Does Tennessee require CE for RN license renewal?
Tennessee does not mandate a fixed continuing education hour total for all RNs. Instead, Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18 requires each active licensee to maintain a personal file with evidence of at least two qualifying competency activities per renewal period. Completing 10 contact hours of CE applicable to nursing practice is one of fourteen options that counts as a single competency item — the nurse must also document a second qualifying item. CE is therefore a common and straightforward way to satisfy one of the two required items, but it is not the only path. Renewal is biennial.
What counts as qualifying CE for Tennessee RN renewal?
When a Tennessee nurse uses the CE pathway (10 contact hours as one of their two competency items), the CE must be continuing education or in-service education applicable to nursing practice, as specified by Rule 1000-01-.18(2)(a)(9). The CE must include instruction in the Tennessee Department of Health's treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol. CE from nationally recognized certification bodies, accredited nursing programs, and board-approved providers generally qualifies. CE Broker is the official tracking platform and is the best resource for verifying provider approvals.
Is Tennessee in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?
Yes. Tennessee is an NLC compact member, meaning eligible Tennessee RNs hold a multistate license that authorizes nursing practice in all other member states. CE and competency obligations for renewal are governed by the nurse's home state — the state where the nurse has primary legal residence. Tennessee nurses residing in Tennessee renew with TNBON and must document two competency items per biennial renewal period under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18.
What is the "two-item" competency rule in Tennessee?
Tennessee's Rule 1000-01-.18 requires every active licensee to maintain a personal file documenting evidence of continued competency through at least two items from the approved list during each renewal period. The fourteen options include employer evaluations, national certification maintenance, 10-hour CE completion, academic enrollment, published articles, volunteer nursing work, student education, board-approved programs, and NCLEX re-examination. Choosing any two qualifying items constitutes compliance — no single item is mandatory for all nurses. Documentation must be retained for four years and produced within 30 days of a board request.
Where can I check my Tennessee RN license renewal date?
Tennessee nurses can verify their license status and expiration date through the Tennessee Department of Health's Health Licensure Verification portal at https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/. The Tennessee State Board of Nursing's main page is at https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/nurs.html. CE Broker also tracks license status for enrolled Tennessee licensees. Renewal notices are sent by TNBON prior to the license expiration date.