Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) · CRNA

14 hours. Every year. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from KBN(~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 12, 2026

Mandatory topics

For CRNAs, 14 hours is the total CME requirement. Kentucky also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 14-hour total.

Pharmacology[1]
5 hrs
Annual
APRN pharmacology CE — 5 contact hours per earning period required by KRS 314.073(9). For APRNs registered with DEA and holding a PDMP account, 5 hr pharmacology must include at least 3 hr on either pain management or addiction disorders.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) shall earn a minimum of five (5) contact hours in pharmacology, as required by KRS 314.073(9).”
201 KAR 20:215 § 5(1)(a)-(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Pediatric[1]
1.5 hrs
Custom
Pediatric abusive head trauma CE — 1.5 hours one-time, applies to all licensees including CRNAs.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of one and one-half (1.5) contact hours in pediatric abusive head trauma as required by KRS 314.073(6)”
201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Domestic violence[1]
3 hrs
Custom
Domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation — 3 contact hours one-time.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of three (3) contact hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation as required by KRS 194A.540(9)(d)”
201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(b)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Alzheimer’s & dementia[1]
1 hr
Custom
Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia — 1 contact hour one-time.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of one (1) contact hour on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia as required by KRS 314.073(7)”
201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(c)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Suicide prevention[1]
2 hrs
Custom
Suicide prevention — 2 contact hours one-time, consisting of 1 hr on suicide prevention generally and 1 hr addressing chronic toxic stress, pathways to care for nurses, systems of care, and ethical/legal considerations.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of two (2) contact hours on the subject of suicide prevention, which shall consist of one (1) contact hour on suicide prevention generally, and one (1) contact hour that addresses ...”
201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(d)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Kentucky cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
8 hrs
Custom

APRNs (including CRNAs) registered with the DEA must earn a minimum of 8 contact hours on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all FDA-approved drugs for treatment of substance use disorder. Earned after June 27, 2023, before next scheduled DEA registration.

View sourceVerbatim from source
“After June 27, 2023, and before the APRN's next scheduled DEA registration, an APRN who has a DEA registration shall earn a minimum of eight (8) hours on the subject of treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders ...”
201 KAR 20:215 § 5(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral CME[1]
Hrs vary
Annual

Kentucky APRNs (including CRNAs) must maintain active national certification (NBCRNA for CRNAs) as one of the methods to validate continued competency under 201 KAR 20:215 Section 3(2).

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Current national certification or recertification and the continuing education required by Section 5 of this administrative regulation.”
201 KAR 20:215 § 3(2)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Kentucky Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
NBCRNA Class A
NBCRNA Class A / MAC Ed credits qualify toward the underlying RN annual CE.
ANCC Contact Hour
ANCC contact hours from accredited providers qualify.
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Kentucky.

FAQ
How many state-level CE hours do Kentucky CRNAs need?
Kentucky uses an annual continued-competency cycle. A CRNA may satisfy the cycle by maintaining active NBCRNA certification, but must additionally complete (each year) the Section 5 mandatory CE: at minimum 5 hours of pharmacology (3 of which must be pain/addiction-related if DEA-registered with a PDMP account), plus the four one-time topic-specific courses (1.5 hr pediatric head trauma, 3 hr domestic violence/elder abuse, 1 hr Alzheimer's/dementia, 2 hr suicide prevention) on a one-time basis. DEA-registered APRNs must also complete 8 hours on opioid/substance use disorder treatment before their next DEA registration after June 27, 2023.
Does Kentucky require NBCRNA certification for CRNA licensure?
Yes. NBCRNA initial certification is required for APRN/CRNA licensure, and active NBCRNA certification must be maintained for renewal.
Is Kentucky part of the APRN Compact?
No. Kentucky has not enacted the APRN Compact as of 2026. Kentucky is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for the RN portion.
Where can I check my Kentucky CRNA license renewal date?
License status and verification are available through the KBN license lookup at kbn.ky.gov/General/Pages/LicenseLookup.aspx.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. 201 KAR 20:215 — Continuing competency requirements
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) shall earn a minimum of five (5) contact hours in pharmacology, as required by KRS 314.073(9).”201 KAR 20:215 § 5(1)(a)-(b)
    “A minimum of one and one-half (1.5) contact hours in pediatric abusive head trauma as required by KRS 314.073(6)”201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(a)
    “A minimum of three (3) contact hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation as required by KRS 194A.540(9)(d)”201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(b)
    “A minimum of one (1) contact hour on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia as required by KRS 314.073(7)”201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(c)
    “A minimum of two (2) contact hours on the subject of suicide prevention, which shall consist of one (1) contact hour on suicide prevention generally, and one (1) contact hour that addresses ...”201 KAR 20:215 § 5(5)(d)
    “After June 27, 2023, and before the APRN's next scheduled DEA registration, an APRN who has a DEA registration shall earn a minimum of eight (8) hours on the subject of treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders ...”201 KAR 20:215 § 5(2) · Effective 2023-06-27
    “Current national certification or recertification and the continuing education required by Section 5 of this administrative regulation.”201 KAR 20:215 § 3(2)

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN), or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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