that healthcare providers possess a DEA X-waiver to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder was eliminated. Pursuant to 201 KAR 20:215(5)(1)(c) and 201 KAR 20:065,an APRN who had a DEA-X registration to prescribe Buprenorphine prior to December 30, 2022, shall complete a total of four (4) contact hours in addiction disorders, and 1.5 contact hours in the dual subject of pharmacology addiction disorders annually. Hours earned in pharmacology addiction disorders may be applied to the five (5) pharmacology hours required for all APRNs. (Amendments to regulations 201 KAR 20:215 and 201 KAR 20:065 are being reviewed and pending.)
As of 7/27/23: The deadline for the one-time Continuing Education requirement on Implicit Bias was July 1, 2023. If you have not obtained the training at this time, please note you will no longer be required to do so. Licensees will still be required to obtain all other applicable CE training.
Required Courses
Required Courses Not Provided by CEUfast
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Requirements Disclaimer: Although we try to keep our information as up-to-date as possible, ultimately, it is the responsibility of each individual user to understand and keep up-to-date with the requirements of the license possessed.
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