Tennessee State Board of Nursing · RN

10 hours. Every two years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Below is exactly what Tennessee State Board of Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from TSBN~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 10 hours is the total CME requirement. Tennessee also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 10-hour total.

Opioid / controlled substances[1]
Hrs vary
Biennial
CE must include instruction in the Tennessee Department of Health treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol. This is a content requirement within the CE option — no separate minimum hours are specified for this topic alone. Applies when the nurse chooses the 10-contact-hour CE pathway as one of their two competency items.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Successful completion of (10) contact hours per renewal period of continuing education/in-service education applicable to nursing practice.”
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(a)(9); T.C.A. § 63-7-114See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Tennessee 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.

ConditionalGeneral CME[1]
Hrs vary
Custom

Nurses reactivating after more than 5 years of inactivity must demonstrate competency through one of several options including 10 CE hours per year of inactivity

View detailsEditorial summary
For reactivation after >5 years: options include 10 CE hours per year of inactivity, board-approved refresher program, published nursing article, academic enrollment in nursing program, current certification, or NCLEX re-examination. Per Rule 1000-01-.18(4).
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(4)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Tennessee 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
CE from nationally recognized certification bodies, accredited nursing programs, and board-approved providers accepted. CE Broker is the official tracking system for the Tennessee Board of Nursing — licensees have a complimentary Basic Account.SourceTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18
Board-approved credit
In-service education and CE applicable to nursing practice accepted. CE Broker tracks approved providers.SourceTenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(a)(9)
Documentation & audit

Documentation must be retained for 4 years from when the competency requirements were completed. Licensees must produce evidence within 30 days of a board request.

Waivers & exemptions

Nurses who have not practiced for five years or more and do not intend to practice in the future are not required to comply with the competency rule.

FAQ
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 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/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/nursing-board.html. CE Broker also tracks license status for enrolled Tennessee licensees. Renewal notices are sent by TNBON prior to the license expiration date.

Never miss a Tennessee CME deadline.

Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.

Start tracking freeSee how it works

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. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18 — Standards of Nursing Competence (April 2026 PDF)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-24
    Show verbatim text
    “Successful completion of (10) contact hours per renewal period of continuing education/in-service education applicable to nursing practice.”Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.18(2)(a)(9); T.C.A. § 63-7-114 · Effective 2024-10-08

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 Tennessee State Board of Nursing, 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.

Privacy policyTerms of serviceContact