CE requirements › Kentucky RN
Kentucky Registered Nurse: CE & renewal requirements
14 CE contact hours every year
ANNUAL (earning period Nov 1 – Oct 31; renew by Oct 31). Either 14 contact hours, OR 7 hours plus an employer competency evaluation.
Source: Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) · confirmed 2026-06. Requirements change — always verify with the board.
Required topics
- One-time within 3 years of licensure (if trained out of state): 3 hrs Domestic Violence, 1.5 hrs Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma, 2 hrs Suicide Prevention
First renewal & exemptions
The one-time topics are waived for graduates of in-state Kentucky programs after the relevant cutoff dates; the 7-hour option requires an employment evaluation.
If your license lapses
Not renewed by midnight ET on Oct 31 → the license lapses, and practicing on it violates Kentucky nursing law.
How CE is tracked
Attest at the KBN Nurse Portal; keep documentation for 5 years.
Watch out: Kentucky is ANNUAL (not biennial), and the practical floor can be 7 CE hours (not 14) if you submit an employment evaluation. The Oct 31 midnight deadline auto-lapses the license with no grace period.
Are you on track? Check free
Enter your license expiration and CE hours completed — see what you still owe, the pace to finish, and your reminder schedule. No signup.
Informational only, based on the numbers you enter — not legal or licensing advice, and not an official record. Confirm your exact requirement and current status with the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN).