Last Updated: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Multiple options to renew for this profession and state.
Renewal requires ONE of the following for annual renewal:
Pursuant to Kentucky Administrative Regulation 201 KAR 20:215, validation of CE/competency must include one of the following: (Options CANNOT be combined to equal fourteen (14) contact hours):
Proof of earning fourteen (14) approved contact hours. Completion certificates are required; Completion certificates must include: name of nurse, course title, date of completion, contact hours awarded, provider information, and who the provider is approved by to offer nursing CE. The KBN accepts CE from providers approved to offer nursing CE by the KBN, another state board of nursing, or one of the national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220 OR
Proof of earning seven (7) approved contact hours, and a nursing employment evaluation satisfactory for continued employment. Completion certificates are required for the seven (7) contact hours and the KBN Continuing Education Nursing Employment Evaluation Form completed and signed by the nurse's supervisor including the employer's name, address, and phone number verifying satisfactory employment covering at least six (6) months of the earning period (November 1 - October 31) This form is available in the document library. 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 postsecondary vocational institution. Must be relevant to nursing practice. (e.g. nursing course designated by a nursing course number) or applicable to the nurse’s role and beyond the prelicensure curriculum) The course must have been completed during the earning period with grade of "C" or higher, or a grade of "pass" on a pass-fail grading system awarded. 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. A transcript is required; 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, during the earning period. The nurse may precept more than one student during the 120 hours. Preceptorship shall be evidenced by submission of a Preceptor Continuing Education Verification Form add link https://kbn.ky.gov/KBN%20Documents/ce-preceptor-verification-form.pdf completed by the educational institution or preceptor’s supervisor. This form is available in the document library. OR
Publication of an article in a peer-reviewed, health related journal. A copy of the article is required; OR
A nursing continuing education presentation that is designed and developed by the nurse 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, coinvestigator, 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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