Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) · RN

14 hours. Every year. On a fixed renewal cycle.

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 April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

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

Abuse Reporting[1]
1.5 hrs
Pediatric abusive head trauma — 1.5 contact hours required ONE TIME only (not annually). One-time per-career requirement for all nurses.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All nurses must complete: 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma”
201 KAR 20:215See source [1] in Primary Sources
Domestic violence[1]
3 hrs
Domestic violence and elder abuse — 3 contact hours required ONE TIME only (not annually). One-time per-career requirement for all nurses.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All nurses must complete: 3 hours on domestic violence and elder abuse”
201 KAR 20:215See source [1] in Primary Sources
Alzheimer’s & dementia[1]
1 hr
Alzheimer's disease and dementia — 1 contact hour required ONE TIME only (not annually). One-time per-career requirement for all nurses.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All nurses must complete: 1 hour on Alzheimer's disease and dementia”
201 KAR 20:215See source [1] in Primary Sources
Suicide prevention[1]
2 hrs
Suicide prevention — 2 contact hours required ONE TIME only (not annually). One-time per-career requirement for all nurses.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“All nurses must complete: 2 hours on suicide prevention”
201 KAR 20:215See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Kentucky cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
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
ANCC Contact Hour
1 contact hour = 50 minutes of approved learning. KBN accepts CE from ANCC and AANP-approved providers, plus other organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220: AACN, AANA, ACNM, AWHONN, NPWH, NAPNAP, NAPNES, NALPN, NLN, and state boards of nursing.Source201 KAR 20:215 / 201 KAR 20:220[1]
Board-approved credit
CE from KBN-approved CE providers and providers approved by other state boards of nursing or by national nursing organizations listed in 201 KAR 20:220. Completion certificates must include: nurse name, course title, completion date, contact hours, and provider information with approval source.Source201 KAR 20:215 / 201 KAR 20:220[2]
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

National certification maintenance or renewal — current national certification related to practice specialty satisfies the 14 contact hour primary CE requirement (but not the one-time specialty requirements).

Academic coursework — post-licensure college courses satisfy the CE requirement (1 semester credit = 15 contact hours; 1 quarter hour = 12 contact hours).

Preceptorship — serving as a preceptor for at least one student or new employee for a minimum of 120 hours satisfies the annual CE requirement.

Published research — a peer-reviewed nursing article published during the earning period satisfies the CE requirement.

Course presentation — teaching a CE course through an approved provider (presenters receive double contact hours).

Supervisor evaluation plus 7 hours — a supervisor evaluation covering at least 6 months plus 7 contact hours satisfies the annual requirement.

Research project completion — serving as principal investigator or co-investigator on a nursing research project.

FAQ
What are Kentucky's one-time CE requirements for nurses?
Kentucky requires all RNs to complete four specialty CE topics once during their nursing career under 201 KAR 20:215: 1.5 contact hours on pediatric abusive head trauma, 3 contact hours on domestic violence and elder abuse, 1 contact hour on Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and 2 contact hours on suicide prevention. Once each of these is completed, the requirement for that topic is permanently satisfied. These one-time hours do not count toward the annual 14-hour renewal requirement; they must be completed independently.
Is Kentucky in the NLC nursing compact?
Yes. Kentucky is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). Kentucky-licensed RNs who qualify for compact membership hold a multistate license permitting practice in all NLC member states. CE and renewal requirements are governed by the nurse's home state. Kentucky RNs residing in Kentucky must complete 14 contact hours annually with KBN as the renewal authority, under the November 1 – October 31 earning period.
What alternative pathways exist for Kentucky RN CE compliance?
201 KAR 20:215 provides seven pathways: (1) 14 contact hours from approved providers, (2) supervisor evaluation covering 6+ months plus 7 contact hours, (3) national certification maintenance or renewal, (4) post-licensure academic coursework, (5) 120-hour preceptorship, (6) peer-reviewed nursing article publication, and (7) nursing research project completion as PI or co-PI. Only one pathway is required per annual earning period.
Where can I find my Kentucky RN renewal information?
Kentucky RN license information and CE guidance are available at the Kentucky Board of Nursing at https://kbn.ky.gov. The KBN Nurse Portal allows voluntary CE documentation uploads and is the platform for audit responses. CE records must be retained for five years. Upon audit notification, nurses must provide electronic documentation within 20 days.

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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. Kentucky Board of Nursing — Continuing Education Requirements
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “All nurses must complete: 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma”201 KAR 20:215
    “All nurses must complete: 3 hours on domestic violence and elder abuse”201 KAR 20:215
    “All nurses must complete: 1 hour on Alzheimer's disease and dementia”201 KAR 20:215
    “All nurses must complete: 2 hours on suicide prevention”201 KAR 20:215
  2. Kentucky Board of Nursing — RN/LPN Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23

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's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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