Kentucky Continuing Education Requirements

• Proof of earning fourteen (14) approved contact hours. Completion certificates are required; 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 is completed and signed by the nurse's supervisor; 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. The course must have been completed during the earning period with a 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 and have a one-to-one relationship with the student or employee during the earning period. The nurse may precept more than one student during the 120 hours; 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 increase knowledge, resulting in improved outcomes or changes in behavior. Submission must include a project abstract and a summary of the findings.

• One (1) contact hour in Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of Dementia, which includes information on the warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate communication techniques for discussion of memory concerns with the patient and his or her caregiver, the variety of tools used to assess a patient’s cognition, and current treatments that may be available to the patient.

• Three (3) contact hours of approved CE addressing the dynamics and effects of domestic violence, and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation on adult and child victims.

• One and one-half (1.5) contact hours of approved CE covering the recognition and prevention of pediatric abusive head trauma.

• Two (2) contact hours of approved CE addressing suicide prevention, which must address chronic toxic stress, secondary traumatic stress potentially increasing the incidence of suicide amongst nurses; a confidential and standardized pathway to care for nurses that address screening, assessing, safety planning, referrals, and follow-up for nurses at risk for suicide; systems of care, evidence-informed approaches, and best practices to reduce suicide rates; and ethical legal considerations of caring for patients and nurses who are suicidal.

• 5 contact hours Sexual Assault Forensic Medicine OR Domestic Violence from KBN approved providers each licensure period. Retain documentation for at least 5 years.

• Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Intimate Partner Violence (Kentucky)
• Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
• Sexual Assault and Examinations (Kentucky)
• Suicide Prevention for Nurses
• Suicide Screening and Referral
• Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

• LPN Scope for IV Therapy

• All APRNs must complete at least 5 contact hours in pharmacology** between November 1 - October 31 every year.
• Note: An APRN's certification meets the 14 contact hour requirement for their RN license.

• All APRNs registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and have a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) account/ Kentucky All Scheduled Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) must complete at least 3 of the required 5 contact hours of pharmacology** in pain management or addiction disorders between November 1 - October 31 of each year.

• 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, three (3) 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.)
• APRNs with Authorization to Provide Written Certification for the use of Medicinal Cannabis: Beginning January 1, 2025, APRNs with authorization to provide written certifications for the use of medicinal cannabis must complete three (3) contact hours of nursing continuing education every year between November 1 – October 31, 201 KAR 20:067 in the following subjects: 
  • Diagnosing qualifying medical conditions;
  • Treating qualifying medical conditions with medicinal cannabis;
  • The pharmacological characteristics of medicinal cannabis and possible drug interactions; and
  • Indications of cannabis use disorder. 
• Nurses with SANE Credential must complete at least five (5) contact hours of education related to the role of the SANE or forensic nursing between November 1 - October 31 every year. These hours can be applied to the RNs annual contact hour requirement.

• Alzheimer's Disease: All nurses licensed as of July 15, 2024 must complete a one (1) contact hour in Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of Dementia by October 31, 2027. This is a one time only requirement.
• Suicide Prevention: All nurses who completed a nursing program outside of Kentucky; or nurses who completed a Kentucky program of nursing prior to August of 2025 are required to complete a two (2) contact hour course in Suicide Prevention within the three (3) years of initial licensure. This is a one time only requirement.
• Domestic Violence: All nurses who completed a nursing program outside of Kentucky; or nurses who completed a Kentucky program of nursing prior to May of 1988 must complete three (3) contact hours in Domestic Violence within three (3) years of initial licensure. This is a one time only requirement.
• Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma: All nurses who completed a nursing program outside of Kentucky; or nurses who completed a Kentucky program of nursing prior to December of 2011 must complete 1.5 contact hours in Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma. This is a one time only requirement.

• Addiction Disorders
• Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Intimate Partner Violence (Kentucky)
• Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
• Sexual Assault and Examinations (Kentucky)
• Suicide Prevention for Nurses
• Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

• Proof of earning fourteen (14) approved contact hours. Completion certificates are required; 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 is completed and signed by the nurse's supervisor; 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. The course must have been completed during the earning period with a 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 and have a one-to-one relationship with the student or employee during the earning period. The nurse may precept more than one student during the 120 hours; 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 increase knowledge, resulting in improved outcomes or changes in behavior. Submission must include a project abstract and a summary of the findings.

• One (1) contact hour in Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of Dementia, which includes information on the warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate communication techniques for discussion of memory concerns with the patient and his or her caregiver, the variety of tools used to assess a patient’s cognition, and current treatments that may be available to the patient.

• Three (3) contact hours of approved CE addressing the dynamics and effects of domestic violence, and elder abuse, neglect and exploitation on adult and child victims.

• One and one-half (1.5) contact hours of approved CE covering the recognition and prevention of pediatric abusive head trauma.

• Two (2) contact hours of approved CE addressing suicide prevention, which must address chronic toxic stress, secondary traumatic stress potentially increasing the incidence of suicide amongst nurses; a confidential and standardized pathway to care for nurses that address screening, assessing, safety planning, referrals, and follow-up for nurses at risk for suicide; systems of care, evidence-informed approaches, and best practices to reduce suicide rates; and ethical legal considerations of caring for patients and nurses who are suicidal.

• 5 contact hours Sexual Assault Forensic Medicine OR Domestic Violence from KBN approved providers each licensure period. Retain documentation for at least 5 years.

• Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Intimate Partner Violence (Kentucky)
• Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)
• Sexual Assault and Examinations (Kentucky)
• Suicide Prevention for Nurses
• Suicide Screening and Referral
• Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

• LPN Scope for IV Therapy

• Proof of employment may be a copy of a pay stub, a W-2 form, or a letter from an employer.  The name of the facility must be imprinted on the proof of employment.
• On March 20, 2023, the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) has implemented the new Optimal Regulatory Board System, or “ORBS,” a proprietary, cloud-based license management system. The Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry will no longer be mailing renewal reminders or certification letters.

• is employed by the facility; and
• has satisfactorily completed the nurse aide training and competency evaluation program.

• A minimum of 18 hours must be in Category 1
• The Jurisprudence Exam on the Board's Website must be completed by March 31 of every renewal cycle (within the 2 year licensure period (biennium), and will count 2 contact hours towards the total continued competency requirement.

**CEUFast courses count as Category 1 credit. CEUFast courses are approved by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Association.  Your state authorizes courses approved by another state board.

• Jurisprudence Exam

Physical Therapist Assistants must complete 20 hours of continued competency activities prior to renewing their credentials biennially.

• A minimum of 10 hours must be in Category 1. 
• The Jurisprudence Exam must be completed by March 31 of every renewal cycle (within the 2 year licensure period (biennium), and will count 2 contact hours towards the total continued competency requirement.

**CEUFast courses count as Category 1 credit. CEUFast courses are approved by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Association.  Your state authorizes courses approved by another state board.

• Jurisprudence Exam

• Suicide Prevention: Identify and Treat at Risk Patients

• Suicide Prevention: Identify and Treat at Risk Patients

1. Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure; or
2. Board of Certification, Inc.

• ACCS for the first time takers will be worth 4 ceus